sustainable development - a pacific island perspective

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – A PACIFIC ISLANDS PERSPECTIVE

A Report on Follow up to the Mauritius 2005Review of the

Barbados Programme of Action

Kanayathu Koshy, Melchior Mataki, and Murari Lal

Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PACE-SD)

University of the South Pacific

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A Report on Follow up to the Mauritius 2005

Review of the

Barbados Programme of Action

Kanayathu Koshy, Melchior Mataki, and Murari Lal

Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PACE-SD)

University of the South Pacific


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© UNESCO �008

Published by the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Pacific StatesP.O. Box 6�5ApiaSamoa

Printed in New Zealand.

The designations employed and the presentation of material througout the publication do not imply the expression of any option whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries.

Cover photo: Katrina Adams.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREwORD 5

INTRODUCTION 6

ACKNOwLEDgEMENTS 7

ExECUTIVE SUMMARy 8

�. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ThE PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES �0

1.1 GeneralConceptofSustainableDevelopment 10

1.2 TheSmallIslandDevelopingStateandSustainableDevelopment 11

1.3 PacificIslandCountries:MajorChallenges 12

1.4 WSSDTypeIIInitiativesasaVehicleforImplementingSustainableDevelopmentinPICTs 14

1.5 BPoA:TheBlueprintandtheMauritiusStrategy 15

1.6 InternationalandRegionalNegotiationsonMultilateralEnvironmentalAgreements 16

1.7 SustainableDevelopmentPathways:EnvironmentalOpportunitiesandChallenges 18

�. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEwORKS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ThE PACIFIC CONTExT ��

2.1 SustainabilityintheLocalContext:TraditionalorIndigenousApproaches 32

2.2 SustainableDevelopmentArticulatedfromOutsidethePacific 33

2.3 TheneedforParticipatoryApproachestoSustainableDevelopment 34

2.4 InnovativeArticulationofSustainableDevelopment 35

�. NEw AND EMERgINg ISSUES �5

3.1 InternationalTrade,SustainabilityProductionandConsumption 36

3.2 InformationandCommunicationTechnology 38

3.3 GovernanceandPolicyIssues 41

3.4 HumanResourceCapacityBuilding–EducationforSustainableDevelopment 44

3.5 TheFinancingContext 47

3.6 CustomaryLandTenure:BarrierorBonusforSustainableDevelopment? 49

3.7 CouplingIndigenousKnowledgeandManagementSystemswithScience 50

3.8 DemographicChange/PopulationMovementsandMigration 51

3.9 Humanhealth 53

4. PACIFIC RESPONSES TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ChALLENgES 56

4.1 RegionalLevelEnvironmentalResponses(ParticipationinRio,Johannesburg,Mauritius,UNFrameworkConventiononClimateChange,ConventiononBiologicalDiversity,MontrealProtocoletc.) 57

4.2 NationalLevelResponses:MainstreamingofSustainableDevelopment,NEMS,NationalCapacitySelfAssessment,NationalSustainableDevelopmentStrategies,SectorPoliciesandFrameworks 57

4.3 CommunityLevelActions:IdeasthatcanbeReplicated 59


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5. UNESCO’S ROLE IN FURThERINg PACIFIC ISLAND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A CRITICAL ANAyLSIS 6�

5.1 Education:PromoteEducationforSustainableDevelopmentthroughtheDecadeofEducationforSustainableDevelopment 62

5.2 PromoteCulturallySensitiveDevelopment 66

5.3 SupportCommunityLevelActivitiesforStakeholderEmpowerment 67

5.4 SpecificSectors,IssuesorCountrieswhereInterventionisWarranted 68

6. CONCLUDINg REMARKS 7�

REFERENCES CITED 74

APPENDIx I: PACIFIC COUNTRy STATUS wITh MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AgREEMENTS gLOBAL AgREEMENTS / CONVENTIONS 77

APPENDIx �I: COUNTRy AND TERRITORy PROFILES 78

LIST OF ACRONyMS 95

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FOREwORD

FOREWORD

UNESCOhas longrecognisedthesignificanceofsustainabledevelopment.While the most broadly accepted definition

as "development that meets the needs of the present withoutcompromising the ability of future generations to meet theirown needs" emergedwith the BrundtlandReport published in1987, programmes such asMan and the Biosphere, establishedinthelate1960s,clearlyanticipatedtheneedtoaddresshumandevelopmentwiththeneedsoffuturegenerationsinmind–andadvocatedinnovativeandinterdisciplinarymeanstodoso.

In thepublicationSixty Years of Science at UNESCO 1945–2005,sustainabledevelopmentwasdefinedasakeysubjectareaforUNESCO'sworkinthenaturalsciences–aunifyingconceptfortheorganization'swork.

Recognizing that sustainable development rests of four pillars – the three classical economic, social,andenvironmental pillars, aswell as the cultural pillarwithwhich theorganization isoften associated–UNESCOadvocates themainstreamingof culture, education, and science intodevelopment. Seeingthese as cross-cutting elements underpinning sustainable development, UNESCO believes that suchmainstreaming will reduce inequalities and their associated costs, while at the same time supportingenvironmentalsustainability.

However,asaglobalorganizationwith193membercountriesfacingaformidablerangeofdevelopmentchallenges,UNESCOrealizes that thedefinitionsand interpretationsof sustainabledevelopmentmustnecessarilybeasdiverseasitmembercountries.

It therefore follows that inorder toeffectively serve itsmember states in their pursuitof sustainabledevelopment,UNESCOmustfirsttakestepstoascertainhowitsmemberstatesperceivetheconcept.Whataretheirkeysustainabledevelopmentpriorities?Arethereissuesandtrendsthataresharedatthewiderregionalscales?AndhowcanUNESCObestutilizeitsmandate,programmesandinstrumentstoassistinaddressingthese?

Prepared by the University of the South Pacific's Pacific Centre for Environment and SustainableDevelopmentinpartnershipwithUNESCO,thisreportistheresultofapilotprojectwiththeobjectiveofdefiningandoutliningsustainabledevelopmentchallengesandresponsesinthePacificislandregion.

Oneofthemostbiologicallyandculturallydiverseregionsoftheworld,thePacificfacesabroadrangeofdevelopmentchallenges.ComprisingsmallislanddevelopingstatesranginginsizefromNiuewithlessthan2,000 inhabitants toPapuaNewGuineawithmore than6million,anddispersedoveranareacoveringroughlyonethirdoftheglobe,thePacific ishometohundredsof languages,traditionsandcultures.ThepeoplesofthePacifichaveforgenerationsreliedonthelocalandindigenoussystemsandtechnologiesthatallowedthemtosettleandthriveinaregionconnectedanddominatedbytheoceanratherthanbyland.

Facedwithglobalization,climatechangeandvariability,andrapideconomic,politicalandsocialtransformation,Pacificislandcountriesareatacrossroads-seekingeconomicgrowthaswellassocialandpoliticalstability,whileretainingandbuildinguponthelocalandindigenousvalues,knowledgeandtechnologiesthatdefinetheregion.ArticulatingandpursuingsustainabledevelopmentinasettingthatisappropriateanduniquetothePacificisanessentialelementinthisquest.

WalterErdelenUNESCOAssistantDirector-GeneralforNaturalSciences

Paris,France,November2007


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INTRODUCTION

Thereisuniversalagreementthatsustainabledevelopmentisdesirableforallpeoplesandnationsoftheworld.However,whenitcomesto

definingwhatthetermembodies,broadagreementishardertocomeby.

Perhapsbecauseitisutilisedtosuchanextent–andinsuchawiderangeof contexts – by the development aid and international cooperationcommunity, the meaning of the word“sustainable” can itself be hard tocometogripswith.

This report examines how the small island nations of the Pacific aredevisingandadvancinglocallyspecificandoftenuniqueinterpretationsofwhat constitutes sustainabledevelopment, as they confront considerabledevelopmentchallenges.

Coveringmorethanonefourthofthesurfaceoftheglobe,yetwithapopulationoflessthansevenmillion,characterisedbyveryhighbiologicalandculturaldiversity,theprevalenceofstronglocalandindigenouscultures,andfacedwithconsiderablechallengessuchasgeographicalisolationandvulnerabilitytoclimatechange,thePacificisunlikeanyotherregionintheworld.

However,intheuniqueandcreativeresponsestothedevelopmentchallengesitfaces,aswellasinthedifficultiesinovercomingsomeofthese,thePacificholdsvaluablelessonsfortheworldasawhole.

ThisreportisaproductoftheUniversityoftheSouthPacific(USP)’sPacificCentreforEnvironmentandSustainableDevelopment. Auniversityandan intergovernmentalorganizationwithmembership fromalltheindependentPacificislandstates,USPplaysacrucialroleinaddressingtheregion’sdevelopmentchallenges.Mysincerethanksgototheuniversityandtotheauthorsofthisreport,whohavemanagedtosynthesizeatremendouseffortintoacompactandreadableformat.

AsDirectoroftheUNESCOApiaOffice–therepresentativeofficeofUNESCOtothePacificislandstates–Iamhappyforourofficetobeassociatedwiththisreport,whichwasconceivedduringavisittotheregionbytheUNESCOAssistantDirector-GeneralfortheNaturalSciencesthreeyearsago.

ItismyhopethatthisdocumentwillbefoundusefulasacontributiontoboththePacificandtheglobaldebateon sustainabledevelopment, and that itmayprovide assistance towards guiding theworknotonlyofourownorganizationandsisterUNagenciesasweembarkonincreasinglycloselycoordinatedprogramming, but also the wider network of Pacific and global organizations with an interest in thesustainabledevelopmentofsmallislandstatesandcommunities.

VisesioPongiDirector,UNESCOOffice,Apia

Apia,Samoa,November2007

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ACKNOwLEDgEMENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ThisreportbenefitedfromtheattentionofnumerousindividualswithinUNESCO,attheUniversityoftheSouthPacificandelsewhere.

At UNESCO I should like to especially thankWalter Erdelen,Assistant Director-General for NaturalSciences, for his inspiration in conceiving this project andhis support throughout the exercise. HansThulstrupofUNESCOApiaOfficecoordinatedthecompilationofUNESCOinputtothereportwithsupportandeditingfromL.AnatheaBrooksatUNESCOHeadquartersandSusanVizeandJamesEliseatUNESCOApia.AdditionalthanksareduetoDirkTroostandDouglasNakashimafromtheCoastalandSmallIslandsgroupatUNESCO,SalvatoreArico,MikeBonnell,MiguelClusener-Godt,PeggyDunlop,ChristineGalitzine,MirjamKuzeeandothercolleagueswhocommentedonandaddedtothedrafts.

Finally, I would like to thank Ralph Regenvanu of theVanuatu Cultural Centre for his review of thisdocument.

VisesioPongi


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Thoughtherearemanyinterpretationsofsustainabledevelopment,themostwidelyquoteddefinitionistheonegivenintheBrundtlandReport:“developmentthatmeetstheneedsofthepresentgeneration

withoutcompromisingtheabilityoffuturegenerationstomeettheirownneeds”(WorldCommissiononEnvironmentandDevelopment,1987).Thethreepillarsofsustainabledevelopmentarenowrecognisedto be economic growth, social development and environmental protection. In its applications, sustainabledevelopmentistrulymulti-dimensional(societyandnature),multi-temporal(spansshortandlongtimehorizons),multi-geographic (coversall regionsof theworld),multi-scale (microandmacro levels) andinvokesintra-andinter-generationalequity.

Traditionally,PacificIslandpeoplehavelivedasubsistencelifestylewithtaboosandpracticesthatpromotedsustainabilityofresourceuse.Thetraditionalandindigenousapproachestosustainabilitywereembodiedinsystemsofknowledgeandpracticeapplicabletoallsectorsoftheirlivelihood,suchascontrolledaccessanduseofnaturalresources, foodsecurity(agricultureandmarine)andfoodpreservationtechniques,weatherandseasonalclimateforecasting,traditionalmedicines,wastemanagementandsocialrelationships.Worldwide, there is increasing recognition of the intrinsic importance of local culture underlying thewholedevelopmentprocess.Theneedtoprotectculturaldiversity,promoteculturalindustries,respectintellectualpropertyrightsandencouragepublic-privatepartnershipsresultinginjobcreationandpovertyreductionhasbeenrecognisedinthePacific.Traditionalandlocalknowledgehasalsoplayedarole inprotectingthecoralreefs,rainforestenvironments,mangroves,andtraditionalmedicines. ItshouldalsoberecognisedthattraditionalandlocalknowledgehasassistedPacificcommunitiestosustainthemselveseffectivelythroughouthistorywithoutcomplextechnologicalinterventionsandthereforehascontinuingimportanceinPacificIslandcountries.Withoutanyprejudicetothebenefitsarisingfrommodernization,it has led to a generaldecline in thequalityof life in recentdecades,withproblemsaffecting aspectsof lifeunderall threepillarsofsustainabledevelopment. Ontheotherhand,thecombinationof localand traditional knowledgewithmodern knowledge, especially in natural resourcemanagement at thecommunitylevel,hasproventobeeffectiveinanumberofPacificIslandcountries.AlthoughthebenefitofaugmentingmodernknowledgewithtraditionalknowledgehasbeenrecognisedandappliedinafewPacificIslandcountries,thebroadernotionofsustainabledevelopmentcontinuestobearticulatedwithoutsignificantregardforsustainablepracticeswithinPacificcultures.Consequently,sustainabledevelopmentisoftenexpressedasanewdevelopmentparadigmarisingfrominternationalandsubsequentlyregionalandnationalleveldiscussions,lackingsubstancetoordinarycitizensatlarge.Toallaythismisconception,andmoreimportantlydrawfromindigenousknowledgesystemsandpractices(IKSP),themainstreamingofIKSPintonationallevelplanningwithdueconsiderationtoitsintellectualpropertyaspectsofIKSPcannotbeover-emphasised.

InthePacific,avarietyofcustomarylandtenuresystemshavebeenpractisedoverdecades,oftensharingsimilarities such as communal ownership and spiritual association with the land. More importantly,customary land laws (and thereforecustomary land tenure)andconstitutional land lawsarecurrentlybeing recognised and applied simultaneously, where the latter seldom reflect customary land tenureprinciplesandareoftenregardedastheultimatelandlaw.Theparallelrecognitionandapplicationofbothlandtenuresystems,withoutanyfacilitativelinksbetweenthem,givesrisetoa“greyarea”whereconflictsoftenarise.Consequently,thecustomarylandtenuresystemsinthePacifichaveoftenbeencriticisedforbeingobstaclestoeconomicdevelopment.Thewayforwardistoensurethattheinterestsandbenefitsarising from theutilizationof land resources areequitablydistributedbetween local communities andentrepreneurs.

Inanever-globalisingworldthesituationofPacificIslandcountriescontinuestobeoneofexposureandgrowingvulnerabilitywithan increasing inabilitytorespond.Therearemanydisadvantagesthatderivefromsmallsize:anarrowrangeofresources,excessivedependenceoninternationaltrade,highpopulation

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ExECUTIVE SUMMARy

density,overuseofnaturalresources,climatevulnerability,relativelysmallwatersheds,costlyinfrastructure,fragileecosystemswithhighlevelsofendemismandwastemanagementchallenges.

In addition to regional multilateral environmental agreements, the region and the individual PacificIslandcountriesandterritories(PICTs)havemadestrongcommitmentstopreventfurtherirreversibleenvironmental change and to promote sustainable development by becoming party to numerousinternationalmultilateralenvironmentalagreementssuchastheEarthSummitconventions(FrameworkConvention on Climate Change, Convention on Biological Diversity and Convention to CombatDesertification), the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and the Barbados Programme ofAction,includingthePacificTypeIIinitiativesandtheMauritiusStrategy.Thesecommitmentsresultinreportingand implementationobligationsoftenbeyondthecompliancecapacityofPICTs. While thePICTsarestillgrapplingwiththeimplementationchallengesofAgenda21,(anoutcomeoftheRioEarthSummit),theBarbadosProgrammeofAction,andtheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals,thelisthasincreasedwithadditionalprioritiesresultingfromchangestakingplaceintheworld.Theseincludeclimatechangeandsea level rise, natural and environmental disasters, diseases such as HIV/AIDS, as well as governanceand management issues linked to globalisation, trade liberalization, information and communicationtechnologyandbroadeningsecuritychallenges.Thesehaveprofoundimpactsonecosystems,economiesandsocio-culturalaspectsoflifeinPICTs.TheweakeningeconomicperformanceofmanyPICTssincetheadoptionoftheBarbadosProgrammeofActionisamatterofconcern,dueinparttotheirdecliningtradeperformance.WhilstitisrecognisedthatinternationaltradeisimportantforthebuildingofresilienceandsustainabledevelopmentofPICTs,thenecessityfortheinternationalfinancialandtradingsystemsgrantingspecialanddifferential treatment toPICTs isalso imperative. Truly,PICTswillbeunable toeffectivelyparticipateinthemultilateraltradenegotiations,resultingintheirfurthermarginalizationunlesstheWorldTradeOrganizationrecognisesthespecialcaseofSmallIslandDevelopingStatesingeneralandPICTsinparticularandtakesappropriateaction.

Itisnowclearthatnosinglegrouporgivensetofactivitiesalonewillbeabletochangethedevelopmentparadigmsof thepresent; insteadthesolution lies inpartnershipsand integratedactivities involvingallstakeholders.AttheSpecialRetreatinAucklandon6April2004,PacificIslandleadersadoptedanewvision for the Pacific, which sought to give all Pacific peoples lives that are “free and worthwhile”. Inaddition to economic growth, additional elements were also recognised as key priorities for bringingabout sustainabledevelopment, namely socio-cultural andenvironmentalprotection, goodgovernanceandsecurity.APacificPlanhasbeendevelopedto “give effect to” theirnewvisionthroughthepromotionof “deeper and broader regional cooperation”.

Public awareness, education and training are key to moving society toward sustainability. Buildingcapacity formakingdecisions thatconsider the long-term futureofeconomy,ecologyandsociety isakeytaskofeducationandawarenessraising.Humancapacitybuilding,particularlyscientificandtechnicalcapacitybuilding, inthePICTs isoneofthepriorityrequirementsto improvetheirownpolicymakingtoeffectively address issuesand toensurea safeand sustainable future for theirpeople. Theviciouscycleofenvironmentaldegradationandpovertyand theunavailabilityof accurateenvironmentaldatain the PICTsmake it very difficult to find a tangibleway towards sustainable development. Globally,amore inclusiveeducationalapproach isbeingpromoted for sustainabledevelopment. Education forSustainableDevelopment(ESD)needsnottobeseenmerelyasa“chalkandtalk”exercise,butasanholisticapproach, involvingallstakeholders,usingallmodalitiessuchasformal,non-formalandinformaleducationalapproaches,underpinnedbyflexibledeliverymethods.

SomeareaswhereUNESCOcanhaveroleinaddressingthePICT’schallengeshavebeenidentifiedunderfoursub-sectionsinthelastchapterofthisdocument.Thefourareasinclude:

(1) promotionofeducation-basedcapacitybuildingforsustainabledevelopment,

(2) promotionofculture-sensitivedevelopment,


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(3) supportforcommunity-basedactivitiesthatempowerstakeholders,and

(4) support for regionally agreedplans and strategieswithin theambitof sustainabledevelopment.PICTsshouldactivelyendeavour to turn sustainable development into a reality with or without external support.

1. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES

1.1 GeneralConceptofSustainableDevelopment

Morethan800millionpeopleintheworldarecurrently malnourished – food production

must double in the next 35 years to feed thegrowingpopulation.Morethan1.3billionpeopleare without clean water while 2 billion peoplearewithoutsanitation. Over2billionpeoplearewithout electricity today. As many as 1.3 billionpeople liveon less than$1perdayand3billionpeople on less than $2 per day. The top 20%income group uses 86% of resources, while thebottom20%usesunder1.3%ofavailableresources.In addition, about 1.4 billion people are exposedtodangerouslevelsofoutdoorpollutionandeven

largernumbersareexposedtodangerous levelsof indoorairpollutionandvector-bornediseases. Alargenumberofpeoplearelivingtodayinareassusceptibletocivilstrife,environmentaldegradation,andnaturaldisasters.

Thecontinuedgrowthoftheworldpopulationandproductioncombinedwithunsustainableconsumptionpatternsplaces increasingly severe stresson the life support systemsof theplanet. These interactiveprocessesaffecttheuseofland,water,air,energyandotherresources.AmajorchangeinthestewardshipoftheEarthandthelifeonitisrequiredtomoveawayfromparadigmsthatrelyexclusivelyonconceptsof continuouseconomic growth, corporateprofit, andconsumeravarice. Thedevelopmentpathwaysneedtomaintainabalancebetweenhumanity’seconomicandsocialneedsandthecapacityoftheearth’sresourcesandecosystemstomeetpresentandfutureneeds.

Theconceptofsustainablehumandevelopmentisessentiallyavisionflexibleenoughtoincludechangesinselectivecomponentsofthedevelopmentstrategyaslongasitleadstoapeople-centreddevelopment.Sustainability,aspopularisedbytheWorldCommissiononEnvironmentandDevelopment(WCED)inits1987report“Our Common Future”promoteseconomicgrowthinthedevelopmentprocesseswithoutcompromisingtheabilityoffuturegenerationstomeettheirownneeds.Sustainabledevelopmentisaprocessforimprovingtherangeofopportunitiesthatwillenableindividualhumanbeingsandcommunitiestoachievetheiraspirationsandfullpotentialoverasustainedperiodoftime,whilemaintainingtheresilienceofeconomic,socialandenvironmentalsystems.Sustainabledevelopmentis, inessence,aboutensuringbetterqualityoflifeforeveryone,nowandforgenerationstocome(Munasinghe,1994).Initsapplications,sustainabledevelopmentistrulymulti-dimensional(societyandnature),multi-temporal(spansshortandlongtimehorizons),multi-geographic(coversallregionsoftheworld)andmulti-scale(microandmacrolevels)andinvokesintra-andinter-generationalequity.

Issuessuchasfoodsecurity,adequateprovisionofwaterandenergytoall,povertyalleviationandequityaresomeofthe key global sustainable development challenges. Inordertoeffectivelyaddresstheseissues,allnationsmustagreetoworktowardssustainablepatternsofproductionandconsumption–meeting

Photo:UNESCOApia.

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ThE PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES

their individual and collective economic, social and environmental objectives through efficient use ofresourcesanddecouplingeconomicgrowthfromenvironmentaldegradationandtakingstepsonreformintrade-distortingandenvironmentallydamagingpracticessothatallcancompeteinworldmarketsinanequitablemanner,particularlyinagriculture,fisheriesandenergy.

Tomakesustainabledevelopmentareality,itmustbebuiltintopoliciesandsounddecision-makingatalllevels.Thisrequiresmeetingfourkeyobjectivesintheoverallregionalcontextnamely:

(i) socialprogresswhichrecognisestheneedsofeveryone;

(ii) safeguardingofindigenouscultures;

(iii) effectivemanagementoftheenvironmentandprudentuseofnaturalresources;and

(iv) generationofemploymentandtheestablishmentandmaintenanceofsustainableeconomies.

1.2 TheSmallIslandDevelopingStatesandSustainableDevelopment

The Small Island Developing States (SIDS)are“a special case” both for environment anddevelopmentandahostofcomplexchallengesneedtobeaddressedtoensurethatsustainabledevelopmentbecomesareality.Theyarelimitedin size, have vulnerable economies and aredependent both upon narrow resource basesandon international trade,without themeansof influencing the terms of that trade. Theirbiodiversityisamongthemostthreatenedintheworld and their ecosystemsprovideecologicalcorridors linking major areas of biodiversityaroundtheworld.Limitedfreshwaterresources,populationgrowth,increasingamountsofwasteand hazardous substances, and limited facilities for waste disposal are some of the key issues forSIDS. The Island States would suffer most from the adverse effects of climate change and sea levelriseandcould in somecasesbecomeuninhabitable. There isanurgentneed inSIDS toaddress theconstraints to sustainable development, including scarce land resources, which lead to difficult landand agriculture use decisions; limited freshwater ; education and training needs; expanding healthand human settlement requirements; inordinate pressures on coastal and marine environmentand resources; and limited means available to exploit natural resources on a sustainable basis.

Since the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of SIDS in April-May 1994 (whichtranslatedAgenda21intospecificpolicies,actionsandmeasurestobetakenatthenational,regionalandinternationallevelstoachievesustainabledevelopment)andtheadoptionoftheBarbadosPlanofAction(BPoA),severalinitiativeshavebeenundertakenbySIDStoimplementsustainabledevelopmentstrategiesthroughactionatthenationalandtheregional level inspiteof limitedinstitutionalcapacityandaccesstotechnology.InSeptember2002,theWorldSummitonSustainableDevelopment(WSSD)reaffirmedthespecialcaseofSIDSandhighlightedaseriesofSIDS-specificissuesandconcernsintheJohannesburgPlanofImplementation(JPOI),adoptedbytheSummit.SeniorrepresentativesoftheGovernmentsoftheSIDS,undertheAllianceofSmallIslandStates(AOSIS)umbrella,reaffirmedtheircommitmenttothetargetsandtimetablesintheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals(MDGs),andtheJPOI,andinparticularthemattersofsignificancetoSIDSintheJPOIinNassauduring26–30January2004,andfurthercommittedthemselvestothemonitoringandevaluationofprogressatregularintervalstowardstheachievementoftheMDGsandsustainabledevelopment.InJanuary2005,a10-yearreviewoftheBPoAonthesustainabledevelopmentofSIDSresultedinadoptionoftheMauritiusDeclarationandalsooftheMauritiusStrategytofurthertheimplementationoftheprogrammeofactionascollectivecommitmentsofallnations.

Photo:LauraBerdejo.


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SIDS continue to face constraints in fully implementing sustainable development strategies due toinsufficientresources(dueparticularlytodeclininglevelsofofficialdevelopmentassistance),theincreasingfrequencyandintensityofdisastersandtheincreasinglyseveredamagetonationalproductivecapacityand infrastructure, adverse effects of globalisation and trade liberalization for their small, highly openeconomies,lackofinstitutionalcapacityandtheincreasingriskoftheirmarginalizationinthefastchanginginternationaleconomicstructure.TheweakeningeconomicperformanceofmanySIDSsincetheadoptionoftheBPoAisamatterofconcern,dueinparttotheirdecliningtradeperformance.WhilstrecognizingthatinternationaltradeisimportantforbuildingtheresilienceandsustainabledevelopmentofSIDS,thenecessity for the international financial and trading systems grant special anddifferential treatment toSIDSisalsoimperative.Moreover,SIDScommunitiesarenowfacedwithadditionalissuesresultingfromchangestakingplaceintheworld,inparticular,climatechangeandsealevelrise,naturalandenvironmentaldisasters,diseasessuchasHIV/AIDS,andgovernanceandmanagementissueslinkedtoglobalisation,tradeliberalizationandInformationandCommunicationTechnology(ICT).Thesehaveprofoundimpactsonecosystems,economies,socio-culturalaspectsoflife,thewaythepeopleinSIDScommunicateandthewaytheydobusinessinternationally.

Inanever-globalisingworld,thesituationofSIDScontinuestobeoneofexposureandgrowingvulnerabilitywithanincreasinginabilitytorespond(poorresilience).Therearemanydisadvantagesthatderivefromsmallsize,whicharemagnifiedbythefactthatmanyislandstatesarenotonlysmallbutarethemselvesmadeupofanumberofsmallislands.Thosedisadvantagesincludeanarrowrangeofresources,whichforces undue specialization; excessive dependence on international trade and hence vulnerability toglobaldevelopments;highpopulationdensity,whichincreasesthepressureonalreadylimitedresources;overuseof resourcesandprematuredepletion; relatively smallwatershedsand threatened suppliesoffreshwater ;costlypublicadministrationandinfrastructure,includingtransportationandcommunicationaffectingtheavailabilityandqualityofbasicserviceprovisionsinareassuchaseducationandhealth;andlimitedinstitutionalcapacitiesanddomesticmarkets,whicharetoosmalltoprovidesignificanteconomiesofscale,whiletheirlimitedexportvolumes,sometimesfromremotelocations,leadtohighfreightcostsandreducedcompetitiveness.ThedevelopmentpartnersofSIDSneedtoextendgreatersupportandimprovedcoordinationfortheeffectiveimplementationoftheBPoAatthenationalandregionallevels.SIDSwouldneednewandadditionalfinancial resourcesprovided inadequate,predictableand timelyflows,inordertorespondeffectivelytotheirsustainabledevelopmentchallenges.

1.3 PacificIslandCountries:MajorChallenges

ThePICTscoveralandareaofonly553,959km2spreadintheworld’slargestocean.Thelandareasvaryconsiderably,withthelargestislandcountryintheSouthPacific,PapuaNewGuinea(PNG),beingslightlylargerthanJapanwhilemostofthecountriesareverysmall(Table1).Nauru,Pitcairn,TokelauandTuvalucanbedescribedaswafer-sized,nonebeinglargerthan27km2.Elevenofthetwenty-twocountriesandterritoriesinthisregionarelessthan500km2.Interestingly,theratioofseatolandareaforthedevelopingcountriesintheSouthPacificisquitelarge.Kiribati,forinstance,hasaseaareaof3,550,000km2,over5,000timesitslandarea.

At the regional level, the inter-relatednessof theeconomicandecological characteristics for islands ismanifestinseveralareas.Insularnaturalresourcessuchaswater,vegetation,soil,near-shoresystems,andwildlife,ultimatelydictatethecapacityofislandstoacceptandsustaindevelopment.Resourceproductivityis intricately linked to the function of neighbouring ecosystems such that damage to one ecosysteminvariablyimpactsonotherecosystemsforislandstoamuchgreaterdegreethanisthecaseforcontinentalsocieties.Naturaldisastersimposeseriousconstraintsondevelopment;thedamagescausedperunitareaandcostpercapitaaretypicallymuchgreaterduetothesmallsizeoftheislandcountriesandeconomies.Economic impacts includedevastationof agricultural sectors, setbacks in the tourist industries due to

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extensivedamagetobeachesandcoastalecosystems,anddisruptionofcommunicationservices,whichimpactsonallsectors..

ThePacificPICTshaveoneofthehighestlevelofindigeneityofanypartoftheworld,withover90%ofPacificpopulationscomprisedofindigenousPacificpeople.Traditionalcultureandsocietiesarethereforestrongandformakeypartinshapinglifestylesandresponsestoglobalisation.

Atthesub-regionallevel,thesub-divisionintoMelanesianPICTs(PapuaNewGuinea(PNG),SolomonIslands,Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji), Polynesian PICTs (American Samoa, Cook Islands, FrenchPolynesia,Niue,PitcairnIslands,Samoa,Tonga,Tuvalu,TokelauandWallis&Futuna)andMicronesianPICTs(FederatedStatesofMicronesia (FSM),Guam,Kiribati,Marshall Islands,Nauru,Commonwealthof theNorthernMarianasandPalau)isanalternativelenstoobtainafineroverviewoftheregion,reflectingtheuniquecharacteristicsofindividualPICTs.TheMelanesianPICTsgeographicallyhavelargerlandareasandareethnicallymorediverserelativetothePolynesianandMicronesianPICTs.InMelanesianPICTs,economicactivitiessuchascommerciallogging,agriculturalplantationsandminingarecommon;however,theseeconomic activities areoften fraughtwith landdisputes,whichmay result in social andpoliticaltensions. ThesmallerMicronesianandPolynesianPICTsoftenrelymoreontheirsea-basedresourcesforeconomicgrowth;whilstatthesubsistenceandruraleconomiclevels,sea-basedresourcesareequallyimportanttoallPICTs.

It is important to note that natural endowments alone are not the only differentiating factors in thesustainable development challenges and opportunities of PICTs. Key issues such as political stability,provisionandqualityofbasicgovernmentservices,theviabilityoftheprivatesector,betterandtransparentgovernanceatalllevels,adaptivesocietiesandthemaintenanceofcordialrelationshipswithdevelopmentpartnersarecentraltothechallengesandopportunitiesconfrontingPICTs.Inaddition,therelationshipwithpastandpresentcolonisers (in thecaseof the territories)alsohasasignificant influenceonthepresentandfuturedevelopmentdirectionsofPICTs.MostPacificislandnationstatesareveryyoungwiththeperiodofindependencecommencingwithSamoain1962.AnexampleinpointistheCompactofFreeAssociation(COFA)1whichtheFSM,PalauandtheRepublicofMarshallIslandshavewiththeUnitedSatesofAmerica (USA). TheCOFAhascleareconomicand socialdimensions in these independentcountriesgivenits15–20yeartenureandguaranteedfinancialassistanceandaccesstoUSAdevelopmentprogrammes.

Duringthe1990s,dramaticchangesoccurredwithinthePacific,stimulatedbylong-terminternationalandregionaltrends,suchasglobalisation,deterioratingtermsoftrade,risingexternaldebtandunsustainabledevelopment policies, andbymore short-termdevelopments such as the financial crisis inAsia. Thesecurity and stabilityof severalPICTshave consequentlydeclinedmarkedby growingunemployment,poverty,socialdisintegrationandwideningincomedifferentials(PIFS,2002).

Pacific Islanders remain highly dependent onbiological resources and healthy ecosystems for survival.FishingandagriculturearestillthemainstaysoftheeconomiesofmostPICTs.Thepriorityenvironmentalsustainabledevelopment issues identified inPICTsprogressivelyover the last tenyears include lossofbiologicaldiversity, landdegradation,lackofandthreatstofreshwaterresources,degradationofcoastalenvironments,landandsea-basedwasteandpollution,andpoorinstitutionalcapacityforenvironmentalplanningandmanagement. PICTswillhaveto faceahostof theseandalsonewemergingchallengesdue to geographic isolation, environmental degradation, climate change, rising sea levels, poor tradingopportunitiesinaglobalisingeconomyandlimitedresources(natural,humanandinstitutional)astheyworktowardspositivelong-termdevelopmentthatiseconomically,sociallyandenvironmentallysustainable.

1 TheUSAprovidesguaranteedfinancialassistancetothesecountries inexchangeforcertaindefenserights. All thesecountrieswereformermembersoftheUnitedNationsPacificIslandsTrustTerritorythatusedtobeadministeredbytheUSA.


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ThesurvivalofSIDSinthePacificisfirmlyrootedintheirhumanresourcesandculturalheritage,whicharetheirmostsignificantassets;thoseassetsareunderseverestressandalleffortsmustbetakentoensurethecentralpositionofpeopleintheprocessofsustainabledevelopmentsoastoenhancethequalityoflifeofpeoples,includingtheirhealth,well-beingandsafety.

Table1:PacificIslandcountriesandterritories–LandandOceanicAreas

Land Area EEZ2 Ratio of ocean Country or Territory (km2) (km2) to land area

Melanesia

PapuaNewGuinea 462,860 3,100,000 7

SolomonIslands 29,785 1,340,000 45

NewCaledonia 19,103 1,740,000 91

Fiji 18,376 1,290,000 70

Vanuatu 12,189 680,000 56

Polynesia

FrenchPolynesia 3,521 5,030,000 1,429

Samoa 2,934 120,000 41

Tonga 696 700,000 1,006

Niue 258 390,000 1,512

AmericanSamoa 197 390,000 1,980

CooksIslands 180 1,830,000 10,167

WallisandFutuna 124 300,000 2,419

Tuvalu 26 900,000 34,615

Tokelau 12 290,000 24,167

Pitcairn 5 800,000 160,000

Micronesia

Kiribati 726 3,550,000 4,890

MarshallIslands 720 2,131,000 2,960

FSM 702 2,978,000 4,242

Guam 549 218,000 397

Palau 500 629,000 1,258

NorthernMarianas 475 1,823,000 3,838

Nauru 21 320,000 15,238

Total 553,959 30,549,000

Source:WorldBank,accessedfromhttp://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPACIFICISLANDS/Resources/3-chapter+1.pdf(asper5thAugust2007)

1.4 WSSDTypeIIInitiativesasaVehicleforImplementingSustainableDevelopmentinPICTs

Formorethantwodecades,sustainabledevelopmentandecosystemconservationissuesinPICTshavebeensubjectsofinternationaldiscussionandnegotiation.PICTsaredirectlyorindirectlyaffectedbyeventsoccurringonaglobalscale,betheyeconomic,politicalorecologicalincharacter.Further,itisbeyondthecapacityofIslandStatestocontrolorinfluencetheseevents,theimpactsofwhichmustbeaddressedinthecontextofglobalandregionalcooperation.AspartoftheWSSD,theHeadsofGovernmentfrom

2 TheExclusiveEconomicZone(EEZ)isthe200-milelimitseaareasurroundingcoastalstates.Withinthisarea,thePacificIslandshaveexclusiverightstoexploittheirnaturalresources.

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thePacificlaunchedasetoffourteenumbrellainitiativesinJohannesburg(seeAppendix1).ThesehavebeendevelopedonthebasisofthePacificRegionalSubmissiontoWSSDaswellastheneedsreflectedinNationalAssessmentsoftheIslandCountries.Thecurrentlistofumbrellainitiatives(alsoknownasTypeIIInitiatives)includes:capacitybuilding,land,tourism,vulnerabilityanddisastermanagement,ICT,conservation,educationandcommunitydevelopment,energy,adaptation,governance,health,water,oceans,andwastemanagement.Theseinitiativesareatvariousstagesofdevelopmentandintenseeffortsarebeingmadetoembracethemintocomprehensivenationalandregionalactionplansforeffectiveimplementationthroughappropriatepartnershipsrepresentingallthestakeholdersandclients.

