On the west coast of New Caledonia, Isobelle Goa searches through the tangled roots of mangroves for mudcrabs. She lives near the Heart of Voh, a famous patch of mangrove forest shaped like a heart.
Goa feels a deep connection to this landscape. “It’s grand,” she says. “It has a presence. We must protect it and care for the mangroves.”
The Heart of Voh is a well-known symbol of New Caledonia, showcased on billboards and postcards. Unfortunately, this beloved land is facing threats from climate change. Rising sea levels are changing the area’s salinity, affecting which plants can thrive.
Twenty years ago, the heart was starkly barren, making it a striking sight against the lush green mangroves. “It was just a yellowish salt flat,” explains Dr. Cyril Marchand, an expert on mangroves at the University of New Caledonia. Back then, no vegetation could survive there.
But now, things are changing. As sea levels rise about 2mm every year, a salt-tolerant species called Avicennia has moved in. Water that used to be too salty for life is now mixing more often with tidal flows, allowing mangroves to grow. This change alters the heart’s shape, which might lose its iconic look over time.
Dr. Marchand warns that if sea levels keep rising, Avicennia will give way to another mangrove type, Rhizophora. “In 30 to 50 years,” he predicts, “the heart may vanish entirely.”
While more mangroves might seem positive, they’re also pushing inland due to rising seas. This shift threatens communities that depend on the land for resources. Recent data shows that over half of global mangroves face collapse by 2050, emphasizing the urgency of protecting these vital ecosystems.
As climate change speeds up the movement of mangroves, local fishermen and Indigenous communities rely more than ever on these lands. They’re integral not just for biodiversity but also for livelihoods.
Recent advances in satellite technology allow real-time monitoring of the Heart of Voh. Rémi Andreoli from Bluecham highlights how these high-resolution images can reveal changes that might go unnoticed from the ground. “It helps us track variations between species and see how they adapt to climate change,” he says.
Tourism is also tied to the Heart of Voh. Pilots like Günter Gerant showcase its beauty from the air. “People want to see it,” he says, stressing the significance of preserving this landscape.
In Voh, locals, including Goa, take action to plant new mangroves, knowing they are essential for protecting against erosion and storms. “We pass down knowledge about hunting in the mangroves to our kids,” she says. “We can’t let it slip away.”
For the community, the Heart of Voh is more than just a site; it’s part of their identity and future. Protecting it isn’t just an environmental concern—it’s a cultural necessity.
Source link
