Island communities and sea level rise: resettlement and maladaptation, the Kuna people of Isberyala, Panama

Abstract

Climate change presents specific challenges for traditional communities, especially those facing rising sea levels in island territories, where relocation is imperative. The case study of Isberyala, a new Kuna indigenous resettlement in the region of Carti Islands (Guna Yala, Panama), exemplifies a process of proactive relocation. The research aims to identify potential maladaptive actions, so that this experience is considered for decisions to be made in further displacement processes, such as those that are being planned in the region. An analysis of the exposure conditions of the Carti Islands to sea level rise, and the assessment of urban resettlement project designed have been carried out. For an understanding of social perception of the relocation project, public managers, community leaders and academics were surveyed through a qualitative assessment. Findings show relocation to the continent entails a profound alteration of the indigenous cosmovision. Although, in general terms, the project was valued globally as an improvement in living conditions, it nevertheless involves a loss in the natural values of the environment and to the Kuna cultural heritage. Moreover, the resettlement project does not incorporate traditional models of housing and urban space structure of these communities, eroding sustainable development. In the context of other recent experiences in island communities, the Isberyala project highlights the difficulty of planning new resettlements considering traditional methods of construction and organization of relationship spaces to avoid maladaptation processes. This research proposes to add to the relocation debate, the need to incorporate local knowledge to ensure that adaptation strategies work.