Table2:PacificTypeIIinitiatives

Pacific Umbrella Initiative Facilitating Agency(ies)

CapacitybuildingthroughEducationandTrainingfortheSustainableUseandManagementofNaturalResourcesandtheEnvironment USP&SPREP

PacificIslandsEnergyforSustainableDevelopment PIFS&SOPAC

SustainableLandResourcesDevelopment SPC

PacificIslandsAdaptation SPREP

SustainableTourismDevelopmentforthePacific SPTO

PacificIslandsGovernance PIFS

VulnerabilityandDisasterManagement SOPAC

PacificIslandsHealthforSustainableDevelopment SPC

InformationandCommunicationTechnologyforSustainableDevelopment PIFS

PacificStrategiesforWater,SanitationandHygiene,andRegionalConsultationonSustainableWaterManagement SOPAC

MainstreamingConservationofBiodiversityandassociatedtraditionalknowledge SPREP

Ocean SPC

PlanningandCommunityDevelopment SPREP

WasteManagement SPREP

1.5 BPoA:TheBlueprintandtheMauritiusStrategy

Thedelegatesof thePacificRegionalMeeting held inApiainAugust 2003 for the reviewof theBPoA inpreparationfortheMauritiusInternationalMeeting(MIM)reaffirmedthecontinuedvalidityoftheBPoAastheblueprintforsustainabledevelopment in the region and for SIDS in general. Theyexpressed continued support to the principles expressedintheDeclarationofBarbados,theneedtobuildonPacifictraditions and to strengthen theuseof culture andhistoryin the development of strategic planning processes forsustainabledevelopment. Itwasalso recognised that therewasaneedtostrengthenself-relianceandbuildoninternalstrengthsandtocommitdomesticresourcestostrengthenthecapacity for national implementation of the BPoA. However, even after decade-long serious efforts,the well-crafted and well-intentioned Barbados blue print for SIDS development largely remainsunimplemented. Ithasnotbeenabletocapturetherequiredpoliticalwill tobringaboutrealactions.

Photo:KatrinaAdams.


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IntheyearsfollowingtheBarbadosConferencein1994,thefocusoftheinternationalagendachangedwithincreasingattentiontowardsecurityconcerns,theimplementationoftheMDGs,andtheprioritisationofdomesticgoodgovernanceovergovernancereformsattheinternationallevel.However,thespecialcaseofSIDSandtheconcernshighlightedintheBPoAwasgivenfurthersupportthroughtheten-yearreviewoftheBPoAatMauritiusinJanuary2005.

AnencouragingfeatureoftheMauritiusStrategyistheefforttoprioritisesupportforresiliencebuildingandvulnerabilityprojects,addingsocialandeconomicdevelopmentconsiderationstotheBPoAandmakingitconsiderablymoreattractivetodonors.Supportingthisrecognition,theUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP)–theUN’sleadagencyfortheimplementationoftheMDGs–launchedaSIDSResilienceBuildingFacilitytoassistSIDStodevelopthecapacitytoformulateandimplementinitiativestoreducetheirvulnerabilities.ThereislittledoubtthattheMIMhasstrengthenedpartnershipsincludingincreased SIDS ownership of responsibility over their sustainable development, renewed and/orreprioritisedinternationalcommunitysupport,improvedSouth-Southcooperation,increasedUNagencyengagementinSIDSissues,andidentifiednewmeansofimplementation,includingthroughthelaunchingofaSIDSUniversityConsortium.However,theMauritiusStrategydoesnotprovidecleardirectiontootherinternationalorganizationsandprocesses,suchasthe internationalfinancial institutionsandmultilateralenvironmentalagreements,andnocommitmentshavebeenmadefornewandadditionalfinancingorprojectsatthemeetingapartfromaddressingvulnerabilitytodisasters,suchastsunamis.

TheBPoApriorityareasrequiringactioninclude:climatechangeandsealevelrise,naturalandenvironmentaldisasters, management of wastes, coastal and marine resources, freshwater resources, land resources,energyresources,tourismresources,biodiversityresources,nationalinstitutionsandadministrativecapacity,regionalinstitutionsandtechnicalcooperation,transportandcommunication,scienceandtechnology,andhuman resource development. TheBPoAhas further identified several cross-sectoral areas requiringattention: capacity building; institutional development at the national, regional and international levels;cooperationinthetransferofenvironmentallysoundtechnologies,tradeandeconomicdiversification;andfinance.TheCommissiononSustainableDevelopment(CSD)hasbeenentrustedwiththeresponsibilitytofollowupontheimplementationoftheBPoA.

1.6 InternationalandRegionalNegotiationsonMultilateralEnvironmentalAgreements

EvenbeforetheEarthSummitofJune1992whichled to the widespread international acceptanceof the concept of sustainable development,the PICTs had begun to seriously look at theirenvironmental and developmental situation, asevidenced by the Conference on the HumanEnvironment in the South Pacific in June 1982,theestablishmentoftheSecretariatofthePacificRegional Environment Programme (SPREP) in1995,andothers.PICTscontinuetodemonstratetheir resolve and commitment to sustainabledevelopment,and,withintheirlimitedmeansandresources,are takingappropriatesteps to framethepoliciesandmeasuresthattheyplantoutiliseintheirquestforachievingsustainabledevelopment.

Today,theconceptofsustainabledevelopmentiswidelyacknowledgedinthePICTs.ThePacificregionandtheindividualislandnationshavemadeastrongcommitmenttointernationaleffortstopreventfurtherirreversibleenvironmentalchangeandtopromotesustainabledevelopmentbybecomingpartytonumerousMEAs.

Photo:JimMaragos.

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PICTshavesigneduptomostoftheglobalandregionalMEAs.Forexample,mostindependentstateshave signed theUnitedNationsConventionon theLawof theSea (UNCLOS), theUNFrameworkConvention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and theKyotoProtocoltonameafew.PICTsareactiveparticipantsinconferenceslinkedtotheseMEAsandtotherelatedforumsincludingtheWSSD,theBPoA,andtheUnitedNationsConferenceonEnvironmentandDevelopment(UNCED).Anotableexceptionhowever,istheConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpecies(CITES),whichhasonlybeenaccededbyPNG(1975),Vanuatu(1989),Fiji(1997)andPalau(2004).AlistofMEAsthathavebeenadoptedbymostofthecountriesinPacificisgiveninAppendixI.

RegionalcooperationonenvironmentalmattersinPICTscontinuestobebuiltontwoRegionalMEAs.Thefirstisthe“ConventionontheConservationofNatureintheSouthPacific”(theApiaConvention),adoptedin1976,whichcameintoforcein1990.Thesecondisthe“ConventionfortheProtectionoftheNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentoftheSouthPacificRegion”(theNoumeaConvention),whichwasadoptedin1986andcameintoforcein1990.Theformerprovidesthebasicstructureforregionalcooperationonbiologicalconservationandtheuseofprotectedareas.ThelatterdealswithpollutionandtheprotectionofmarineresourcesinthePacificregion.

Implementation by PICTs of the relevant MEAs will assist in finding long-lasting solutions to priorityenvironmentalproblemsbothregionallyandonacountry-by-countrybasis.Activitiesinsupportofthiscouldinclude:

• Establishment of a Regional MEA Legal Experts Network for capacity-building and institutionalsupport,includingperiodiccoordinationmeetings;

• Production of a regional report: “Assessment of MEA Applicability and Implementation in Pacific Island countries”followedbyafacilitatedprocessofprioritisationandidentificationofresourcesonnationalandregionalbasis,accordingtosubject;

• SecuringcommitmentfrominternationalexpertstoworkincollaborationwithresponsibleofficialstodraftMEAimplementationlegislationanddeveloppolicy-makingtools;

• Establishmentofnational/localMEAadvisorycommittees,involvingmulti-stakeholderparticipationandholdingperiodicmeetings;and

• Conductingperiodicexchangesandseminarsrelatedtoenvironmentalissues,inadditiontocapacity-buildingworkshopsonselectedtopicsrelevanttoPICTs(suchaslegislativedrafting,implementationandenforcementandpublicparticipation),beginningwiththeregionalconferenceon “Assessment of MEA Applicability and Implementation in Pacific Island countries”.

InastudybytheUnitedNationsUniversity(UNU),asmanyas29MEAswereexaminedfortheirlinkagesinthePacific.3Amongthese,particularattentionwaspaidtotheBasel,Rotterdam,StockholmandWaiganiConventions,whichdealwiththemanagementofhazardousandchemicalwastesandpollutantsonaglobalandregionalscale,asexamplesofpossiblesynergies.UtilisingfourPacificcountriesasasampleforthestudy,thefindingsshowedthattheMEAprocessesprovedtobeplacingsubstantialdemandsonthecapacityofabroadrangeofgovernmentagencies.Attimes,theseinternationaldemandsactuallycompetedforlimitedresourcesagainstdomesticpolicyimplementation.ThisshowsthatwhileMEAprocessesmaybeimportantforbuildingupresourcesandcapacitiestoaddressthefullrangeofenvironmentalissuesoverthemediumtolongterm,intheshorttermtheycanimposesignificantadditionalstressesonPICTs.Asaresultofthestudy,anumberofcommonthemesemerged.

3 PacificCountriesincludedintheStudy:CookIslands,Palau,PapuaNewGuineaandSamoa.


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Thenegotiationandsignatureofenvironmentalprotocolsrequiressubstantialinternalcoordinationinvolvingmany different government agencies, such as foreign affairs and environment and other departmentsoragenciesthatlaterbecomeinvolvedinimplementationandenforcementprocesses.Thespeedandefficacyoftheratificationandimplementationprocessesalsodependontheconstitutionalrequirementsofcountries.Intermsofformulatingandimplementingtherequiredlegislation,countriesdifferconsiderablywithregardtotimelinesandpoliticalcomplexity.Thebestpossiblewayforconventionsecretariats,orregionalorganizations,tosupportcountrieswithregardtotheirlegalprocessesisthroughtheproductionanddistributionofclearpolicydocumentation.Thisshouldcoverthecommitmentsandresponsibilitiesofcountriesimplementingtheconventioninquestion,andshouldincludeconciseexecutivesummaries.Asawayforward,asetofthreekeyneedsoftheOceanicStateswasidentified:

• Sufficient meanstoenablethemtomanageandmeettheirobligationsandresponsibilitiesundertheconventionsandprotocolstowhichtheyareParties;

• Information policies toenabletheagenciesinvolvedtobettercooperateandtotranslateinternationalobligationsunderMEAsintonationalandlocalenvironmentalagendastoreceivepoliticalsupportandtomaketheseagendasmeaningfultothegeneralpublic;and

• Effective regional support mechanisms that reflect the regional interest in promoting in-countrycapacitydevelopmentand,atthesametimeareabletorepresentregionalconcernsintheglobalcontext.Forboththeglobalcommunityandtherelevantregionalmechanism,theultimategoalis to attain the best balance between the benefits offered by approaching different issues andfunctions,suchascoordination,informationmanagementorawarenessraising,atregional,nationalandlocallevels.Itiscrucial,forexample,thatthespecifictechnicalcapacityandneedsthatexistatthenationallevelbesupportedbythebenefitsandtheefficiencytobegainedbycollectivecapacitydevelopmentattheregionallevel.

1.7 SustainableDevelopmentPathways:EnvironmentalOpportunitiesandChallenges

PICTsdependheavilyonthenaturalenvironmentfor economic growth and employment.Most PICTs currently have varying degreesof institutionalised environment planningand management functions and some havelegislationthatsupportsenvironmentobjectives.Generally,environmentallegislationisdifficulttoadministerandenforceintheregion.However,positive steps have been taken in recent yearsas regards environment legislation formulationand strengthening the capacity of people andthe institutions in Pacific to achieve sustainabledevelopment. Some of the limiting issues,which leadtoconstraintsonimplementationofsustainabilityinPICTs,arediscussedhere.

(i) Disaster Management

The impactofnaturaldisasters intermsofhumanandeconomic losseshasrisen inrecentyears,andsocietyingeneralhasbecomemorevulnerabletonaturaldisasters.Thepoorandsociallydisadvantagedgroups inthePICTsaremostaffectedbynaturalandotherdisasters,sincetheyare leastequippedtocopewiththem.Naturalandenvironmentaldisasterscontinuetoposeanenormousthreattosustainabledevelopmentintheregion.Table3overleafprovidesthebest-aggregatedinformationontheestimatedlevelofvulnerabilityofPICTstosomeofthenaturaldisastersandhazards.

Photo:ThomasJensen.

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4 Thisonlyindicatesthedegreetowhichcountriesaresusceptibletoeachtypeofnaturalhazard.

Table3:PacificIslandsCountriesestimatedlevelofvulnerabilitytospecificnaturalhazards4

Tropical Storm Coastal River Volcanic Country Cyclones Surges Floods Floods Drought Earthquake Landslide Tsunami Eruptions

CookIslands H H M L H L L M –

FSM M M H H L L M –

FijiIslands H H H H H H H H L

Kiribati L M H – H L L L –

MarshallIslands H H H – H L L L –

Nauru L L L – H L L L –

Niue H H L – H M L M –

Palau H H M – H L L M –

PNG H H H H H H H H H

Samoa H H H M L M H H M

SolomonIslands H H H H H H H H H

Tokelau H H H – M L L M –

Tonga H H H L H H L H H

Tuvalu H M H – H L L M –

Vanuatu H H H H H H H H H

H:high;M:medium;L:lowSource:UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgrammeSouthPacificOffice(2002).

InthepastdecadeanumberofinternationalandregionalinitiativeshavesupportedthecapacitybuildingprocessinthePacificforreducingcommunityvulnerabilitytotheimpactsofnaturalandenvironmentaldisasters.Several initiativeshavebeenundertakenduringthepastfewyearstobetterunderstandtheimpactsofenvironmentaldisastersintheregion,forexample:

• Thedevelopmentof theEnvironmentalVulnerability Index tool for application in the region toimproveunderstandingandmanagementofvulnerabilityinSIDS;

• A partnership between South Pacific Applied Geosciences Commission (SOPAC) and theSecretariat of International Strategy forDisasterReduction to conduct a PacificReviewof theYokohamaStrategyandPlanofActionin2004;

• Thedevelopmentofcomprehensivehazardandriskmanagementsystemsasdecision-makingtoolsintheregion;and

• UniversityoftheSouthPacificTrainingInstitutesonClimateVariabilityandExtremeEvents.

• TheexpansionofNOAA’sPacificTsunamiWarningCenter,Hawaii

Disasterprevention,mitigation,preparednessandreliefarefourkeyelements,whichcontributetoandshouldgainfromtheimplementationofsustainabledevelopmentpoliciesinthePICTs.Also,environmentalprotection as a integral component of sustainable development is imperative in the prevention andmitigationofnaturaldisasters.Sustainabledevelopmentcancontributetoreductionofthisvulnerability,ifplannedandmanagedinawaytoamelioratethesocialandeconomicconditionsoftheaffectedgroupsandcommunities.

(ii) Agriculture and Food Security

Traditional agriculture5 is still a key source of subsistence, income generation and themain insuranceagainstpovertyforthemajorityofrural,andmanyurban,communitiesinPICTs.Thisformofagricultureisoftenunderestimatedinthecontextofmoderneconomicanalysis,seldomquantified,andoftenrelegated


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tosecondplacecomparedtocommercialagricultureintermsofdirectgovernmentsupport.Inadditiontoprovidingsubsistenceneedsandmeetingthefoodandexchangerequirementsofculturalceremonies,traditionalagriculturehasalsobeenusedasaplatformforthecommercializationoftraditionalPacificcropsandtreessuchasPiper methysticum (Kava, Yaqona, Sakau)andMorinda citrifolia(Nonu,Noni).AnotherdemonstrationofthesignificanceoftraditionalagriculturehasbeentherecentethnicsocialunrestintheSolomonIslands.Whistthecommercialagriculturewaswreckedwithsubsequentdisruptionstothecasheconomy,national food security at that timewasnotcompromisedbecauseof thevibrant traditionalagriculturaleconomy,whichalsosteppedupitscontributiontothedomesticeconomy.

Expandingurbansettlementswithlimitedlandresourcesavailableforfoodproductionhavecontributedtotheweakeningoftraditionalagricultureandledtolocalfoodsecurityproblems.Thishasbeenexacerbatedbytheinfluencesofglobalisationonfoodpreferencesandlivelihoodchoices.Afurtherconsequenceofchanginglifestylesistheriseinunhealthyeatinghabitswithresultingincreasesintheincidenceofobesity,diabetesandcardio-vasculardiseasewithinPICTs.

Commercial agriculture accounts for over 85% of foreign exchange earnings in PICTs, contributingsubstantiallytoemployment(40–80%),representing20–40%ofgrossdomesticproduct(GDP)andover50%ofexports.InmostPICTs,onlyasmallfractionoflandmassissuitableforagricultureandmuchoftheagricultureisconfinedalongcoastalplains,riverdeltasandvalleys.Commercialagricultureisalsoconfinedtoalimitednumberofdominantcropsincludingsugar,copra,taroandbananas,plusbeefcattleproduction.Assuchtheindustryishighlyvulnerabletomarketfluctuations,naturaldisasters,invasivespeciesandplantdiseases,andtheimpactsofinternationaltradenegotiations.

AgricultureinthePICTshasmademodeststridesoverthelast20years.However,despiteitsimportanceintheeconomy,agriculturalproductivityisdeclininginrecentyearsasashareoftotalincome.Furthermore,theopportunitiesforexpansionofthesectorarelimitedduetologisticdisadvantagessuchassmalllandareasanddistancefrompotentialexportmarkets.

InthePICTs,about70%ofgrosscroppedareacorrespondstothesummerseasonrainfallzonesindicatingitsheavydependenceonseasonalrainfall.Agriculturalresearchandextensionhavebeenweakinpromotingandmarketing new crops inmost PICTs. In conformitywith the Food andAgricultureOrganization(FAO)PlanofActiononSustainableAgriculturelaunchedin2002,PICTsneedtomovetowardsmoreintensified,diversifiedandsustainableagricultureinordertocreateanenablingenvironmentforagriculturalintensification and diversification, remove production constraints, and improve domestic and exportmarketingandprocessingintheyearstocome.Thiswillstrengthennationalcapacitiesandinstitutionstoaccommodateandtakeadvantageofthenewinternationaltraderegime,andstrengthensupportservicestoagriculture,forestryandfisheries.Inaddition,itshouldprovideacoherentframeworkforsustainablenaturalresourcemanagementandenvironmentalprotectioninarapidlychangingworld.Increasingfoodsecurity(with focusonagriculturediversification)andgeneratingemploymentopportunitieswouldgoalongwayinimprovingthelivesofpeopleinthePICTs.

AchievingfoodsecurityinthePICTsrequirespolicyandinvestmentreformsonmultiplefronts,includinghumanresources,agriculturalresearch,rural infrastructure,waterresources,andfarm-andcommunity-basedagriculturalandnaturalresourcesmanagement.

(iii) Freshwater Resources

FreshwateravailabilityinthePacificIslandsisdependentonchangesinthehydrologicalcycleresultingfrominterannualclimatevariability,pollutionofexistingsuppliesandchanges inthewatertableasaresultofhumanactivities.Freshwatershortageisamajorissueinmostatollislandsandstateswherethesources

5 Inthecontextofthispublication,traditionalagriculturereferstotheinherentandadaptedagriculturalfarmingsystems,technologyandknowledgeoncropping,agroforestryandlivestockheldwithinPacificIslandsocieties.

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andcapacity forsurfacerun-offandrainwaterharvestingarevery limited. AsummaryofwatersupplycoverageandsourcesinselectedcountriesisprovidedinTable4.

