Rewilding could help vulnerable islands keep pace with rising seas
Summary
A new study argues that rewilding atoll ecosystems—restoring seabirds, native vegetation, and coral reefs—can bolster island resilience to sea-level rise. The research finds that reef growth and sediment stabilization improve when rats are removed and native ecosystems are restored, potentially doubling reef accretion on rat-free, seabird-rich islands under a 2°C warming scenario, though results vary by location and won’t replace the need for emissions reductions and engineering on developed atolls.