Isolation, insularity and resilience: a review of the geophysical, socioeconomic, and environmental vulnerabilities of Gran Canaria and Lesvos Islands for policy interventions to global change

Abstract

The dynamic nature of small islands being geographically isolated and their perceived connectedness with global networks complicates research attempts to draw general conclusions on whether insularity leads to marginalization or strengthens their resilience for sustainable development. This review develops a conceptual vulnerability framework to examine how the geographic particularities of Gran Canaria and Lesvos Islands exacerbate their vulnerabilities through the lens of geophysical, socioeconomic, and environmental dimensions, and also their resilience-building capacities. This review identified eligible studies through systematic searches from two databases (Web of Science and Scopus), and only peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2025 were included. This paper revealed that limited spatial accessibility, uneven connectivity to global networks, and dependence on external sources are major geophysical consequences facing both islands. Market structures in both islands remain weak, which contributes to low business viability and high unemployment rates. This paper identifies the major drivers of frequent irregular migration and the associated refugee crisis, particularly on Lesvos. This review demonstrates how overreliance on tourism limits economic diversification and drives environmental and infrastructural strains, especially in Gran Canaria. This review found that both islands are dealing with the impacts of climate variability and extreme weather events such as flooding, water scarcity, landslides, rockfall, and coastal erosion. This review highlights the key strengths and limitations of the policy interventions (infrastructural, social, economic, and ecological resilience capacities) of both islands. This review then proposes holistic strategies for addressing these inherent vulnerabilities in the process of global social, economic, and environmental changes.