ManyPacific Islandsrelyon limitedsourcesofsupply,suchasgroundwater(Kiribati),rainwater(Tuvalu,northernatollsofCookIslands),surfacereservoirs,orriversandothersurfaceflows.Watersupply intheatoll statesof thePacific ismostvulnerable toprecipitationpatternsandchanges instormtracks.Captured rainwater is stored in cisterns; theonlybackup reserve for these islands is a thinwedgeoffreshgroundwaterthatsitsasalensontopofthesaltwater.AdeclineinrainfallcoupledwithsealevelrisewouldnotonlycauseadiminutionofthevolumeofpotablewaterbutwouldreducethesizeofthenarrowfreshwaterlensinthePICTs.

Waterquantityanditssustainabilityhavealwaysbeenaproblembutarelikelytogetmuchworseasaresultofdepletedresources,mismanagement,andpoorgovernance.Theincreasingdemandemanatingfrompopulationpressuresandindustriesaredepletinggroundwater,andincreasedpollutionisthreateningitsquality.Climatechangecanpresentadditionalwatermanagementandrelatedchallengesarisingfromavarietyofsources,includingincreasedfloodanddroughtrisks.FormanyPICTs,theprospectofsalinityintrusionintothefreshwaterlensisamatterofgreatconcern.Changesinclimatewillaffectwaterdemand,supplyandquality.Anyshortfallinwatersupplywillenhancecompetitionforwateruseforawiderangeofeconomic,socialandenvironmentalapplications.IncountriessuchasTuvaluandtheMarshallIslandswhererainwateristhemainsourceofsupply,morefrequentandintenseElNiño–SouthernOscillation(ENSO)eventswillimposefurtherstressonalreadymeagrewaterresources.Ariseinsealevelwillleadtointrusionofsalinewaterfarintothelandmassthroughtheriversdrainingintotheseaanditwillalsoincreasegroundwatercontaminationbymakingwatersaline.

Table4:WaterSupplyCoverage(fractionofpopulationforthatparticularyearin%)andmainwatersourcesinselectedPICTs

Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Countries 1995 1995 2000 2000 2004 2004 Main Water Sources

CookIsland 99 87 99 87 98 88 SW,GW,RW

Fiji 43 51 43 51 43 51 SW,GW,RW,D (touristresortonly)

FSM 94 89 94 92 95 94 SW,GW,RW

Kiribati 77 41 77 50 77 53 GW,RW,D(limited)

MarshallIs 89 97 83 96 82 96 RW(fromairportcatchmentand buildings),GW,D(emergency)

Niue 100 100 100 100 100 100 GW,RW

Palau 74 97 78 95 79 94 SW,GW,RW

PNG 88 32 88 32 88 32 SW,GW,RW

Samoa 96 88 92 88 90 87 SW,GW,RW

SolomonIslands 94 65 94 65 94 65 SW,GW,RW

Tokelau GW,RW

Tonga 100 100 100 100 100 100 GW,RW

Tuvalu 93 90 94 91 94 92 RW(primary)GW(limited)

Vanuatu 90 53 86 52 86 52 SW,GW,RW

Note:SW=SurfaceWater;GW=GroundWater;RW=RainWater;D=Desalination.

(1) WHOandUNICEF2003.JointMonitoringProgrammeforWaterSupplyandSanitationDatabaseforOceania.http://www.wssinfo.org/en/watquery.html,Lastaccessed26July2007.

(2) UNDP,1996.TheStateofHumanSettlementsandUrbanizationinthePacificIslands:RegionalReportonPICservedbytheUNDP,SuvaFijifortheUnitedNationsConferenceonHumanSettlements(HabitatII),Istanbul,Turkey,3–14June1996.UNDP,Suva;

(3) EconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific(ESCAP),1995.IntegratedWaterResourcesManagementinAsiaandthePacific.WaterResourcesSeriesNo.75.UnitedNationsNewYork;Seckler,D.,U.Amerasinghe,D.Molden,R.deSilva,andR.Baker,1998.WorldWaterDemandandSupply,1990to2005:ScenariosandIssues.InternationalWaterManagementInstitute,Colombo,SriLanka;andRashin,P.,P.Gleick,P.Kirshen,G.Pontius,andK.Strzepek,1997.WaterFutures:AssessmentofLongRangePatternsandProblems.StockholmEnvironmentInstitute,Stockholm,Sweden.


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Thesustainabilityofwater supplies in thePICTs indecades tocomewoulddependon theemphasisplacedonimprovingwaterresourcemanagementefforts, includinginventoryingofresourcesandtheirrationalandequitableallocation.Implementationofmoreefficientrainwaterharvestingmethods,efficientleakdetectionandrepair,useofwater-savingdevices,andaggressiverecyclingeffortsarestrategiesworthconsidering.Desalinationalsoisbecominganincreasinglyattractiveoption,especiallywherethenecessarytechnicalandfinancialcapacityisavailableandincasesinwhichmoretraditionalstrategiesareinadequateornotfeasible.OneoftheMDGsistohalvetheproportionofpeoplewhodonothaveaccesstosafedrinkingwater(declaredabasichumanrightbytheUN)by2015eventhoughfinancialbarriersremain.PICTswouldneedtodomuchmorethanmeettheMDGstoavoiddisaster forthemajorityoftheirpopulation.By2025,atleastonethirdofthePICTspopulationmayhavetoliveinwaterstressedconditions.Compoundingtheseproblemsarepolitical,social,andtechnicalbarriers.Thegovernments,donors,non-governmentalorganizations,andcommunitiesinPICTsneedtoworktogetherasacollectiveresponsibilitytosafeguardtheirwaterresourcesthroughsustainablewaterpractices.Appropriatelegislativetoolsandtheir faithful implementationtoprotect thenationalwaterresources throughsustainableconsumptionpracticesinthePICTsshouldsignificantlyeasetheproblem.

(iv) Coastal and Marine Resources including Fisheries

Thenatureofislandcountriesisthatcoastalandmarineresourcesformthebasisofbothculturalpracticeandtraditionaleconomies. Keycoastalandmarinehabitatsincludingcoralreefsystems,mangroves, wetlands and the deep oceans arethereforethebasisof islandsocietiesandakeyopportunityforeconomicdevelopment.Achievinga balance between societal, environmental andeconomic needs is therefore critical in SIDS,particularly when coupled with threats such asclimatechange.

Coralreefsrepresentsomeofthemostdiverseandcomplexecosystems,providingessentialecosystemservices. Coral reef systemsplay a central role inmaintainingpreciousbeach and coastal land levelsagainsttheerodingforcesofstormsandrisingseas,andtheyprovidecriticalhabitattoapproximately25%ofmarinespeciesandessentialresourcesintermsofconstructionmaterialsinadditiontoattractionforthetouristindustry.PacificIslandsaccountfornearly20%ofthe284,300km2oftheworld’scoralreefs(Spaldingetal.,2001),whichoccursonlyin80countriesoftheworld(Table5).MostofthelargecoralreefareasinthisregionoccurinthesouthwestPacific.PacificIslandersdependontheecosystemservicesprovidedbycoralreefs.

However,humanactivitiessuchasmarinepollution(fromland-basedactivities:e.g.sedimentation,surfacerun-off and sewerage input), overexploitation, destructive fishingpractices, and climate change (UNEP,2004) pose a threat to the well-being of these important ecosystems. One of the latest coral reefassessmentscarriedoutbyLovellet al.(2004) indicatedthatcoralreefs intheSouthWestPacificarepresentlyingoodcondition,andcoralreefsthatwerebleachedduring2000–2002bleachingeventhavepartlyorfullyrecovered.

Theprojectionsforthefutureincludeincreasedstressoncoralreefsthatarenearpopulatedareassuchas towns and cities. Furthermore, the risks posed by global climate change and intermittent climatevariabilityandextremeweathereventswillalsoexacerbatedamagetocoralreefs.Forthelow-lyingatolls,

Photo:JimMaragos.

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thepotentialeconomicdisruptioncausedbythedeteriorationofcoralreefsystemscouldbecatastrophic.Multipleenvironmentalmanagementstrategies,fromlocaltoregional,arebeingpursuedtoensurethelong-termsustainabilityofthecoralreefecosystemofthePacific.

Table5:CoralReefAreasinsomePacificIslandCountries

Country Coral Reef Area (km2) % of Global Coral Reefs

PNG 13,840 4.87

Fiji 10,020 3.52

MarshallIslands 6,110 2.15

SolomonIslands 5,750 2.02

FSM 4,340 1.53

Vanuatu 4,110 1.45

Kiribati 2,940 1.03

Tonga 1,500 0.52

Tuvalu 710 0.25

Total6 49,320 17.34

Source:Spaldinget al.,2001.

Pacific Island communities have fished the Pacific Ocean for thousands of years, utilising traditionalmanagement strategies for themaintenanceof communityfishinggrounds. TheWesternandCentralPacificOceanishometotheworld’slargesttunafishery.Morethanhalftheworld’stunacomesfromthisregion.FishingisoneofthefastestgrowingsectorsoftheeconomyinPacificIslands.At1.29millionsquarekilometres,Fiji’sexclusiveeconomiczoneisbynomeansthelargestinthePacificIslandsregion(ExclusiveEconomicZonesofPacificIslandsoccupyabout15millionkm2;Fig.1),andfarfrombeingtherichestinfish.Thetunafishinginthisregionproduces60%ofallcannedtunaintheworld(withacatchaveragingaroundonemilliontonnesayear)and30%ofalltunafortheJapanesesashimimarket.

Unfortunately, thefisheryresourcesof thePacificOceanare fastdepletingduetooverfishing,useofpesticidesandindustrialactivities(whicharethreateningtheviabilityoftheregionaltunastock)inrecentyears.Theincreaseinmarinecultureproductsanddeclineinthemarinefisheryoutputisthecurrenttrendincommercialfisheryactivity.Thefishpopulationsneedprotectionandconservation.OfanaverageofaboutathousandfishingvesselsengagedintheWesternPacifictunafishery,fewerthanahundredarelocallyowned.Iflarge-scalefishingbyvesselsfromdistantwaterfishingnationsisnotcontrolled,sometunaspecies,likebigeyeandyellowfin,maybecomeextinct(MyersandWorm,2003).PICTsarecurrentlyengagedinseriousnegotiationswithrelevantcountriesovertheconservationoftheentireregion’stunafisherywithinthecontextoftheForumFisheriesAgencyandthenewlyestablishedWesternandCentralPacificFisheriesCommission.

TheconservationofcriticalwetlandhabitatsinthePacificincludingcoralreefs,mangroveforests,seagrassbedsandtheirfisherieshasgainedconsiderableurgencyinrecentyears.NearlyallMelanesiancountries,includingPNG,FijiandVanuatu,havereportedfallingnumbersofseveralfishspeciessincetheearly1990s.Thecomplicatednutrientcycleintheoceanfoodchain,likelytobedisturbedbyahostofhumanactivitiesinthecoastalareas,sealevelrise,changeinoceancurrents,andalterationofthemixinglayerthickness,isexpectedtoreduceplanktonproductivityandthuscontributetoageneraldeclineinfisheryproductioninthecoastalwatersofthePICTs.SomePICTsareconsideringallowingcitizenstoreclaimlegalcontrol

6 CountriesandTerritorieswithlessthan50km2ofcoralreefareasnotincludedinthisTable.InthereportbySpaldingetal.,2001,territoriesarelistedundertheircolonisers:AmericanSamoa,Guam(UnitedStatesofAmerica),CookIslands,Niue,Tokelau(NewZealand)andPitcairn(UnitedKingdom).


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Figure1:PICTsandtheirEEZ

Source:SOPAC,2007.

of their local seas, in thehope theycanuse their traditional knowledge, customsand laws toprotectfishstocksandbiodiversity.Themoveisatacitacknowledgementthatwestern-stylecentralisedfishingregulationsmaynotprotectmanyofthemarineecosystemsinthisregion.

Coastalwetlandecosystemsprovidefundamentalecologicalfunctionsincludingtheregulationofwaterregimesaswellasprovidinghabitatsforfloraandfauna.Inadditiontotheirecologicalfunction,Pacificwetlandsplayanimportantroleinboththesubsistenceandlocalcommercialeconomiesassourcesoffood,firewood,buildingmaterials,traditionalmedicinesandculturalproducts.

TheobservedtrendsinthemeansealevelalongthecoastlineofthePICTsindicatearisingtrendof1cmormoreperdecade,whichisclosetothatnoticedinotherpartsoftheglobe(Table6).Ameansealevelriseofbetween25and58cmisprojectedbythemid-twenty-firstcenturyalongthecoastlineofthePICTs.Thesealevelrisecouldinundatelowlyingareas,drowncoastalmarshesandwetlands,erodebeaches,exacerbatefloodingandincreasethesalinityofrivers,baysandaquifers.Thelandlossfromsealevelrise,especiallyonatollsinthePacificOceanislikelytobeofamagnitudethatcoulddisruptvirtuallyalleconomicandsocialsectorsinthePICTs.

PICTsareheavily reliantontheircoastalandmarineresourcesandtheir future isdependentonhowpeoplemaintainthehealthoftheocean.ThechallengesfacedbythemaritimepeopleofthePacificinmaintainingtheirlivelihoodwilldependheavilyonsustainableuseandmanagementofcoastalandmarineresources.Themarineenvironmentincludingtheoceans,seasandcoastalareasareseenasanintegratedwhole,whichformanessentialcomponentofthegloballifesupportsystemandalsoprovideislandnationswithopportunitiesforsustainabledevelopment.Aprecautionaryapproach,integrateddevelopmentandadaptivemanagementprinciplesarerequiredtoensurethesustainableuseofthemarineenvironmentanditsresourcesinthePICTs.

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Table6:Recentshort-termsealeveltrendsinsomePacificIslandcountries(BasedonSEAFRAMEdatathroughJuly2004)

Location Duration of data (in months) Trend (mm/yr)

CookIslands 136 +1.0

Tonga 137 +11.3

Fiji 141 +4.1

Vanuatu 127 +6.0

Samoa 136 +5.3

Tuvalu 134 +6.0

Kiribati 134 +5.6

Nauru 131 +7.5

SolomonIslands 116 +6.1

PNG 103 +8.5

FSM 31 +23.5

MarshallIslands 129 +6.0

(v) Forests

Forest ecosystems are essential component of the larger Pacific Islandenvironments and are by nature highly fragile and vulnerable to externaldisturbances.Theimpactsofhumaninducedactivities(e.g.,loggingandforestclearanceforagriculturalactivities)andtheintroductionofinvasivespeciescanseverelydegradeislandforestecosystems.Theinevitablepressureonresourcesandonthenaturalsystemsfromincreasingpopulationanditsunplanneddensitylevelsgiveurgencytosustainablenaturalresourcemanagementconsiderations.Pressureforglobalmarketeconomieshasseensignificantcommercialharvestingofnaturalresourcesinadditiontosubsistenceharvesting.

Approximatelyone-thirdofthelandresourcesinthePICTsarecoveredbyforests which makes forest ecosystems prominent natural resources thatprovidebiodiversity,waterquality,sourcesoffirewood,buildingmaterialsandfoods,aswellasplacesforrecreation.Theseforestshavemanyuniquespeciesandcommunitiesofplantsandanimals. Forsome islands,80%ormoreofthespeciesareendemic,withsomespeciesonlyfoundinmicro-ecosystemswithinasingleisland.Forestsalsoplayasignificantroleintheregion’seconomy,andforestryorforestry-relatedenterprisesarethedominantindustriesinmanycommunities.Climatechangeisvirtuallycertaintoimpactonthedistributionoftreespecies,resultinginchangesinthegeographicdistributionofforesttypesandnewcombinationsofspecieswithinforests.Inaddition,forestproductivitywouldbeaffecteddependinguponlocation,treespecies,wateravailability,andtheeffectsofcarbondioxidefertilization.Increasedtemperaturescouldincreasefireriskinareasthatexperienceincreasedaridity,andproliferationofdiseasesandpeststhatattacktreespeciesarelikely.

Forestsareanimportantnaturalresourceforboththeirtraditionalandculturalusesaswellasforcommercialenterprises.InMelanesia,timberisalargesourceofforeignincomeandthetimberindustryisasignificantemployer.Poorimplementationofenvironmentalstandardsinforestmanagementhasledtosignificantenvironmentalimpactsinsomeloggingoperations,andtherehavebeendetrimentalsocialimpactsarisingfromactivitiesdirectlyassociatedwith the timber industry. TheMelanesiancountrieshave invested inimprovingcodesofpracticefortimberharvesting,monitoringtimberexportsandotherenvironmentalpolicyresponses.Socialpolicyresponsesarelessclear,thougharegainingimpetusparticularlyfromthe

Photo:UNESCOApia.


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NGOsector.Althoughonasmallerscale, logginghasalsoraisedsimilarenvironmental issues inotherPacificcountries.

(vi) Biodiversity

PICTshavemorerare,endangeredandthreatenedspeciespercapitathananywhereelseintheworld.Ratesofendemismandrestrictedrangesofoccurrencearealsohighformanyplantandanimalspeciesintheregion.Inaddition,theregionisthecentreoforiginforsomecropandfruit-treespeciesthatareimportantsourcesofgenesfromtheirwildrelatives.

Keythreatstoterrestrialbiodiversityarisefromlandclearanceandhabitatfragmentation;theimpactsofinvasivespecies;overexploitationofnaturalresources;andclimatechange.Upto50%oftheregion’stotalbiodiversityisatriskduetoclimatechangealone.Itislikelythatwithaonemeterriseinsealevel,manyofthecurrentwetlandsandmangroveswilldisappear.Manyspeciesareatriskofextinctionasaresultofthecombinedeffectsofclimatechangeandhabitatfragmentation.Threatstomarinebiodiversityarelesswelldocumentedbutincludeoverexploitationofmarineresources;climatechange(inparticularcoralbleachinganddisease);impactsofland-basedpollutionandsedimentation;andtheimpactofinvasivespecies.

Empowermentofcommunitiestoincreasinglyplayleadingrolesinbiodiversityconservationhasrevivedtheuseoftraditionalmethodsofresourceconservation.Asexempliifiedbythe“raui”intheCookIslands,“tabu”areasinFijiandTonga,“tapu” inSamoaandNiue,“bul”inPalau,“mo”intheMarshallIslands–traditionalprotectionmechanismsaregainingmountingrespectbyregionalandinternationalstakeholders.Theyinvolvesettingasideareasfromuse,andtheirsuccessisbasedontraditionalbeliefsandrespectforeldersatthevillagelevel.Theyhavebeenusedfortheintroductionofno-takeregimesincriticalspawning,nesting,androostingareasformanyspecies.Aninnovativeapproachthathastakennaturalresourcemanagementandcommunityempowermenttoahigherlevelistheconceptoflocallymanagedmarineareas(seesection4).

ReversingunsustainabletrendsinresourceuseandecosystemhealthisanurgentpriorityandacriticalrequirementforsustainabledevelopmentinPICTs.Itdemandsgreaterpoliticalcommitmenttoputtingintopracticetheconceptofsustainableuse.Biodiversityalsofacesnewerchallenges,suchasthoseposedbythereleaseintotheenvironmentofgeneticallymodifiedorganisms.TheCartagena Protocol on Biosafetycontinuestoraiseissuesabouttherelationshipbetweentheinternationalenvironmentandtraderegimes.Theneed forconservationofbiodiversity isnowwidelyaccepted,and therearevarious internationaltreatiesandagreementsinplacethataimtohaltitsrapiddecline.However,fortheseagreementstobesuccessfulinthePICTs,theyhavetobeenforcedalongsideotherinternationalagreementsdealingwitheconomic development, trade and investment, and the underlying causesof biodiversity lossmust beidentifiedandaddressedwithinthisframework.

