Ever since they occupied the archipelago 8000 years ago, Caribbean communities have been confronted with severe natural catastrophes such as sea level rise, coastal erosion, droughts, hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. These phenomena stimulated the Amerindian settlers to anticipate, respond, and adapt their lifestyles over time. People moved further inland, built hurricane-proof houses, and took shelter in caves. Throughout our projects, we aim to understand how people reacted and adapted to these phenomena. Together with local stakeholders, we also look at ways to protect their legacies from current climatic challenges as well as from human impacts.
To read about specific sites and how they are threatened by human influences and/or natural impacts, click on the links below.
Photo: still from the documentary Heritage under Threat (Nexus1492).