Take the rats away, bring the seabirds back — and a low island can hold its ground against the rising sea

Low coral atolls look defenseless against sea-level rise, but a study in Science Advances shows the islands have quiet allies. Where invasive rats are removed and native plants recover, seabirds return in numbers — and their droppings feed the plants and build up the island's soils and shores, helping the land keep pace as waters rise. The work, led by Lancaster University's Nick Graham with co-author Jennifer Appoo of the University of the Seychelles, suggests island restoration is not just good for wildlife: for atoll nations where giant sea walls are unaffordable or impractical, it may be one of the most practical defenses a community can grow for itself.

SDG 13 · Climate action — Mechanism: tech innovation