(vii) Integrated Waste Management

Wasteofall types–municipal,hazardousandnuclear–hasbecomeamajorprobleminmanyofthePICTs(Table7).Rapidurbanizationandchangingconsumptionpatterns,limitedlandareasandvulnerableecosystemsaddtothecomplexityofthisissueandimposeconsiderableburdenonenvironmental(e.g.pollution), economic (e.g.management costs) and social (e.g. public health) aspectsof island life. Thelimitedlandareaofmanyoftheislandscombinedwithalackofappropriatetechnologyforwasterecyclinghasresultedinaproliferationofplastics,paper,glass,metalandevendrumsofhazardouschemicals.Muchofthisrubbishslowlybreaksdownandleachesintothesoilandintodrinkingwater.Anysubstancethatdoesnotbreakdowntakesupspace.Foul-smellingorganicwastesattractdisease-carryingpestssuchasmosquitoes,ratsandflies.Pilesofhouseholdrubbisharedevelopingonbeachesandinmangroveswamps.Theissueofplasticsisthoughttobeaprioritypollutionthreatintheregiontoday;theoccurrenceofplasticbagsintheoceanisincreasinganditisknownthattheingestionofonlyafewplasticbagscankilljuvenilecetaceansand turtles. Persistentorganicpollutants (Table8),which includepesticides,polychlorinated

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biphenyls and dioxins, are also potentially a significant threat to cetaceans. These compounds effecthormonalsystemsandcancauselowfertilityandbirthdefects.

ThemajorindustriesinthePacificIslandsareagriculture,tourism,forestry,miningandfisheries.Allofthesegeneratewastes–someaby-productoftheactivity,someanecessarypartoftheproductstream.By-productwastesaregenerallytheresultofpoorlymanagedoperationsandincludesiltation(fromminingandlandclearingofmarginalforestsforagriculturalactivities),oilpollution(usedoilfrommachineryandfromaccidentalspills),poisons(frompestcontrol),andmiscellaneousplastictrash(oldfishinggear,plasticsheeting,drumsandbags).Productionofwastesincludesorganicwastesfromfoodprocessing,chemicalwastes (from oil palm refineries, mining processes and wood treatment). Mining activities are majorcontributors to the region’s environmental loadof heavymetals. Other industrial operations such asfoundries,metalplatingandotherprocessesinvolvingcombustionanduseofpetroleumproductsarealsocontributors.Batteriescanformasignificantsourceofleadandmercuryiftheirdisposalisnotproperlymanaged. Also, seriousconcernshavebeen raised in recentyearsabout the transportof radioactivematerials,marinedebris,andballastwaterandWorldWar II shipwrecks in theregion. Subsequent tonuclear testing in thePacificuntil 1996, the shipmentof plutoniumandhigh-level nuclearwastes andproposalstodumpnuclearwastebydevelopednuclearcountriesonisolatedatollscontinuetothreatentheregion.Shipstransportingradioactivenuclearmaterial(MOX–plutoniumanduraniummixedoxidefuel)toJapancontinuetosailthroughthePacificOcean.Thereareplansforupto30shipmentsoverthenext15years.Inthecaseofasevereaccidentleadingtothebreachofnuclearcasksbeingcarriedascargoontheseships,theimpactonthehealth,environmentandeconomiesofPacificIslandcommunitieswouldbedevastating.GrowingenvironmentalandsocialthreatsposedbythetransportationandimportationofhazardousandradioactivewastesinthePacificregionre-iteratestheurgencyforPacificGovernmentstoimplementtheWaigani Convention.

Table7:CharacteristicsofsolidwasteinselectedPacificIslandcountries(1990–1994)(%bywetweight)

Waste Honiara Nukualofa Lautoka Port Vila AverageClassification (Solomon Is.) (Tonga) (Fiji Is.) (Vanuatu) Weight %

Paper 5.9 31.3 14.7 11.4 15.8

Plastic 16.8 5.2 8.1 7.7 9.5

Glass 4.5 3.3 2.7 3.3 3.5

Metals 6.1 8 3.2 3.6 5.2

Biodegradable 64.6 47.2 67.8 71 62.7

Textiles 1.8 3.7 3 1.6 2.5

PotentiallyHazardous 0.1 <1 0.2 0.7 0.5

ConstructionandDemolition 0.1 1 0 0.7 0.5

Other 0 0.3 0.2 0 0.1

Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

AverageBulkDensity(kg/m3) 209 159 169 158 174

GenerationRate(kg/capita/day) 0.62 0.82 0.94 0.65 0.76

Source:Raj,2000.


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Hazardous chemicals and nutrient pollution find their way into the marine environment via effluents,dumps,stormrunoff,sewage,andwind-blowndust.Thiscausesenvironmentalperturbationstoinshoreestuarineandmarineenvironmentsandisespeciallydamagingtocoastalmarinenurseryareaslikeseagrassbeds,coralreefs,andmangroveforests.Whilemanyoftheseeffluentscauselocalenvironmentalproblems, siltation, oil pollution, poisons and plastic trash contribute to extensive damage to inshoremarineenvironments.Tourism,akeymoney-earnerforsomePICTs,isalsostartingtobeaffectedbythespreadoflitter.ThecoastalregionsofthePacificIslandshaveacompetitiveadvantageoverothertouristdestinationsbecauseofthereputedbeautyofitslagoonsandbeaches.Butthatadvantageisshrinkingunder theweightof solidwastepilinguparound shorelinesandwaterwaysalike. PICTsnow list thepreventionofpollutionasthemajorenvironmentalconcernwithintheircountries.TheincreaseinthesourcesandextentofpollutionarethreateningthePacificIslands’effortstomaintainhealthysocieties,tostimulatedevelopmentandnewinvestmentandasustainablefuturefortheirpeople.

Table8:Quantityofandcontaminationbypersistentorganicpollutants(POPs7)andotherchemicalsinPICTs

Category (ChemicalsandContaminatedSites) Estimated Quantity*/Sites

Chemicals Quantity

AgriculturalChemicals–DDT 10.4tonnes

PotentiallyPCB-ContaminatedTransformerOil 43.1tonnes

PCBstotal 131tonnes

Pesticides 54.4tonnes

TimberTreatmentChemicals 11.1tonnes

Bitumen 330tonnes

POPS & other chemical contaminated sites Sites

BitumenContaminatedSites 8

PCBContaminatedsites 3

Buriedpesticidesites 3

PesticideStoragesites 13

Timbertreatmentsites 4

PesticideContaminatedSites 21

OilandDieselContaminatedSites 21

CCAContaminatedSites 7

PotentiallyContaminatedSolidWasteDisposalSites 18

Source:SPREP,2001&2003.

Good waste management is an integral part of sustainable development. Some progress has beenmadeinrecentyearsindevelopingnationalpoliciesandstrategiestoaddressissuessuchassolidwastemanagementinafewislandcountries.However,muchworkremainstobedonetoturntheseintoactiveprogrammesthatcanachieverealon-the-groundsolutions.Arelatedissueisoftenthelackofanyclearandunifiedapproachwithinthegovernmentsystems,withresponsibilitiesbeingspreadacrossanumberofagencies.Tobesuccessful,anywastemanagementstrategyshouldaddressthenumerousandmulti-disciplinaryfacetsofthewasteproblem,i.e.issuesconcerningpolicy,technology,datacollection,awareness,etc.inanintegratedmanner.

7 POPsareorgano-chlorinecompoundsthataretoxic,persistent,canbebioaccumulated,andtransportedoverlongdistancebytheatmosphereanddeposition.Theyinclude:PolychlorinatedBiphenyls(PCBs),Dioxins,Furans,Aldrin,Dieldrin,DDT,Endrin,Chlordane,Hexachlorobenzene,Mirex,ToxapheneandHeptachlor.

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Better management and recovery / recycling of waste are considered to be sustainability issues andshould be encouraged with priority in the PICTs. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)sponsoredandotheractivitieshavehelpedinthepreparationof“GuidelinesforMunicipalSolidWasteManagementPlanning inSmall IslandDevelopingStates in thePacificRegion”,and inpreparationofa“DirectoryofEnvironmentallySoundTechnologies forthe IntegratedManagementofSolid,Liquid,andHazardousWasteforSmall IslandDevelopingStates inthePacific”. However,mostofthese initiativesfocusprimarilyonfacilitiesandequipmentforcollectionanddisposalofsolidwastewithlittleemphasisonwastepreventionandrecycling.Moreover,nointegratedandconsistentapproachforthemanagementandtherecovery/recyclingofwasteisinplaceandfewstakeholders(e.g.thegovernment,recyclers,andsolidwasteproducers)workcloselytogether.AnintegralpartofwastemanagementinthePICTsshouldbewasteminimization, includingprevention / recycling / recoveryofwasteand local capacitybuildinginitiatives.

(viii) Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation

MostPICTswarmedonanaveragebetweenabout0.3and0.8°Cduringthetwentiethcentury.Althoughthemagnitudeofwarmingvarieslocally,thewarmingtrendisspatiallywidespreadandisconsistentwithanarrayofotherevidence.TheheatcontentofthePacificOceanhasalsoregisteredarisesincethe1950s.AnalysesofsurfacetemperaturedataoveranetworkofstationsinFijisuggestthatthepastfouryearsofthetwenty-firstcenturyhavecontinuedtorecordhigherthannormaltemperaturesandthatthenumbersofhotterdaysandnightsperyearhaveregisteredasignificantlyincreasingtrendtherebyincreasingtheprobabilityofthermalstressconditions(Matakietal.,2006).

Over the PICTs, the area-averaged annual mean surface temperature rise by the end of twenty-firstcenturyisprojectedtorangebetween2.5°Cand3.5°Cwithnosignificantseasonaldependency(IPCC,2001;Laletal.,2002;Lal,2004).Also,anaverageincreaseofabout3to8%inannualmeanprecipitationhasbeensimulatedovertheregion(Table9).Appreciablechangesinthespatialpatternofmeanannual,winteraswellassummerrainfallare,however,likely.Whileyeartoyearvariabilityinrainfallduringthesummerseasonmaynotchangesignificantly,moreintenserainfallspellsbutlessernumberofwetdaysarepredictedforthefuturethusincreasingtheprobabilityoffloodsinsomeregionsandincreasingtheriskofdroughtsinothersresultinginadverseeffectsonagriculture,humanhealth,freshwaterresourcesand terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems. Extreme precipitation events have geomorphologicalsignificanceinthemountainousterrainwheretheymaycausewidespreadslopefailuresandlandslides,whichwillaffecterosionprocessesandsedimentation.Risingsealevels,salt-waterintrusionandlarge-scaleinundationofthecoastalareasduetostormsurgesarepredictedtoaccompanyatemperatureincreaseinPICTs.

ClimatevariabilityinthePacificonthetwotofiveyeartimescaleisacombinationofseasonalvariabilityandmulti-annualvariabilityassociatedwiththeENSOphenomenonanddecadalvariability,thelatterinfluencingtheENSOphenomenonitself.RecentchangesoverthetropicalPacificOceanandthesurroundinglandareasarerelatedtothefactthatsincethemid-1970swarmepisodes(ElNiño)havebeenrelativelymorefrequentorpersistentthantheoppositephase(LaNiña).AnincreasedfrequencyofENSOeventsandashiftintheirseasonalcycleinawarmeratmosphereislikelysuchthatthemaximumoccursbetweenAugustandOctoberrather thanaround Januaryascurrentlyobserved(MeehlandWashington,1996;Collins,1999).Thus,thecurrentlargeinter-annualvariabilityintherainfallassociatedwithENSOislikelytodominateoverotherimpactsattributabletoglobalwarming.

Global climatemodels currently suggest that the sea surface temperatures in the regionwill increasebyatleast1°Cby2050andtherainfallintensityinthecentralequatorialPacificwillbehigherinfuture.ChangesinintensityoftropicalcyclonescouldresultfromchangesinseasurfacetemperaturelinkedtocharacteristicsofENSOevents(Emanuel,1999).Apossibleincreaseofabout10to20%inintensityof


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tropical cyclones has been suggested under simulations applying enhanced carbon dioxide conditions(KnutsonandManabe,1998;Knutsonetal.,1998).Studiesalsosuggestthat,duringENSOevents,atropicalcycloneinthePacificOceanhasmorethana40%chanceofbeingsevere(Royeretal.,1998;KnutsonandTuleya,2004).Anincreaseinseasurfacetemperaturewouldcauseanincreaseinwindstressonsurfacewatersandamplification instormsurgeheightsresulting inenhancedriskofcoastaldisasters includingseriousdamagetosoilsanddeclineinfreshwatersuppliesinthefragileandvulnerablecoastalregions.

According to the fourth IPCCAssessment Report (AR4) there is no clear picture with respect toregionalchangesinfrequencyandmovementoftropicalcyclones,butincreasesinintensityareindicated,corroboratingtheintensityprojectionsmadeinabovestudies.However,theuncertaintywithrespecttofutureENSObehavioralsocontributestouncertaintywithrespecttotropicalcyclonebehavior inthePacificregion(Christensenetal.,2007).

Table9:SeasonalMeanClimateChangeoverSouthPacificinthe21stCenturyassimulated*bystate-of-the-artGlobalClimateModels

Models CCCma CSIRO CSM1.3 ECHAM GFDL MRI CCSR- HadCMScenarios CGCM2 mk2 4 R15b NIES 3

Temperature (°C)

DJF–A2 2.67 2.34 2.56 2.96 3.05 2.82 3.37 2.87

JJA–A2 2.71 2.62 2.87 3.41 3.32 2.79 3.98 3.01

DJF–B2 1.94 2.22 2.20 2.27 2.30 1.96 2.91 2.38

JJA–B2 1.89 2.03 2.14 2.09 2.19 1.83 2.65 2.16

Precipitation (%)

DJF–A2 3.24 6.71 2.08 8.73 10.01 2.78 –8.91 4.77

JJA–A2 5.40 9.43 3.12 4.76 7.64 10.15 5.76 9.46

DJF–B2 4.27 7.89 4.03 5.11 –1.42 –3.71 4.63 7.63

JJA–B2 7.14 5.47 5.96 6.54 3.68 4.19 10.17 11.38

*DataProcessing:Theoriginaldatatooktheformofavalueforeachboxona0.5degreelatitude/longitudegrid.TheweightedmeanofthevaluesfromitsconstituentgridboxesofaggregatedchangesforSouthPacificRegionwascalculatedforthesummerandwinterseasons(DJFandJJA).Eachgridboxwasweightedbysurfacearea,usingthecosineofthelatitude.Thedataarefromeightstate-of-the-artArcticOscillationGlobalClimateModelsandvaluesareforthechangesbetween1961–90and2070–99(30–yearmean).TwoSRESMarkerscenariosofanthropogenicemissionsofgreenhousegasesandsulphateaerosols(A2andB2)wereconsidered.TheeightmodellingcentreswhoseA-OGCMoutputshavebeenusedhereareasunder:CCCma:CanadianClimateCentremodelversionCGCM2;CSIROMk2:CommonwealthScientificandIndustrialResearchOrganization,Australiamodelversionmk2;CSM1.3:CommunityClimateModelofNCAR,USAmodelversion1.3;ECHAM4:EuropeanCommunityHamburgmodelversion4;GFDLR15b:GeophysicalFluidDynamicsLaboratory,PrincetonUniversitymodelversionR15b;MRI:MeteorologicalResearchInstituteofJapan;CCSR-NIES:CentreforClimateSystemResearchattheUniversityofTokyoandNationalInstituteofEnvironmentalSciences,Japan;andHadCM3:TheHadleyClimateCentre,UKmodelversion3.

Tosummarise,thefuturepotential impactsofclimatechangeonthePICTs include,amongothers,thefollowing:

• Inundationofdeltas,estuariesandcoastalareas;

• Destructionofbenthicsystems,especiallyseagrassbeds;

• Lossofproductivityofcoastalecosystems;

• Floodingincoastalplains;

• Increasedcoastalerosion;

• Increasedsalineintrusionleadingtoaquifercontamination;

• Displacementoftraditionalfishingsites;

• Coralreefdeteriorationduetothermalstressandsealevelrise;

• Damagetocoastalinfrastructure;

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• Increasedvulnerabilityofhumansettlements;

• Lossofagriculturalland;and

• Damagetoindustrialinfrastructure.

TheaboveimpactswerereiteratedinAR4furtheringthecall forextensiveadaptationimplementationbeyondwhatiscurrentlyoccurringtoreducethevulnerabilityofPICTstofutureclimatechange(IPCC,2007). However, it is also noted that there are barriers, limits and costs to adaptation and PICTsvulnerability to climate change is significantly influencedbynon climatic stress and their developmentpatterns. The IPCCfourthassessmentreportadvocatedthe implementationofaportfolioormixofstrategiesthatincludesmitigation,adaptation,technologicaldevelopment(toenhancebothadaptationandmitigation)andresearch(onclimatescience,impacts,adaptationandmitigation)toaddresstheclimatechangechallenges.Suchportfolioscouldcombinepolicieswithincentivebasedapproaches,andactionsatall levels fromthe individualcitizenthroughtonationalgovernmentsand internationalorganizations(IPCC,2007).PICTs,giventheirspecialcircumstances(smallislands,fragileecosystems,weakeconomies),will continue to face difficulties in implementing adaptation andmitigationmeasureswithout externalassistance.Ontheotherhand,PICTsmustfactorclimatechangeintotheirowndevelopmentplanningprocessesandassumeresponsibilitytoadaptandmitigateclimatechangewithintheirownresources.

Withlimitedresourcesandlowadaptivecapacity,PICTshavetofacethechallengeofchartingdevelopmentpathsthataresustainable,withoutjeopardizingprospectsforeconomicdevelopmentandimprovementsinhumanwelfare.Atthesametime,giventheinevitabilityofclimatechangeandsea-levelrise,theyareforcedtofindresourcestoimplementstrategiestoadapttoincreasingthreatsresultingfromenhancedradiativeforcing(asaconsequenceofincreasesingreenhousegases)ontheclimatesystem,towhichtheycontributelittle.

Foralmostadecadenow,appropriatemethodsandtoolstoevaluateimpactsof,andvulnerabilityandadaptationtoclimatechangehavebeentestedandarecurrentlybeingusedforsectorspecificstudiesinmanyPICTs. Followingthewidespreaddroughtconditions in1998and2003facedbysomeIslandnations in the region, there has been an upsurge in interest and concern about adaptation linked tocurrentclimatevariabilityandcurrentvulnerabilityinadditiontotheconcernwithfutureclimatechange.Thethreatofclimatechangehasaddedanewdimensiontootherenvironmentalandsocialstressors,andcausedchangesinsocio-economicconditionsinthecontextofsustainabledevelopmentwithintherisk management decision-making framework. PICTs are committed to address national sustainabledevelopmentintheregionthattakesintoaccounttheeconomic,socialandenvironmentalaspects,aswellasissuessuchaseradicatingpovertyandimprovingthelivelihoodsoftheirpeoplesbytheimplementationofdevelopmentalstrategies,whichbuildresilienceandcapacitytoaddresstheiruniquelydisproportionatevulnerabilities.

