Saba

Saba: The Not So Little Island

Crystal Millar
November 2, 2022

A picture of Saba's lush coastline from Vogue.

Saba? What's Saba?

Saba (pronounced “say-bah”) is an island that most people have never heard of. Located in the Caribbean Netherlands, this region is only 13 square kilometers and is the smallest permanent population territory in the Americas. Yet, it is home to a large variety of species and an important biodiversity hotspot. 

The Impact of Islands

Saba may be small, but that does not make it insignificant. Much like many other islands, Saba is a home to a unique and narrow set of populations that have adapted to the island's environment. However, this comes at a cost. Saba being so small and isolated makes it vulnerable to disturbances, like climate change or invasive species.

"Although islands cover only about 7 percent of the world’s landmass, they are home to an estimated 20 percent of all species — and 75 percent of all documented extinctions," says Gibbs. As for Saba, extinction is a very plausible possibility. What was once a coral cover of roughly 50% has wavered down to only 3%. This, in part, was due to the wide-spread death of Diadema antillarum in what is known as Saba's "Diadema City" reef.

Diadema antillarum from iNaturalist.

Diadema antillarum is a species of sea urchin known for its long, black spines. The Diadema City event is still a mystery to scientists- how did 5,000 sea urchins dwindle down to less than 100 over the course of a few days? As the global environment continues to change, shocking occurrences may continue to rise in the future.
"As biodiversity decreases, islands lose the complexity that helps keep the ecosystem stable and less vulnerable to disruptions..." (Gibbs).
This is why Saba is such an important region and main point of focus for many scientists across the globe. The island is a prime location to study diverse island ecosystem dynamics and structures. This information can help scientists better understand how to restore and preserve populations in island communities.

The Importance of Education

Saba fosters a see-and-learn environment, or rather, a Sea & Learn environment. Sea & Learn is an education non-profit located on Saba that promotes environmental preservation through community. The program brings in scientists from around the world to teach children and adults about topics ranging from biodiversity to cultural heritage. It is an important step towards forming a more well-informed and empowered generation of environmental activists.

Sea & Learn student group from ScienceNews.

More broadly, education with an emphasis on community is a crucial factor in regulating the health of the Earth. Many fail to realize that biodiversity loss can largely affect the dynamics of our ecosystems. Without it, the entirety of the human and animal support system could collapse.

Saba, the Not So Little Island

All islands, regardless of size, play important roles in promoting unique biological niches that are important to our environment. It further emphasizes the fact that humans need to acknowledge the significance and impact play in ecological communities.

Most of the world may never know what the little island of Saba is, but that should mean that we should overlook its large influence on our planet. 

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References:

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/saba-caribbean-island-species-conservation

https://www.sabatourism.com/about-saba/

https://www.conservation.org/priorities/biodiversity-hotspots

https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/what-are-invasive-species

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diadema_antillarum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saba_(island)

https://www.seaandlearn.org

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/niche


Images:

https://www.vogue.com/article/saba-caribbean-travel-guide

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/52290-Diadema-antillarum

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/saba-caribbean-island-species-conservation

Comments

  1. Ruby ChaseNovember 4, 2022 at 10:39 AM

    I have never heard of Saba, and now I would love the chance to visit. The evidence of the detriment of climate change and human destruction here are extreme and should be highlighted in education and media in order to express the consequences of our actions in vital ecosystems. I like the section about scientists who have taken advantage of the educational opportunities that lie in the natural classroom of Saba. I think immersing children and adults in the natural world is important for helping them conceptualize conservation with tangible and emotional components. Good work!

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