CASE STUDY, Maldives

Question 1

Where is the Maldives?

Answer 1

South West of Sri Lanka. In Asia in the North of the Indian Ocean. Most islands are in the Northern hemisphere, including male the capital.

Question 2

Why is the Maldives in danger?

Answer 2

It is a LECZ with an average of 1.5m above sea level.

80% of the land is under 1m above sea level.

More in danger due to climate change causing rising sea levels.

Question 3

What are the social impacts of the threat?

Answer 3

-People live directly on the coastline in poorly constructed bamboo homes, get destroyed by flooding

-Already low supply of fresh water, even lower if their supply is polluted by salty water.

Question 4

What are the economic impacts?

Answer 4

-Loss of tourism which produces 33% of their GDP
-Coastal flooding may effect fish population, fish exports produce 10% of their GDP

Question 5

What are the environmental impacts?

Answer 5

-Coastal flooding rapidly erodes beaches, destroys habitat and exposes land behind it to floods.

-Most soil depths are about 20cm, easily washed away by floods, then cant grow food

Question 6

What is being done to protect the Maldives?

Answer 6

-Land raising and dredging to protect existing islands, uses dredged material to make new islands

-Almost all 187 islands are reinforced with hard engineering to protect form swells.

-Flood wall around capital