PICTsviewtheimpactsofclimatevariabilityincludingextremeweatherevents,climatechangeandsealevelriseasanimpedimenttosustainabledevelopmentintheregionandurgetheinternationalagenciestoassistthePICTsasproposedunderJointProgrammeforActionforWaterandClimateintheMauritiusStrategy Document. The Regional Framework forAction on ClimateVariability, Climate Change andSeaLevelRisefirstdraftedin2000andupdatedinMadang(PNG)duringJune2005isregardedastheregionalblueprintforcollectiveactionbyPacificIslandgovernments,organizationsandindividuals.Regionalmeteorologicaldirectorsmeetannuallytoexaminewaystoplanandprepareforextremeweathereventsaswell asexchangeof informationonclimatevariability. ThePacific IslandGlobalClimateObservingSystem implementation plans for the region and the South Pacific Sea Level andClimateMonitoringProjecthasbeenfunctionalforsomeyearsnow.AllPICTsarepartiestotheUNFCCCand12nationsaresignatoriestotheKyotoProtocol.AnumberofintergovernmentalregionalorganizationsinthePacificprovidesupportandtechnicalassistancetothepartiestomeettheirtreatyobligations.


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2. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE PACIFIC CONTEXT

2.1 SustainabilityintheLocalContext:TraditionalorIndigenousApproaches

Traditionalknowledge(indigenousknowledgeisoftenusedinterchangeablywithtraditionalknowledge)isapeople’s

awareness andunderstanding,which ispassedon fromonegenerationtothenext,usuallybywordofmouthorexamplewithinaspecifiedgroupofpeople.Indigenousknowledgeandapproachesarevalidalternativesourcesofempiricallybasedunderstandingsarisingfrompeople’scumulativeexperiences,experimentationanddocumentationinaregionanditmaybebroadlydescribedastheknowledgeusedbyindigenouspeopletoachievelongtermsurvivalinaparticularenvironment.Usingindigenousknowledgeinsustainabledevelopingprogrammesgives it legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of both localpeopleandoutsidescientists,therebyincreasingculturalprideand motivation to solve problems with local ingenuity andresources.

Pacific Island communities have been living in small islandenvironments for many generations before the advent ofcolonizationandglobalisation.Theirabilitytoliveandutilisethenaturalresourcesavailableintheregionwasunderpinnedby

sustainabilityprinciplessuchasequityandbalancingresourceuseandregenerationor livingwithinthecarryingcapacityoftheenvironment.However,unsustainablepracticessuchasexcessivedeforestationhavebeenevidentbeforecontactwithwesterncivilizationaswasthecaseonEasterIsland(Cairns,2004).Pacificculturalandsocietalvaluesandgovernancesystemsreinforcedtheidealsofsustainabilitythroughmeasuressuchastaboos,totems,closedseasonsforterrestrialandmarineresourcesandevenmeasuressuchasrestrictionofmarriagetofirst-bornchildrenandtheencouragementofinfanticideduringprolongeddroughtsandothernaturaldisastersaspracticedintheIslandofTikopia(SolomonIslands).Theseverityofthesemeasuresillustratesthehighlevelofunderstandingofthecausalrelationshipbetweenpopulationpressureandresourceavailability,andunderlinesthecommitmentbyindigenouscommunitiesinthepasttoensuresustainability.Thetraditionalandindigenousapproachestosustainabilitywereembodiedintosystemsofknowledgeandpracticeapplicabletoallsectorsoftheirlivelihood,suchascontrolledaccessanduseofnaturalresources, foodsecurity(agricultureandmarine)andfoodpreservationtechniques,weatherandseasonalclimateforecasting,humanhealth(herbalmedicines),wastemanagementandsocialrelationships.AllthesebodiesofknowledgeandpracticeshaveassistedPacificcommunitiestosustainthemselveseffectivelythroughouthistorywithoutcomplextechnologicalinterventions.InfactthereareveryuniquefeaturesofthePacificregionthatenrichcultureandworldheritagethroughouttheworldincluding:

• the highest proportion of indigenous peoples within national populations of any region of theworld;

• thehighestproportionofpeoplelivingwithintraditionalgovernancesystemsofanyregionoftheworld;

• thehighestproportionoflandandsearemainingundertraditionalmanagementofanyregionoftheworld;

• closeandcontinuing genealogical connectionsbetweenpeoples across vast areas andbetweenmanycountriesandterritories;

Photo:UNESCOApia.

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CONCEPTUAL FRAMEwORKS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ThE PACIFIC CONTExT

• traditional heritage management practices that reinforce the inseparable relationship betweencommunities,culturesandenvironmentthatunderpinsustainableliving;and

• anenormouswealthofculturaldiversity,aswellasislandandmarinebiodiversity,muchofwhichisendemic,coveringonethirdoftheearth’ssurface.

AsPICTsaredrawndeeperintotheglobaleconomy,andasWesterneducational,culturalandsocialsystemsbecomeembracedbyPacificpeoples,thesetraditionalknowledgesystemsarequicklybeingoverwhelmed,erodedandperhapslostforever.Youngergenerationsareacquiringdifferentvaluesandlifestylesasaresultofexposuretoglobalinfluences,andtraditionalcommunicationslinesarealsobecomingweaker.Concernshavealsobeenraisedthatthebiologicalresourcesonwhichtraditionalknowledgeflourishesnowalsofacethethreatofdepletion.Disruptingtheinterrelationbetweenthetraditionalknowledge-generatorsandtheir resourcemaywell leadtothedisintegrationof theveryprocessesbywhichtheknowledgeevolvedandiskeptalive.Also,disruptionoftheintergenerationaltransmissionoftraditionalknowledge,valuesandworldviewsmayundermine the sustainabilityprinciplesandpractices thathavesustainedPacificIslandersforgenerations.Asaconcept,sustainabledevelopmentinthePICTsneedstobereviewedwithinthecontextoflocalcustomsandtraditions.

2.2 SustainableDevelopmentArticulatedfromOutsidethePacific

The first international gathering to mobilisediscussion and action in this area was held inStockholm(Sweden)in1987,andthefocustherewas more on environmental protection. Withincreasing realisation that economic growth andsocial development are inextricably linked toenvironmental protection, the United Nationsorganised aWorld Summit, UNCED (the EarthSummit) in 1992, the principal outputs of whichwere the Rio Declaration on Environment andDevelopment, widely known as Agenda 21, theUNFCCC,theCBD,andtheStatementofForestPrinciples. Agenda 21 was translated into BPoAin 1994 and both these agreements underwentmajor five and ten year reviews,which resulted in the JPOI and theMauritius Strategy. These,whenconsidered together with the“Doha Convention”, the“Monterrey Consensus” and other multilateralframeworks,formafullpackageofinstrumentspromotingsustainabledevelopment.Thechallenge,though,hasalwaysbeenontheimplementationside.

Since1997,theCSDhasbeenrecordingsuccessfuleffortstoimplementAgenda21inSIDS.ThefocusisonsuccessstoriesrelatedtoAgenda21inPICTsandthepracticalmeasurestakeninSIDStofurthertheimplementationofAgenda21andtheBPoApromotedthroughtheCSD.TheexampleslistedbelowhelpsharepositiveexperiencesandencourageinformationsharingaboutsustainabledevelopmentinPICTs:

• Canada-SouthPacificOceanDevelopmentProgramme.

• DevelopmentofNationalLegislationandProvisionofAssistancetoGovernments forPollution-ControlProgrammes.

• PublicationoftheSouth-PacificRegionalClimateBulletin.

• NaturalProductUtilizationandConservationinFiji.

• ElectrificationofRuralAreasUsingSolarPhotovoltaicSystems.

• CreationofMicronesianEntrepreneurDevelopmentCentre.

Photo:JimMaragos.


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• EstablishmentoftheOfficeofEnvironmentalResponseandCoordination.

• PalauInternationalCoralReefCenter.

• AgricultureCensusandStatisticsforSamoa.

• EstablishmentofaRegionalReferenceCentreforMilkProcessingandMarketing.

• SmallIslandDevelopingStatesTechnicalCooperationProgramme.

• RuralTourismDevelopmentProgramme.

The basic objective of these initiatives was to help facilitate identification and implementation ofenvironmentallyresponsibleprogrammesandactivitiesthatdealwithenvironmental,socialandeconomicpressuresandtofacilitateresponsemeasuresontheeffectsofclimatechange,biodiversity,anddesertificationtothenations’socialandeconomichealthinadditiontogeneratingawarenessamongthecommunities.Several of the above-listed stories demonstrate that with the necessary technology and political willSIDScanachievesustainability.Inmostofthecasescommunityinvolvementandparticipationhasbeeninstrumentaltothesuccessoftheproject.Communitiesnotonlyusuallyhaveanextensiveknowledgeoftheproblemsaffectingtheirterritory,buttheyarealsoawareofthefactthatitisnowpossibletolearnandimplementproperwaysofsustainableuse,managementandconservationoftheirnaturalresources.

2.3 TheneedforParticipatoryApproachestoSustainableDevelopment

The articulationof sustainabledevelopment inPICTsnowadays is beingmadewithout any significantregardfortraditionalandindigenoussystemsofknowledgeandpracticesthatwerealreadyinexistenceinPacificcommunities,whereinsustainabilityprinciplesformpartoftheircorecharacteristics.Consequently,sustainable development is often expressed as a newdevelopmentparadigmor thinking arising frominternationalandsubsequentlyregionalandnationalmeetings; lackingsubstancetoordinarycitizensatlarge.Thishasalsocreatedavacuumbetweenplanningandonthegroundimplementationofmeasuresthatconformtosustainabledevelopmentprinciples.Theutteranceoftheterm“sustainabledevelopment”inmanyPICTs seems tobe restricted to theparliamentarydebates, academicdiscourse and reportspreparedinresponsetointernationalandregionalobligationssuchasthosedictatedunderMDGsandas part of the 10 year review process of the BPoA. If sustainable development is to be internalisedandrebornasaninternaldevelopmentpathwayinPacificcommunitiestoday,newerapproachesforitspromotionneedtobeconsidered.AcademicpropositionsasearlyastenyearsagobyVanessaGriffen,8

alsoendorsedtheideathatcommitmenttosustainabledevelopmentinPacificwillnotcomefromthegovernmentsalonebutfrompeople.Thisideabringsforththeneedtoarticulatesustainabledevelopmentinaparticipatoryprocess.Aparticipatoryapproachtodecisionmakingisnowbeingwidelyendorsedthroughouttheregionespeciallybynon-governmentalorganizationsoperatingincommunitiesandevensomedonor agencies. However,mucheffort is still needed tohavemorehorizontaldecision-makingstructuresinnationalgovernmentsandotherauthoritiesinordertofacilitatetheparticipationofmorestakeholdersespeciallyinissuespertainingtonaturalandhumanresourcesmanagement.

Nonetheless, the region and the individual PICTs have made a strong collective commitment tointernationalandregionaleffortstopreventfurtherirreversibleenvironmentalchangeandtopromotesustainabledevelopmentbybecomingparty tonumerousmultilateral agreements. Agenda21, BPoA,JPOI,includingthe14PacificTypeIIpartnershipinitiativesandtheoutcomesoftheMIMforSIDShaveallhighlightedtheneedformanagingthescarcenaturalresourcesandthefragileenvironmentinamoresustainableandequitableway.Itisnowclearthatnosinglegrouporagivensetofactivitiesalonewillbeabletochangethedevelopmentparadigmsofthepresent;insteadthesolutionliesinpartnershipsandintegratedactivitiesinvolvingallstakeholders.AttheSpecialRetreatinAucklandon6April2004,Pacific

8 Inhercontribution tooneof theearliest synthesisonsustainabledevelopmentbywomen in thePacific:“SustainableDevelopmentorMalignantGrowth?”,editedbyAtuEmbersion-Bain,1994.

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CONCEPTUAL FRAMEwORKS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ThE PACIFIC CONTExT

IslandLeadersadoptedanewvisionforthePacific,whichseekstogiveallPacificpeopleslivesthatare“free and worthwhile”.Inadditiontoeconomicgrowth,socio-culturalandenvironmentalprotection,goodgovernanceandsecuritywerealsorecognisedaskeyprioritiesforbringingaboutsustainabledevelopment.A Pacific Planhasbeendevelopedto“give effect to”theirnewvisionthroughthepromotionof “deeper and broader regional cooperation”.

2.4 InnovativeArticulationofSustainableDevelopment

Aninnovativeapproachtoarticulatingsustainabledevelopmentistorecastitasapre-existingthinkinganddevelopmentpathway thathasbeenpractisedbyPacificcommunities in thepast and is inherentin anumberofPacific systemsof knowledgeandpractices. Suchanapproachcancontribute tode-linking sustainabledevelopment from its currentperceptionof externalorigin. More importantly, thisapproach will also elevate appropriate indigenous systems of knowledge and practices (ISKP) to thesamelevelasscientificsystemsofknowledgeandpractices(SSKP);andbothsystemsshouldbeutilisedwherethecombinationofbothwillyieldthebestresults.Theinnovativeaspectsofthisapproacharetherecognitionofsustainabledevelopmentasapre-existingthinkinginPacificsocietiesandtheapplicationofsustainableprinciplesinkeyareassuchasnaturalresourcemanagementandrelevantpolicydevelopment.ISKPispartofthecontinuumbetweentheunknownandknownandthereforehasasignificantroletoplay in thismodernageespecially in thecontextofPacific Islands. However,dueconsiderationmustbe given to relevant andpertinent issues such as intellectual property rights and the nexusbetweencommercialisationof such knowledge and distributionof potential benefits. Veitayaki (2001) has alsoreiteratedthattraditionalknowledge,wisdomandexperiencearevaluable,appropriateandstillrelevantforpeopleinSIDSsuchasFiji.Veitayaki(2001)wentfurthertoproposethatISKPshouldbeincorporatedintosustainabledevelopmentplanning,contemporarydevelopmentstrategiesandresourcemanagementarrangements.TheneedtomainstreamISKPatthehighestdevelopmentplanninglevelisunderpinnedbyitsintrinsicvalueandnotonlytocomplementSSKP.MainstreamingofISKPatthehighestdevelopmentplanninglevelmustbematchedwithresourcestoenableitsarticulationwithinlearninginstitutionsandapplicationinpracticeareas.

3. NEW AND EMERGING ISSUES

WhilethePacificSIDSarestillgrapplingwiththeimplementationchallengesofAgenda21,BPoAandMDGs,thenumberofdevelopmentchallengesfacingtheworldcontinuestogrow–inparticular,

climatechangeandsea level rise,naturalandenvironmentaldisasters,diseases suchasHIV/AIDS,andgovernance and management issues linked to globalisation, trade liberalization and ICTs. These haveprofoundimpactsonecosystems,economies,andsocio-culturalaspectsoflifeinPICTs.Duringthepasttenyears,thevulnerabilityofPICTsacrossthethreepillarsofsustainabledevelopmenthasincreased.Yet,PICTshavemadesomeprogressintheimplementationoftheBPoA,largelythroughdomesticmeasures,despitetheimpedimentsposedbytheirstructuraldisadvantagesandvulnerabilities.TheBPoAiscurrentlybeing implemented inaverydifferentglobalenvironment fromthatwhichprevailedatthetimeof itsadoptionin1994.

ThePacificRegionalPreparatoryMeetingofBPoA+10heldinApiainAugust2003highlightedanumberofnewandemergingissuesasrecognisedbytheJPOIandbytheregion:

(a) Delegatesconsideredthatrelativepovertywasincreasinginsomepartsoftheregion,includingthescarcityofopportunity,asdescribedinthePacificHumanDevelopmentReport(2003),andalsoexpresseddeepconcernthatabjectpovertywasincreasingespeciallyinurbanareasandsquattersettlements.


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(b) Themeetingreiteratedtheregionalconcerns,asreflectedintheJPOI,overtheincreasingincidenceof emerging health issues such as HIV/AIDS, drug resistant malarial strains, dengue, nutritionaldisordersandnon-communicablediseasesandtheirimpactonsustainabledevelopment.

(c) Full and effective implementation is needed of the Pacific Islands Regional Information andCommunicationTechnologiesPolicy(2002)withemphasisonitsfourguidingprinciples:

– ICTwill be used to inform and connect Pacific Island populations and ensure that theybenefitfromflexibleandappropriateeducationandtraining;

– Appropriate ICT infrastructure will be developed to support development for PacificIslands;

– EasyaccesstoinformationthroughICTwillstrengthencooperationbetweenstakeholderstoensuregoodgovernancetodeveloptheprivatesectorandtoimproveservicedelivery;and

– ICTpoliciesandregulationswillfacilitatedevelopmentofthesectorandbeappropriatetothepeopleandculturesofthePacificIslands.

(d) Delegatesmaderenewedcommitmenttofindeffectivewaysandmeanstodevelopcommunity-based initiativeson sustainable tourismby2004, andbuild the capacities necessary todiversifytourismproducts,whileprotectingcultureandtraditions,andeffectivelyconservingandmanagingnaturalresources,inparticularthroughcommunityconsultationsandeffectivecapacitybuilding.

(e) Delegates renewed commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Pacific IslandsRegionalEnergyPolicy(2001)toensureavailable,reliable,affordable,andenvironmentallysoundenergyforsustainabledevelopmentforallintheregion.DelegatesalsorecognisedtheimportanceoffindingwaysandmeanstofulfiltheagreementintheJPOIonenergyforSIDS,andcalledupontheUNtoassistSIDSindevelopingandimplementingnational,sub-regionalandregionalinitiativestothisendby2004,whiletakingintoaccounttheneedforfinancialandtechnicalresourcesfromtheGlobalEnvironmentFacility(GEF),bilateralandmultilateralsources,orthroughotherinnovativefinancial mechanisms, welcoming and strongly supporting the Johannesburg Renewable EnergyCoalitionofwhichAOSISwasafoundingmember.

(f) Themeetingwasconcernedovertheacceleratingbreakdownofthediverseagriculturalandfoodsystemsthathavebeenafoundationforsustainability,foodsecurityandnutritionalwellbeinginthePacificIslandsformillennia.Itwasparticularlyconcernedoverincreasingdependencyonimportedfood,fuel,medicinesandotherproductsandtherelatedincreaseinnutrition-relatedillhealth.

(g) Themeetinghighlightedtheneedforflexibilityonhowinternationalprojectsandprogrammesareimplementedatthenational,sub-nationalandlocallevels.

(h) Delegates noted the potential environmental and social effects of trading regimes, while alsonotingtheimportanceoftradetothesustainabledevelopmentofSIDS,aswellasthedifficultiesencounteredbySIDSininteractionswiththeWTO.Itwasrecognisedthattheseissueswillcontinue,andthat furtherelaborationwillberequired,especially in lightofdevelopmentsatthe“CancunMeeting”.Furthermore,concertedactionwillberequiredtoaddresstheeffectsoftradingregimesonSIDS.

