Official: Rising seas erasing ancestral lands of Solomon Islands

Sea level rise is destroying the ancestral lands of Solomon Islanders, Gillian Herdy Oti, actress and theatre director of the Dreamcast Theatre from the Solomon Islands, said during the event held within the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

She highlighted that these lands are far more than physical territory: "They hold our stories, reefs, villages, and genealogies. When they disappear, what is lost is not just geography – it is our identity and belonging. Migration to Honiara or other provincial islands brings deep emotional strain, as families leave behind sacred sites, cemeteries, and traditional gathering places. When communities are uprooted, our customs and rituals are disrupted. Livelihoods tied to fishing, gardening, and harvesting from coral reefs weaken, along with the sense of guardianship that connects us to land and ocean."

Oti added that urban migration adds another layer of difficulty: "Overcrowding in cities erodes cultural identity and leaves many disconnected from traditional ways of life. For our youth, climate impacts are reshaping opportunities and aspirations, changing how they see themselves, their culture, and their place in the world."