Impacts of sea level rise on Krangket Island communities and economy

Krangket Island is located within the boundary of Madang Township, Papua New Guinea. It has a total population of about 3,500 inhabitants comprised of four clans. The island was only recently connected to Madang town’s electricity supply through a submarine cable network.

The Krangket islanders are experiencing problems with rising sea levels due to global warming. Their food gardens are not able to provide for families’ subsistence with an increase in soil saline levels, and inundation of their subsistence farm lands by the rising sea levels. The island is sinking into the sea as a consequence.

Additionally, the waterfront directly exposed to the ocean currents and sea wave actions is being eroded away at a higher rate. Krangket islanders have planted two rows of pandanus palms along that waterfront to slow down beach erosion process. But this only slows down the force of strong winds, and is not helping.

The islanders’ only hope for survival will eventually be relocation to the mainland of Madang. However, identification of a suitable piece of land for relocation will be a major hurdle, considering the fact that land is customary owned in Papua New Guinea, let alone Madang, and clans fiercely guide their land boundaries. It may take years to negotiate with landowners before a suitable site is identified.

Presently, Krangket islanders survive by fishing and selling marine products at the local markets in Madang town.

The above contribution was extracted from the proposal, Video documentation on Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Krangket Island Communities and Economy, submitted to Climate Frontlines.