(i) Themeeting recognised the key roleplayedby youth inpromoting a sustainabledevelopmentfuturefortheregion,andnotedtheimportanceofencouragingyouthtocontributetothedecisionmakingprocessforsustainabledevelopment.ItreiteratedthecommitmentintheJPOI,whichcallsforthepromotionandsupportofyouthparticipationthrough,forexample,supportinglocalyouthcouncilsortheirequivalent,andbyencouragingtheirestablishmentwheretheydonotexist.InthisregardthemeetingwelcomedthevoluntaryworkofthePacificYouthEnvironmentalNetworkandencouragedthestrengtheningofthatvoluntarymechanism.

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NEw AND EMERgINg ISSUES

(j) SecurityfrompossibleactsofterrorismisanewandemergingissueandhasthepotentialtobeaverylargethreatparticularlyasregardsthetransportofhazardouswasteandnuclearmaterialthroughthePacificwaters.

Inaddition,governanceandsecuritywererecognisedasmajorregionaldevelopmentalchallenges.Peaceand security, political stability, ruleof law, respect for human rights, gender equality, including the rightto development and market oriented policies are important for the promotion and advancement ofgoodgovernance. Governanceneeds tobeexpanded to include thenotionofeconomic, social andenvironmentalsecurity.Securityalsoencompassesfoodandwatersecurity,transnationalorganisedcrimesuchasmoney laundering, the illegal trade inwildlife,manufactureofandtrafficking in illicitdrugs,andidentityfraud,andtheneedtoaddressthisissueisamatterofurgency.TheimplementationofBiketawa Declarationandotherregionalinitiatives,suchastheHoniara Declaration,the Aitutaki DeclarationandtheNasonini Declaration areessentialforthemaintenanceofpeaceandsecurityintheregion.

TheweakeningeconomicperformanceofmanyPICTssincetheadoptionof theBPoA isamatterofconcern,due inpart to theirdeclining tradeperformancewhile recognizing that international trade isimportant for the building of resilience and sustainable development of PICTs and necessity for theinternational financial and trading systems granting special and differential treatment to PICTs. PICTswill be unable to effectively participate in themultilateral trade negotiations, resulting in their furthermarginalization,unlesstheWTOrecognisesthespecialcaseofSIDSingeneralandPICTsinparticularandtakesappropriateaction.Simultaneously,developmentpartnersofPICTsneedtoextendgreatersupportforandimprovedcoordinationfortheeffectiveimplementationoftheBPoAatthenationalandregionallevels.PICTsneednewandadditionalfinancialresourcesprovidedinanadequate,predictableandtimelymanner,inordertorespondeffectivelytotheirsustainabledevelopmentchallenges.

3.1 InternationalTrade,SustainableProductionandConsumption

InPICTs,agricultureisstillasignificantsectorintheeconomy,accountingforthemajorityofexportsandemployment.Fisheriesarealsoimportant(anestimatedworthofUS$850millionplus).However,weakeconomic performance against rising populations and consumption demand has inevitably resulted inrisingpovertylevelsintheregion.Sustainableandequitableeconomicgrowthprovidestheincomeandotherbenefitsnecessaryfortherealizationofmost, ifnotall,developmentgoals. Itskeydriversareastrongprivatesector,aproductivenaturalresourcebase,efficientinfrastructure,growingserviceindustries,andskilledpeopletodrivetheseactivities.

PromotingregionalintegrationintradethroughthePICTsTradeAgreementandthePacificAgreementonCloserEconomicRelationsisanotherkeyareaofactivity.Internationaltradenegotiationshavebeenapproachedregionallywithpositiveresults.Effortshavealsogonetodevelopingregionalsectorpolicies/strategies in ICT, tourism,private sectordevelopment,maritime issues,water, andenergywith varyingdegreesofimplementation.Supportfortheprivatesectorislimitedattheregionallevelreflectinglackofdirectiononhowbesttoassist,whilethereisincreasedregionalfocusnowonbusinessandvocationaltraining.

Giventhelimitsonsustainableyield,reorientingresource-basedprogrammestowardsqualitativeoutputsshouldextend the lifespanof the region’snon-renewable resources. Forexample, infisheries (whereregional cooperation is alreadyworkingwell), extra economic benefits could comenot by increasingoverallfishingeffort intheregionbut fromdevelopinghigher-pricemarketsandhigher-valueproducts(includinglivefish);value-addingthroughindustrydomestication;aquaculture;anddevelopingnewfisheriesforhitherto-unusedmarineorganisms.Thishowevermustnotcompromisethecarefulmanagementofcurrentknownresources.


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ThelimitationsoftheformalandprivatesectorsinthePacificmayalsomakeitnecessarytore-orientateeconomicthinkingtowardstheinformalandsubsistencesectors,whichhistoricallyhaveplayedacrucialbutunrecognisedandthereforeunsupportedrole.WhilemuchofthewelfareofPacificIslanderscontinuesto be derived from subsistence, there is good potential, for example, in traditional knowledge andpracticeincludingmedicines,therapiesandartsthatcouldbebettermanagedthroughformalgovernancearrangementssuchasintellectualpropertyrights,patents,trademarks,etc.

Freeandfairtradecanplayamajorroleinthepromotionofeconomicdevelopmentandthealleviationofpoverty.Internationalpoliticalmomentumhasbeenre-invigoratedwiththeWorldTradeOrganization(WTO)inDoha(November2001)agreeingonanagendaforadevelopment-focusedWorldTradeRound,andagreementsattheMonterreyConferenceonFinancingforDevelopment(March2002)toincreasethevolumeandeffectivenessofinternationalaid.AttheDohaWTOmeeting,tradeministerspromisedtoputdevelopingcountriesattheheartofWTOnegotiations.Thiswasasignificantadvanceinthequestfor a more development-focused system of international trade rules. The Doha meeting heralded a“developmentround”ofnegotiationswithintheWTOontradeandrelatedissues.

Sustainabledevelopmentrequiresinternationalcooperationonmatterssuchastrade,thereliefofglobalpoverty, andenvironmentalprotection. TheWSSDmadeclear the importanceof agricultural reformfordeliveringglobalsustainabledevelopmentgoalsandurgedWTOmemberstofulfilthecommitmentsmadeintheDohaMinisterialDeclaration.DespitethepositivedevelopmentsofCommonAgriculturalPolicyreformagreementsoverthepastdecade,thePolicystilldoesnotcreateasustainableframeworkforecological,socialandeconomicdevelopmentinthePICTs.AustraliaandNewZealandareespeciallyinfluentialinthereformoftheCommonAgriculturalPolicyofrelevancetoPICTs.Thereisgreatconcernintheregionovertheacceleratingbreakdownofthediverseagriculturalandfoodsystemsthathavebeenafoundationforsustainability, foodsecurityandnutritionalwellbeinginthePacificIslandsforcenturies.Thisconcerninparticularaddressesincreasingdependencyonimportedfood,fuel,medicinesandotherproductsandtherelatedincreaseinnutrition-relatedill-health.Sometimesitisnotsomuchfoodsecuritybut‘foodsovereignty’theregionneedsforsustainabledevelopment–therightofpeoplestodefinetheirownfoodandagriculturepolicies,toprotectandregulatedomesticagriculturalproductionandtradesoastoattaintheirobjectivesofsustainabledevelopment,todetermineinwhatmeasuretheywanttobeautonomous,andtolimitthedumpingofproductsontheirmarkets.Itisimportantthatallfuturefoodandagricultureinitiativesincluderelevantcomponentsthatattempttobuildonandenhancethetime-testedPacificsystems,ratherthanreplacingordegradingthemwithmonoculturalsystemsandimportedfoods.

Thereal successescanonlybemeasuredbyhowtheseagreementsare translated intoactions in themonthsandyears tocome;andhowwell thenations individually andcollectivelyestablish sustainabledevelopmentandtheobjectivesoutlinedaboveastheircentraloperatingprinciplesforpolicymakingaswellasworkingwithdevelopingcountriestoencouragealldevelopmenttobesustainable.Thedevelopedcountriesmustalsoaddresstheirownpoliciesforadvancingspecificissues–toworktowardssustainablepatternsofproductionandconsumption–meetingtheireconomic,socialandenvironmentalobjectivesthroughmoreefficientuseofresourcesanddecouplingeconomicgrowthfromenvironmentaldegradationandtakingstepsonreformintrade-distortingandenvironmentallydamagingsubsidiessothatdevelopingcountriescancompeteinworldmarkets,particularlyinagriculture,fisheriesandenergy.

3.2 InformationandCommunicationTechnology

ICThasbecomeapotentforceinsocial,economic,andpoliticallife.Anydevelopmentprocesshastoensurethatitplaysatransformativeroleforsocialinclusionofthemarginalisedsections.TheimpactofICTdevelopmentorientedprogrammescanprobablybejudgedonlyiftheyserveasamediatorofsocial,politicalandeconomicfunctions.

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A number of ICT initiatives in the PICTs areserving different purposes such as transparencyandaccountability;developmentplanning;accessingdevelopmentresources;anddisastermanagement.However, there are also a number of limitationsincludingunequalaccess,controlbyanelite(literacy,hardware,software)andlackofalegalframeworkforensuringaccessbythemarginalised.Continuingchallenges facing PICTs include optimisingthe use of internet and other ICT tools forexchangingexperienceandinsightsamongislands(including inter-regional exchanges), combiningcommunicationmodes(e.g.communityradioandtheinternet),improvingcommunicationwithmoreisolated outer islands of various archipelagos, and overcoming obstacles and constraints (e.g. limitedandcostly internetaccess). While ICThasbeen laudedasatoolthathas ledto improvementofthegovernment-citizeninterface,anumberofsystemicbottlenecksremain.

The role of ICT in aiding developmental efforts can capture a central place in several forums. Therural community in PICTs spends enormous time and money in getting documents such as licenses,birth certificates, land records, credits, etc. Further, when a disaster hits, there is a constant need forinformation on people’s entitlements, technical advice for reconstruction, and availability of funds forquickrecovery.ICTcanplayacriticalroleinprovidinganenablingenvironmentforlocaldevelopmentandpeople’sempowerment.ICTcanprovideemploymentopportunities,improvingpeople’saccesstobasicservices,creatingnetworks,sharinginformation,buildingknowledgeandincreasingtransparencyandaccountabilityandeffectivenessofdevelopmentactors.Communitiescanaccessinformationcentrestosolicit informationonhospitalsandmedical centres, to sendand receiveemergencymessages, and totransactwithgovernmentoffices inwaysthatenhancetheirqualityof lifeandlivelihood.Theinternethowever,shouldnotbeseenasthepanaceatoovercominginstitutionaldifficultiesinservicedeliverybutcanplayasupportiverole,whichneedstobeharnessed.

Inthe last fewyears,considerableprogresshasbeenmade inusing ICTswithinasmall islandcontext.Examples within the programmes of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO)andcloselyassociatednon-governmentalorganisations(NGOs)include:

(a) inter-regionalSmallIslandsVoice(SIV)initiative,whichcombinesICTwithprint,radio,televisionandothermediainpromotingtheinvolvementofthegeneralpublic,includingyouth,indiscussiononkeyenvironment-developmentissuesinsmallislands,includingviainternet;

(b) multi-lingual, internet-based discussion on wise coastal practices for sustainable humandevelopment;

(c) thedevelopmentofcommunitymulti-mediacentresasameansofpromotinglocalempowermentinisolatedareas;and

(d) interactivecommunitydatabasesandweb-sitesofregion-specificinformation.

There isalsoageneralviewamongdevelopmentplanners that ICTscanbeusedto facilitaterationaldecision-makingandincreaseaccesstoinformationbydecision-makersaswellasbycommunitiesatthegrassrootslevel.Suchabroad-basedaccesstoinformationcanensuretransparencyandresponsivenessofgovernmentmechanismsandprogrammestolocalneedsandpriorities,aswellasfacilitateaccountability.ICTscanbeusedtoalimitedextentfordevelopmentplanningandalsointhemanagementofdisastersandnaturalresourcesinthePICTs.TheinvolvementoflocalgovernanceinstitutionsinuseofICTs-basedtoolsforlocalplanninganddisasterpreparednessneedstobeenhanced.Toenablee-learning,e-commerce,

Photo:UNESCOApia.


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e-health and e-governance to demonstrate their advantages and help spread ICTs in governance,PICTsneedtotakeupcomputerizationonaprioritybasis,particularlyforincreasingtheuseofICTsingovernance.

ICTsprovidemeanstotakeadvantageoftheculturalstrengthsofislandsub-regions.Thesesub-regionswerecreatedthroughtheforgingofsomeoftheworld’smostsophisticatedpre-moderncommunicationnetworks. Now perhaps they can leapfrog back into a position of global relevance and importancethroughICTsthatwouldinfactbeaculturallycongruentstrategy.

ICTs have a powerful potential role for natural resources datamanagement systemswith a focusondevelopmentofspatialdatamanagementtoolsforlocallevelplanningforwaterresourcemanagement,landuse,energymanagementandinfrastructuredevelopment.Thiswouldrequirestrengtheninginstitutionalback-up through trainingprogrammesand technology transfer in thePICTs. AGIS softwarepackagecouldbedevelopedindigenouslywithadditionalfeaturesfordatabasesonnaturalresources,demography,agro-economy,socio-economyandinfrastructurefacilities.

PICTsneed toembrace ICTatboth thepolicyand strategy levels andalsowith supportingbottom-upapproachesthatcanhelptoensurethatnationalstrategiesareresponsiveanddemand-driven.ICTcould be mainstreamed into areas such as poverty reduction, governance, decentralization, genderequity,environmentalsustainability,vulnerabilityreductionanddisasterpreparedness,throughsynergisticpartnerships in favourof thepoorandmarginalised. Thesocio-economicramificationsof informationtechnologyneedtobeunderstoodforsustainabilityinthePICTs.

ICTscouldbeharnessedinthePICTstosupportsustainableandpeople-centreddevelopmentobjectivesunderallfourthematicareas:

(a) thepromotionofhumandevelopmentandgenderequality;

(b) capacitybuildingfordecentralization;

(c) povertyeradicationandsustainablelivelihoods;and

(d) vulnerability reductionandenvironmental sustainability. Thesignificantopportunities for sharingnationalexperiences in ICTamong thePICTs inareas suchasdecentralizationandcommunitymobilizationshouldbefullyharnessedthroughknowledgenetworkingwithothercountries inter aliaundertheframeworkofregionalcooperation.

Inordertoensureanenablingenvironment,policyandregulatorybottlenecksshouldbeidentifiedandrectifiedtoensureaccessbymarginalisedcommunities.EffortsinallPICTsshouldbegearedtosupportthemostappropriateICTinanygiveninitiativeandassessmentshouldbebasedonathoroughunderstandingofaccess,mediaandthecontentpreferencesofstakeholders.Developinglocallygeneratedcontentinthelocallanguageandauser-friendlyinterfaceforaccessbythepoorestandilliteratepopulationisimportant.Skillsandcapacityshouldbedevelopedforpro-poormediacontentwithinthetraditionalmediasectors.

Severaldifferentkindsofshort-termsolutionsarepossibletocircumventlowtele-densityinremoteruralareasofthePICTs.RuralICTprojectsmaybeusedtotestanddesignnewkindsoftelecommunicationsinfrastructure.Arangeofservicesmaybecontinuouslyprovided,notwithstandingnarrowbandwidth,slowtransfer,andintermittentconnectivity.Multi-stakeholderparticipationisnecessaryespeciallyformakingtheseinitiativessuccessful.

MostPICTsdonothave the legaland institutionalcapacities topromoteuseof ICTonawidescale.The challenge clearly lies in using ICT to facilitate development without making ICT a determiningfactor. UNESCOandotherdevelopmentpartnerscanplayauseful supportive role– inpartnershipwithgovernmentandcivil society– topull togetherdifferentstrandsof themanyeffortsbeingmadethroughoutthePICTsandtohelpcatalyseamorecohesiveapproachforthefuture.

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3.3 GovernanceandPolicyIssues

Governance issues – across the dimensions of politics, economics, social cohesion and environmentalmanagement–areconsideredtobefundamentalchallengestosustainabledevelopment intheregion.Globalisationhasbecomeaparticularconcernforcountriesmanyofwhomhaveexperiencedsomedegreeofimpactoractiontocontendwiththephenomenon.Securityinterestsandpoliticalstabilityarenowasignificantpartofregionalgovernanceandnationalactions.Commonsecurityconcernsandlocalconflictsoftenariseoverethnicdifferences,inequitableeconomicbenefitsharing,aliendisputeresolutionsystems,pooraccesstoinformationandknowledgeaswellastheexternalthreatofinternationalterrorism.

ThePacificIslandsForumSecretariat,inreportingongovernancematters,recentlyreportedthattheregionwascharacterisedby“weaklegislatureswithaprevailingweakcultureofaccountabilityandtransparencyandlackofclarityintheindependenceofParliament;weakregulatoryframeworksinwhichlawsontheresponsibilityofpublicinstitutionsandofficersareoftenambiguousorabsent,withfewsanctionsagainstnon-compliance;andweakjudiciariesthataregenerallyunderstaffed(withthepossibleexceptionofPNG)and thecourtsoftenhaveaconsiderablebacklogofcases” (PIFS,2002). However, it isworthnotingthatthePacificregionhasamongstthehighestproportionofpeoplelivingundertraditionalgovernancesystemsintheworld,andthisformofgovernanceisofutmostsignificanceinthePICTs’questtoimprovetheformalgovernanceinstitutionsandachievementofsustainabledevelopment.

Eachnationintheregionhastodevelopasustainabledevelopmentframework,throughpartnershipsofkey stakeholders includinggovernmentofficesand regionaldevelopmentagencies, as they face similarandcommonchallengesandopportunities.Bringinggovernmentsclosertothepeopleisitselfapolicyforsustainabledevelopment;theideaof“thinking globally – acting locally”haslongbeenassociatedwithsustainabledevelopment.ThedevolvedadministrationsinPICTshavetheopportunitytodeliversustainabledevelopment,whichreflectstheirinstitutions,landscape,cultureandwayoflife.

Appropriate responses to the sustainable development challenge in PICTs could include work oncommunityvisioning,communityindicators,localactionplanning,localeconomyprojectsandcommunitywasteminimizationprojects. Thisworkneeds tobe linked to local government through sustainabilityindicatorprojects,corporatestrategydevelopment,sustainabledevelopmentstrategydevelopmentandenvironmentalmanagementsystemsinaholistic,long-termframework,lookingforthemutuallyreinforcingeconomic,environmentalandsocialbenefits.

Regionaldevelopmentagenciesneedtoco-ordinateregionaleconomicdevelopmentandregenerationandtoenabletheindividualstatestoimprovetheirrelativecompetitivenessandreducetheimbalancesthatexistwithinandbetweenregionstobenefitallthenationsoftheregion.Regionaldevelopmentagenciesshould beworking together at the regional level to identify theoverarching sustainable developmentprioritiesinthesustainabledevelopmentframeworkforthePICTs.

TheNational SustainableDevelopmentStrategy (NSDS) is an integratedapproach to thedeliveryofeconomicgrowth,socialprogress,environmentalprotectionandresourceefficiency(throughdevelopmentof innovative programmes and projects) and has the potential to be a key driver in the PICTs forimprovementsineconomicoutputs,investment,educationandincombatingpovertyandsocialexclusionthroughthegenerationofemploymentopportunities.

