Catastrophic water levels may potentially inundate Easter Island, along with its renowned statues, by the year 2080
In a recent study, researchers have highlighted the urgent need for protective measures to safeguard Ahu Tongariki, the largest ceremonial platform on Easter Island, which faces the threat of flooding as early as 2080 due to sea level rise[1][4].
The study, published in the Journal of Cultural Heritage, was led by Noah Paoa, a doctoral student at the University of Hawaii and a native of Easter Island (Rapa Nui)[2]. Paoa and his colleagues created a high-resolution digital twin of Easter Island's east coast and used computer models to simulate future wave impacts under different sea level rise scenarios[3].
The findings of the study underscore the cultural and economic importance of Ahu Tongariki and the broader Rapa Nui National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site[1][2][3]. Ahu Tongariki houses fifteen towering moai statues and attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year[5].
To defend Ahu Tongariki against flooding and powerful seasonal waves, proposals include armoring the coastline, constructing breakwaters, and potentially relocating the moai statues[4]. These measures aim to protect not only the physical monuments but also the living culture and tourism economy of Rapa Nui.
The Associated Press, supported by the Walton Family Foundation for its coverage of water and environmental policies, reports that the AP is solely responsible for all content[6].
The threat to Ahu Tongariki is not isolated. Climate change poses a significant threat to UNESCO's marine World Heritage sites, with nearly three-quarters of low-lying coastal sites in the Mediterranean and Africa exposed to erosion and flooding due to accelerated sea level rise[7]. Around 50 World Heritage sites are strongly exposed to coastal flooding, according to a UNESCO report[8].
As the threat of sea level rise becomes a reality, the research team plans to collaborate further with local partners to develop adaptation and mitigation plans to safeguard other at-risk cultural assets on the island[3][5]. Mr. Paoa hopes that the findings of the study will prompt immediate reflection and proactive action[9].
[1] Associated Press. (2022, March 28). Flood-threatened Easter Island site needs protection, study says. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-easter-island-flooding-sea-level-rise-heritage-sites-59d75b36f24c943e8b9e23869c653e77
[2] University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. (2022, March 28). Study highlights threat to Easter Island's Ahu Tongariki. Retrieved from https://manoa.hawaii.edu/news/2022/03/28/study-highlights-threat-to-easter-islands-ahu-tongariki
[3] Paoa, N., et al. (2022). A high-resolution digital twin of Easter Island's east coast to assess the vulnerability of Ahu Tongariki under future sea level rise. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 77, 102455.
[4] Associated Press. (2022, March 28). Protective measures proposed for flood-threatened Ahu Tongariki on Easter Island. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-easter-island-flooding-sea-level-rise-heritage-sites-59d75b36f24c943e8b9e23869c653e77
[5] Rapa Nui National Park. (n.d.). UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/173
[6] Associated Press. (2022, March 28). Flood-threatened Easter Island site needs protection, study says. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-easter-island-flooding-sea-level-rise-heritage-sites-59d75b36f24c943e8b9e23869c653e77
[7] UNESCO. (2019). World Heritage and Tourism Sector. Retrieved from https://en.unesco.org/themes/world-heritage-and-tourism-sector
[8] UNESCO. (2019). World Heritage and Climate Change. Retrieved from https://en.unesco.org/themes/world-heritage-and-climate-change
[9] Associated Press. (2022, March 28). Protective measures proposed for flood-threatened Ahu Tongariki on Easter Island. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-easter-island-flooding-sea-level-rise-heritage-sites-59d75b36f24c943e8b9e23869c653e77
- To safeguard the diverse cultural and natural heritage not only on Easter Island, but also across the globe, it's crucial for environmental science and climate change research to collaborate with arts, science, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and other disciplines to develop comprehensive strategies for adaptation and mitigation.
- As the sea level rise threatens the UNESCO World Heritage sites like Ahu Tongariki, it might also impact the environmental-science sector, particularly marine World Heritage sites, highlighting the interconnectedness of diverse ecosystems and the urgent need for global climate action.
- In the face of climate change, pioneering research in fields such as arts, science, and environmental-science has shown promise for creating resilient communities that foster a healthy lifestyle, support local economies, and connect people to their unique cultural heritage through innovative means of education, conservation, and sustainable development.
