Impacts of displacement: Displacement linked to sea level rise on Plantain Island, Sierra Leone

The report, based on research conducted jointly with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) of Sierra Leone, examines the impacts of slow onset disasters, namely sea level rise on internally displaced in Plantain Island and the mainland. The inhabitants of Plantain Island in Sierra Leone have been losing homes and land to the sea for several decades due to escalating sea level rise and coastal erosion.

Potential solutions and way forward indicated in the study include:

• Building an embankment or wall around the whole island may not be a viable option, but other communities in Sierra Leone have managed to reclaim some land from the sea using an ingenious approach. 
• Nature-based approaches could also slow the island’s disappearance, for example by planting trees to improve the soil’s resistance to erosion.
• Investing in improved connectivity between areas of displacement and places of work is essential for supporting the livelihoods and overall wellbeing of people who continue to be displaced on Plantain Island and those who move to Shenge.