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The Federal States of Micronesia, located in the Central Pacific, North of the Equator,  is one of the lowest lying countries in the world, and therefore, one of the most threatened by Sea Level Rise.
Every low island is suffering from serious coastal erosion, which is
steadily worsening as global sea level rise accelerates.
Nukuoro Atoll is the first to challenge the imminent threat of Climate Change to their existence with a comprehensive plan for adaptation to sea level rise. The Nukuoroan people refuses to abandon their beloved home island, and realize they must act now if they are to save their thriving indigenous culture and keep Nukuoro habitable for future generations.
In late
December 2008 hundreds of people were forced from their homes by
winter solstice high tides (“King tides”) throughout the Pacific. National
states of emergency were declared in a multitude of Pacific island nations. Low-lying island were pounded by large waves and washed over by storm surges. On Nukuoro, a three foot storm swell washed over the main island, destroying 80% or more o f all food crops from the salt water inundation. This event has seriously threatened the islands future habitability, but awoke the island population to the fact that motivate work must proceed immediately if the homeland is to remain viable for this generation and the next.
Surverys of the damage were done by FEMA / USAID but nothing was done to remediate the damage or improve future security against similar events. Damage reports and survey are a dime a dozen, and utilize millions in funding each year, but preventative action, new infrastructure, finite adaptation measures, and realistically scaled disaster readiness is totally lacking.
Mayor Dison Gideion, explains that "Nukuoro will not  accept the wait-and-see attitude seemingly adopted by developed nations who control the funds, and national governments content to maintain the status quo on this all important issue, leaving outer island like Nukuoro completely vulnerable to climate disaster, and without hope of relief from their capital when disaster hits" in a speech to the Nukuoro community explaining the new program.Senator Benjamin Ludwig further explains, "the facts are clear to Nukuoro; our people must independently motivate, and rapidly install a comprehensive package of both new and ancient technologies if we are to survive the ever increasing storm of Global Climate Change". True to his words, Senator Ludwig applied to the World Bank only weeks after the 2008 flooding disasters, with the "Family Earth Box" crop relocation plan. Despite being considered top 50 of over 1700 applicants worldwide, not funds were awarded to implement the project. This gives and idea of how many communities are attempting to adapt to climate change, and  how few are actually getting funded. The effort continues to finance the "Earth Box" project, and others now officially on the agenda of the Nukuoro Local Government.
More elements of the "Nukuoro Adaptation Plan", including the "Earth Box" project are detailed in the different section of this website, and more elements will be forthcoming in the coming months and years. Please enjoy, and learn from these presentations, contact us with your input, interest in collaboration, and to give your support.
Nukuoro Atoll is the first severely threatened island by Climate Change to develop and adopt a comprehensive and sustainable solution for adapting to sea level rise. We hope the global community will get behind this effort and give their support.
This program is made possible thanks to the commitment of Help PPPFISH - Help People Protect Propagate, and Farm Integrated Sustainable Habitats - A Permanent Program of the PanAmerican PanAfrican Association Inc.; an NGO in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the Global Coral Reef Alliance, The EmeraldPlanet, Power for Peace, and other collaborative partners.
This revolutionary program is currently seeking funding from partnering governments, granting institution, and donations from the global community. Islands like Nukuoro cannot wait, or they will be forever lost to the Sea. The Nukuoroan People have the drive, determination, and spirit to be the first to demonstrate that adaptation is possible with strong local commitment and lots of hard work.
Full proposals are available upon request for donor sources who wish to get involved.
Please join our fight to help save the Nukuoro Island from the devastating effects of sea level rise! Donate now and become apart of the Island and our fight to keep it safe.
  
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Coral
reef ecosystems play a critical role in the formation, protection,
and subsistence of small islands and their communities. This is very
true on Nukuoro Atoll where people rely on the reefs
to protect their islands from the forces of the sea, as a source of
food, income, and tourist attraction. Unfortunately, high sea surface
temperatures related to caused global climate change warming have
resulted in massive die off of coral reefs world wide from “coral
bleaching”, and this same threat endangers the survival of our
coral reefs, and the closely interrelated existence of
our islands, and people living there.
Today, there are more dead corals reefs in the world than those still alive and thriving. This is the result of destructive fishing practices, pollution, unsustainable development, coral diseases, but most prolifically of all due to coral bleaching. The threat of coral reef ecosystem collapse, which has occurred in the Maldives, Caribbean, western Micronesia, and worldwide is an ominously looming threat to the coral reef ecosystems of Nukouor Atoll, and all of the Federal States of Micronesia. 
Food security is another major issue for these Small Island Developing States. With rises in sea level and destructive sea erosion, Nukuoro alone has seen a loss in over 80% of its crops. In response to this terrifying crisis, the people of Nukuoro have started using EarthBoxes. Through the use of the Sustainable Gardens EarthBox Project, we are working to relocate crops to secure the future of the island, removing the fear of food scarcity.
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Coral
reefs build and protect our islands, feed our people, and are a major
attraction for the future of outer island economies. Their
survivability in from high temperature events is a major factor in
climate change adaptation to sea level rise, coral reef degradation,
the loss of rare and indigenous species, and a key factor in
establishing and maintaining conservation and ecotourism activities.
Be the first to help save the coral reefs of the Nukuoro Island! Without your support, our majestic coral reefs will continue to deplete and result in the disappearance of small islands, such as Nukuoro.
Sea cucumbers are an extremely valuable seafood
resource found throughout the tropical Pacific Ocean. They are
highly prized for their diverse medicinal properties and high
nutritional value. Sea cucumbers have been a documented trade
commodity in Asia since 1300 BC and they were probably traded and
consumed by Chinese and Japanese for many centuries before finding
their way into written history.
Today, the demand for sea cucumbers
in the traditional Asian market is bigger than ever. Demand is in
fact far exceeding supply. In addition to a huge existing Asian
market, there is a large emerging market in international
pharmaceutical companies. Modern medicine has defined sea cucumber
as a very useful anti-arthritic and anti-viral agent. Japan holds
patents on remedies for treating AIDS patients and a remedy for
fighting herpes outbreaks, where sea cucumber is the major
ingredient. A US company has patented a pain reliever for arthritis
called Arthra-Sea™, where sea cucumber is the major ingredient.
All photos are
courtesy of GCRA.
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