Increased resilience to climate change
How the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge
helps combat climate change
Even though islands may seem isolated, their ecosystems perform essential functions that benefit all life on earth. Their vegetation traps millions of metric tons of carbon per year, and with conservation efforts underway, they stand to capture millions more—making them essential to climate regulation. Carbon-rich habitats like mangroves, seagrasses, salt marshes, and coral reefs are powerful blue carbon ‘sinks’ that absorb and store carbon—but only if they are protected and thriving.
The Island-Ocean Connection Challenge and its partners are assembling a global coalition to combat climate change by collaborating with funders, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, scientists, nongovernmental organizations, and governmental leaders. Together, we have the power to foster healthy, resilient, carbon-sequestering ecosystems that can provide the first line of defense against severe weather and other climate impacts.
Damaged coral reefs heal faster when their adjacent island-marine ecosystems are restored and protected. These reefs are critical to rebuilding ecological durability and maintaining climate change resilience.
Increasing climate resilience for generations to come
Island populations are immensely vulnerable to extreme weather, which is exacerbated by the effects of climate change. With storm surges and sea level rise a constant threat, there’s an urgent need to restore marine-island ecosystems to protect these communities from flooding and erosion.
Strong, effective near-shore ecosystems do more than provide food to local communities—they also act as buffers against extreme weather, decreasing the destructive power of storm surges. Flourishing island vegetation holds soil together with robust root systems, too, helping reduce the impacts of erosion.
The Island-Ocean Connection Challenge restores the key ecosystem functions that maintain islands and help them grow over thousands of years.
Collaboration with local communities is vital for an integrated, unified approach that protects livelihoods and ensures sustainability.
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