If I needed further evidence of shifting shorelines, it came when the Kuda Luat dropped anchor off one of the Mentawais’ most prized waves: Macaronis.
Just 10 years ago, I had seen a line of giant indigenous trees occupying this shoreline, typical tropical lowland rainforest species, characterised by large, straight, buttressed trees such as keruing, meranti and kapur. Already dead by then and saturated with saltwater, they dignifiedly held their ground while the sea clawed at them.
It was only a matter of time before these giants toppled into the ocean and when I had returned a few years later, I captured the last of these impressive trees in some photographs of a particularly good surf session at the break. When a spectacular sunset brought the session to an end, it seemed to me that that was not all we were saying goodbye to.
Sailing back into the bay for the first time since that sunset, I was sad to see that the last mighty tree had indeed gone. But far more shocking was that the entire beach and accompanying forest was gone too, leaving only a deep field of rock and reef, and a few stubborn mangroves - excerpt from "A Sinking Paradise" editorial.
AvG
Keep The Faith, Live The Dream
