The Maldivian government plays a huge role in maintaining its ecosystem for the livelihoods of the population by protecting the economic incomes in fisheries and tourism. Currently, the government does have regulations in place for the tourism sector to protect the surrounding environment. However, improved implementation and higher standards of these regulations can definitely strengthen the government's efforts. Some recommendations to improve the regulations include the mandatory requirement of sustainable sewage-treatement plants in all resorts, desalination plants used in resorts to preserve groundwater, law preventing the clearing of more than 20% of an island's vegetation, law requiring a minimum of 5 meters between natural vegetation and man-made construction (i.e. buildings) etc. In terms of addressing the tourism sector, change is definitely needed because of the relative lack of awareness towards the imminent issue of climate change.
In the case for displaced refugees due to sea-level rise, it is projected around the year 2050, half of teh capital Male will be submerged, as well as most of the atolls of the country. When this occurs, basically all of the populations from the outer atolls will be classified internationally as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) because their habitat has been submerged and is unsuitable for living. But because there are still parts of the country (i.e. half of the capital) that are still suitable for living, the government can theoretically still provide habitat and safety for the IDPs. But the overall living conditions will obviously deteriorate as the already congested capital must receive more population. Since international definitions on accepting IDPs as international refugees vary, there may be a chance for the Maldivians to immigrate. But for most countries, these IDPs do not qualify for refugee status and thus the IDPs are forced to live in poorer standard of living. In 2100, it is projected that the entire nation will be submerged and only a small strip of land on each of the main large islands will remain above sea level. The small strips of land obviously cannot sustain the entire Maldivian population. The Maldivians will then be able to clain refugee status in other nations as they can no longer survive within Maldives. The non-refoulment (the inability to return) criteria in determining refugee status will be legitimately in place and Maldivians can claim refugee asylum abroad. Therefore, based on current understanding of refugee status only when almost all of the nation is submerged can Maldivians be assured of a home outside of their country.
The inadequacy of many shoreline protection infrastructure provides addtional risks to the islands, including the further destruction to reef systems alongside the islands. Counter-intuitively and rather ironically, the random and mindless proliferation of these structures will lead to enhanced island erosion due to net sediment loss (as explained in the Current Human Impacts section). So the key to the future development of shoreline protection lies in the understanding between communities and the dynamic islands they live on. There is a need to adjust new infrastructure based on better planning and the consideration of land use. Remember, the main goal is to ensure sediment can be kept on the island systematically, not eroded away.
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