WhilstthePICTsarebeginningtoentrenchtheneedforconsiderationofallthethreepillarsofsustainabledevelopmentinNationalPolicyandStrategies,thereisaneedforassistancewiththeadministrativeandinstitutionalmechanismsthatenablethistobecomeactualpractice.SomeofthepriorityenvironmentalpolicyissuesthatneedtobeaddressedinPICTsrelateto:

• Poorlawsrelatingtosoilconservation(addressingsoilerosion,salinity,contamination,etc.);

• Poorlawsrelatingtobiodiversityprotectionandenforcement;


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• Poorlawsrelatingtoplanningforandcontrolofwaste;

• Needforastock-takingoftheexistinglaws/instrumentsgoverningenvironmentalmanagementandsustainabledevelopment–withtheviewtoanalysingoptionsforimprovement,integrationandparticipatorymethods;

• Poorcoordinationbetween legislative frameworks forsustainabledevelopmentat thestateandsub-nationallevelstofacilitategrassrootenvironmentalmanagementandsustainabledevelopmentpracticesandtoencouragenationallawstoreinforcevillagelevel/villageby-lawswheretheyexist;and

• Need foranupgradeof legislationandadministrativeprocesses toprovidebetterenforcementthroughdeterrentfineandimprisonment.

Over80%oflandandmarineresourcesinthePacificareheldincustomarytenurearrangements.Localcommunitiesarethereforecriticaltoanyprocesstothataimstoaddressthemanagementandsustainableuseofresources.Participatoryapproachestoconservationanddevelopmenthavebeenincreasinglyusedwithsuccessfulresults.

Pooreconomicperformance,fairlyrapidpopulationgrowthandurbandrift,risingexpectations,andgrowinginequalitieshavecontributedtopovertybecomingasignificantandgrowingprobleminsomePICTs.Tworelevant indicators on this subject as proposed by theUnitedNations are theHumanDevelopmentIndex and theHumanPoverty Index. The estimatesof these two indices for the PICTs are listed inTable10below.IncreasingtrendsinpovertyinPICTsinrecentdecadeshasputpressureontraditionalmechanismsthathavebeenusedinthepasttosupportindividualsandfamiliesinneedandtomaintainsocialcohesion.

Table10:HumanDevelopmentandPovertyIndicesinsomePICTs

Country Human Development Index (1) Human Poverty Index (2)

Palau 0.861 10.8

CookIslands 0.822 6.1

FijiIslands 0.667 8.5

Nauru 0.663 12.1

Tonga 0.647 5.9

Samoa 0.590 8.6

Tuvalu 0.583 7.3

FSM 0.569 26.7

MarshallIslands 0.563 19.5

Kiribati 0.515 12.6

Vanuatu 0.425 46.4

SolomonIslands 0.371 49.1

PNG 0.314 52.2

Average 0.597 19.3

(1)Highervaluesindicatehigherlevelsofhumandevelopment.(2)Lowervaluesindicatelowerhumanpoverty.

Source:UNDP,PacificHumanDevelopmentReport,1999.

Realizingthisdevelopmentdilemma,PICTs,withtheassistanceof theSPREP,havetakena leadrole indiscussionsrelatingtoglobalenvironmentalchangeandsustainabledevelopmentissuessincesigningoftheSouthPacificDeclarationonNaturalResourcesandtheEnvironmentattheRarotongaConferenceonHumanEnvironmentinthePacificIslandin1983.SPREPandhigh-levelrepresentationsfromthePICTs,

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togetherwithothernon-PICTsunder theumbrellaofAOSIS,havestrongly represented the region ininternationallobbyingatvariousforums,suchastheEarthSummit,theBarbadosConference,theWSSDandtheMIM.

ThePacificregionasawholeandtheindividualPICTshavemadeastrongcommitmenttointernationaleffortsinpreventionoffurtherirreversibleenvironmentalchangeandtopromotesustainabledevelopmentby becoming party to numerous environmental conventions and treaties, such as the FrameworkConventiononClimateChange(FCCC),theCBD,theConventiontoCombatDesertification(CCD),CITES,theRamsarConventiontoprotectMangrovesandWetlands,andtheMontrealandKyotoProtocolsto address problems of the breakdown in the Earth’s protective ozone layer and global warming, tomentionafew.Theyhave,withtheassistanceofAusAID,SPREP,UNagencies,andtheUniversityoftheSouthPacific (USP), alsomadea strongcommitment,particularlyover thepastdecade, toaddressingtheissuesofenvironmentalprotectionandsustainabledevelopmentatthelocalandcommunitylevels.NotingtheburdenofreportingonavarietyofMEAs,thePICTshavealsoaskedforsimplifiedreportingproceduresandharmonizationofreportingrequirementstotheseMEAsatvariousforums.

Theregulatoryandlawandorderrolesofthestateareacentralpartofthedevelopmentprocess.Pacificinstitutionsarebasedonformercolonialsystemsofconstitutionalism,law,justiceandpoliticalauthorityandthetypeofinstitutionsthatweredeemedappropriateatthetime.Forthemostpart,theywerenotfoundedonthe“willofthepeople”butusheredinafternegotiationsbetweenthePacificleadersofthetimeandcolonialadministrations.Inthepasttwodecades,thepreoccupationofthestatesinthePacifichasshiftedfrom“nation-building”to“nation-preservation”implyingrisingpressuresonlegitimacyandviability.IndeedPacificIslandsfaceseriouschallengestoday,fromwithinandwithout,intheireffortstomeetthegrowingdemandsoftheirrisingpopulations'consumptionandaspirations.WhilethePacificremainsoneofthemorestableregionsoftheworld,theoccurrenceofpoliticalviolenceandcoupsinsomePacificIslands inthe lastseveralyears, thefluidityofpoliticsandthe instabilityofgovernments, togetherwithrisingcrimeandvariablegovernanceandtransparencyratings,havecertainlypresentedtheregionwithsignificantchallenges.Atthenationallevel,anddespitetheirdifferencesinstructure(inheritedfromBritish,FrenchandUSsystems),Pacific legislatures’ performanceintheirthreemainfunctions(representation,lawmakingandoversight)hasgenerallybeenweakandineffective.ThereisalsoaneedforsupporttothejudiciarytoenableittorespondeffectivelytothemanychallengesfacedbythePacific.

Thepost-colonialerahasalsoseenasteadydeclineintheeffectivenessandcontinuedlossofcommunitytrust in Pacific law enforcement agencies. Lawenforcement agencies in various countries have beenunabletoprevent(orinsomeinstancesmayhavedirectlycontributedto)breakdownsinlawandorder.Additionally,thethreatoftrans-nationalandorganisedcrimehassteadilyincreasedoverthelast25yearsandhas taken a foothold in some countries in recent times. Themain causesof these trends relateto inadequate capacity andpoor governance,muchofwhich is partly due to a low level of support,funding,andmorale.Togetherwitheconomicandsocialgovernanceconcerns,thesehaveresultedinasignificantregionaltrendtowardsanacceptanceofgoodgovernance,securityandlawenforcementissuesaspriorities forregionalagreements. Thisculminated intheBiketawa Declaration in2000,which,whilerespectingnationalsovereignty,allowedforapossibleregionalroleintheresolutionofnationalpoliticalcrises.TheRegionalAssistanceMissiontotheSolomonIslands(RAMSI),whichwasmandatedundertheBiketawa Declaration,isawidelyappreciatedregionalinitiative.

Goodgovernance isessential forsustainabledevelopment. Soundeconomicpolicies,soliddemocraticinstitutionsresponsivetotheneedsofthepeopleandimprovedinfrastructurearethebasisforsustainedeconomicgrowth,povertyeradicationandemploymentcreation.Freedom,peaceandsecurity,domesticstability,respectforhumanrights,includingtherighttodevelopment,andtheruleoflaw,genderequality,marketorientedpolicies,andanoverallcommitmenttojustanddemocraticsocietiesarealsoessentialandmutuallyreinforcing.


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3.4 HumanResourceCapacityBuilding–EducationforSustainableDevelopment

Human capacity building, in particular scientific capacity building inthePICTsisoneofthepriorityrequirementsforthecountriesoftheregiontoimprovetheirownpolicymakingtoeffectivelytakeonboardglobal standards and lead their population to a safe and sustainablefuture. The vicious cycleof environmental degradation andpovertyandtheunavailabilityofaccurateenvironmental,socialandeconomicdatainthePICTsmakeitverydifficulttofindatangiblewaytowardsustainable development. This necessitates strengthening networksforresearchandeducationforsustainabledevelopmentwiththeaimof sharing knowledge, experiences and best practices, and buildingprofessional capacities in the PICTs particularly in the target areasof climate change (prediction, impacts, adaptation and mitigation –with focusonbestpractices in impact assessments, vulnerability andadaptation); freshwater management; non-communicable diseases,nutritionandfoodsecurity;andprovidingforemploymentandothereconomicopportunitiesfortheregion’speople,allofwhicharedirectlylinked to sustainable development. There is also an urgent need inthese countries to develop knowledge-based tools and innovative

strategyoptionstopromoteinformeddecision-makingforsustainabledevelopmentfortheuseofpolicymakersintheregion.

FouractivitiesthatcouldbeundertakeninthePICTsonregionalandnationallevelsare:

(a) Developmentofmonitoringmethodologiesandnetworksthatcoverenvironmentaldisastersanddegradation,andmakefulluseofsatellitetechnologies;

(b) Developmentofasetofassessmentmodelstopredictthetrendsofnaturalresourcesandnaturaldisasters;

(c) Developmentofa strategicdatabaseand innovativestrategyoptions forpracticalusebypolicymakers,enablinginformeddecision-makingatvariousstagesofMEAimplementation;and

(d) Adding“e-learning”asanonlinesystemthatdevelopshumanresourcesthatcouldengageinpolicyformulationasregardsMEAs.

Theneedformoreprofessionalstofamiliarisethemselveswithsustainabledevelopmentissuescannotbeunderestimated,astheplunderofpreciousnaturalresourcescontinuesandriskoffailuretomeetmanyoftheMillenniumDevelopmentGoalsinthePICTsisareality.MoreprofessionalsinthePICTsareexpectedtoprovidebetterinformationtotheircommunities.Forcapacitybuildingtowork,PICTsneedtomakelong-termcommitmentstoensurethatsuchinitiativesaregiventheopportunityandresourcestoflourish.Capacity building for sustainable development in the PICTs remains a high priority, including capacityissuesrelatedtostrengthening legaland legislative frameworks. ThesuccessofPICTs in implementingtheirdevelopmentblueprintsatnationallevelwilldependoneffectivehuman,institutionalandtechnicalcapacityrelatedtopolicydevelopment,andmonitoringofimplementationandcoordination.

Perhapsthemosturgentconcernacrosstheregionishowtobettermeettheneedsandaspirationsoftheupcominggeneration(onaverage,around40%ofthepopulationisunder14years).Also,about20%ofthepopulationinthePICTsiscurrentlyagedbetween15to24years–atotalof1.4million,whichisexpectedtorisebyafurther300,000bytheyear2010.Unemploymentandunderemploymentofyoungadultsisamajordevelopmentissueinmanystates.Manyschoolleaversfindthattheyhaveinadequateorinappropriateskills,notonlyforthefewwagedjobsthatareavailable,butalsowhentheyreturntotheirvillagesandattempttoengageinagriculturalworkorothertypesofresource-basedlivelihoods.Thisraises

Photo:MarcOvermars.

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theissueoftheappropriatenessofcurrenteducationcurricula.InChapter2,thecontributionofISKPto innovativesustainabledevelopmentmodelswasrecognised.Educationforsustainabledevelopmentshould therefore enhance the awareness and confidenceof youngpeople in ISKP, to enable them toelaboratesustainabledevelopmentmodelsintunewiththePacific’spast,presentandfuture.WhilstaccesstoeducationinthePICTshasimprovedconsiderablyoverthelastdecade,itstillremainsafundamentalchallengeforattainingsustainabledevelopmentandtoenhancecapacitybuildingforthelongterm.Inthisregard,educationstrategiesandactionplansthatencompassthewide-rangingneedsforimprovedaccesstoandqualityofeducationneedtobeimplemented.

Accordingtoregionalconsensusintheareaofcapacity-building,internationalandregionalsupportandassistancewouldbewelcomefortheproposedestablishmentofaconsortiumoftertiaryinstitutionsforcapacitydevelopmentandeducation,andforstandard-settingforsustainabledevelopmentinSIDSoftheSouthPacific.Thereisaneedtoensurethatsustainabledevelopmenteducationandtrainingprovideslinkagesbetweensectorssuchashealth,communitydevelopment,water,energy,landandcoastalzones.Thereshouldbeanationallevelcommitmenttoensurethateducationmaintainsastrongrelevancetolocalconditions,notablybyreviewingcurriculasothattheymeetthebasicneedsofcommunities.Practicalapplicationsofeducationinmanagementandparticipatoryskillsareneeded,aswellasinformationandcommunicationstechnologyandvocationaltraining.Applicationsofscienceandtechnologyandtargetedand internationally important research are also vital to improved understanding and decision-makingleadingtosustainabledevelopment.

AstheentrypointtotheeducationalsystemsofthePacificandwiththeirwiderangeofparticipation,theprimaryandsecondaryeducationsectors–aswellasnon-formalandcommunityeducation–alsoplayakeyroleinthisregard

Strengthenedregionalmechanismsarerequiredforcooperationtoshareinformationandlessonslearned,topromoteregionaland interregionalexchangeandtoundertake jointand intersectoralprojectsandresearch activities, thus enhancing the generation and dissemination of information to support theimplementationofsustainabledevelopmentinthePICTs.Knowledgegenerationandmanagementareimportantfactorshere.Acriticalrequirementinimplementingnationalsustainabledevelopmentstrategiesisthesupportinginfrastructurefortheeffectiveexchangeandmovementofinformation.PICTsrecognisethattherearenewopportunitiesaffordedbytherapidnewdevelopmentsinICTtoovercomelimitationsof isolationandremotenessandbuild their resilience. Thesenewopportunities includeareassuchase-commerce,improvedearlywarning,telemedicineanddistancelearning.USPcontinuestobeagloballeaderindistanceandflexibleapproachestolearning.

ItisrecognisedthatscienceandtechnologyisacrosscuttingissueforallsectorsofsustainabledevelopmentinthePICTs.Targetedinvestmentforappropriatescienceandtechnologycapacitybuildingiscritical,giventhe increasing importanceof scienceand technology inbuilding resilience inPICTs. The internationalcommunitymustincreaseitssupportforregionalorganizationssuchasSPREPandSOPACinordertopromote the incorporation in national sustainable development strategies of appropriate science andtechnologyelementsandsupportforsciencedevelopmentinPICTs,whilealsoprovidingpromotionandprotection for traditional science and technologywhich includes local and indigenous knowledge andmanagementpractices.

TheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyadoptedaresolutioninDecember2002declaringa“DecadeofEducationforSustainableDevelopment(DESD:2005–2014)”tobeginonJanuary1,2005.UNESCOhasbeendesignatedastheleadagencytoimplementvariouscomponentsofDESDactivities,andnationsarebeingencouragedtoestablishtheirownDESD-orientedinitiatives.TheDecadehasthefollowingfourmajorthrustareasthatwereoriginallydefinedinChapter36ofAgenda21andhavebeenexpandeduponintheCSDWorkProgramme:


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• Promotionofbasiceducation;

• Reorientingexistingeducationalprogrammestoaccommodatesocial,environmentalandeconomicknowledgeinaninter-disciplinarymanner;

• Promotionofpublicunderstandingandawarenessoftheprinciples;and

• Developmentofspecialisedtrainingprogrammestoenableawidercross-sectionofthecommunitytoperformtheirworkinasustainablemanner.

UNESCO seeks to promote improvement in quality education (all levels, formal and non-formal) bystrengtheningthecapacityofcountriestoplan,manageandreformtheireducationsystems.ExamplesinUNESCOprogrammesandprojectsincludethefollowing:

• PromotingEducationforSustainableDevelopment(ESD)withintheDESD;

• Promotingentrepreneurshipamongthoseinvolvedintheinformaleconomy(jointinitiativewithCommonwealthofLearning);and

• Bringing indigenous knowledge and practice into the education system (Local and IndigenousKnowledgeSystems(LINKS)project).

Re-assessmentofeducationandcapacity-buildinginasmallislandcontexthastoincorporateemergingopportunities(e.g.newpartnerships,distanceeducation)aswellaslong-standingissuessuchastheeffectsofmigration,specialneedsatdifferentlevels,accesstoeducation,languageschools,schoolcurricula,on-the-jobtraining,mentoringandmanymore.InPICTs,criticalissuesincludeearlydropoutratesfrombasiceducation,particularlybyboys.OneofthecentralchallengesbeforeUNESCOistomobilisehumanandfinancialresourcestofulfil EducationforSustainableDevelopment commitmentsduringthe2005–2014period.

VocationalskilldevelopmentinPICTsalsoneedstobeimprovedtomeetthelearningneedsofPacificsocietiestoequippeoplewithvocationalandtechnicalskillssuitedtotheneedsoftheircountriesandcommunities.Advocacyofcurriculumrenewalcouldpromotevaluesconducivetothedevelopmentofpeace,democracy,culturaldiversityandenvironmental integrity. Nurturingcollaborative linksbetweenschoolchildrenthroughUNESCO'sAssociatedSchoolsNetworkshouldbeencouraged.Developmentofearthobservationandspaceactivitiesinschoolsshouldalsobepromotedasaninnovativeapproachtoscienceandtechnologyeducation.ReinforcementoftheUniversityTwinning/UNESCOUniversityChairsProgrammeinSIDS(currently13chairsinsevenSIDS)couldbeaprimemodeofcapacitybuildingatthehighereducationlevelthroughthetransferofknowledgeandsharinginaspiritofsolidaritywithinandbetweendevelopingcountriesofthePacific.

It is essential that further trainedmanpowerbecome available to the islands so that all developmentprojectscanbesubjectedtoscrutinytoseewhethertheyaresustainable.Skilledmanpowerisalsoneededtoensurethatalldevelopment-relatedactivitiesandactionplanstakeintoaccountadequatelysustainabledevelopmentconsiderations. Itneedstobeensuredthatnewthinkingondevelopment ispartoftheeducationsystem,particularlyforthoseundertakingundergraduateandpostgraduatestudies.Itisessentialthatthemainstreamteachingberevised/reorientedtoincorporateideasofsustainabledevelopment.Thereisalsoaneedtosetupgraduateprogrammesinpriorityareasofsustainabledevelopmentortomodify existingprogrammes tobuild specific focuson sustainabledevelopmentpathways. Suchnewprogrammes or modified programmes need to be established at the institutions of higher educationintheregion.Inthelongrun,theabilityofthePacifictoachievesustainabledevelopmentwilldependlargelyonitshumanresources,developedwithgoodexposuretosustainablehumandevelopmentideas.Inthisrespect,strongconsiderationshouldbegiventobuildingcapacity inareasofsustainablehumandevelopmentateducationalinstitutions–withparticularreferencetohighereducation–intheregion.

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USPhascommitteditselftoremainfullyengagedinDESDatbothnationalandinternationallevelsasavehicleforpromotingeducationforsustainabilityinthePICTs.TheGlobalHigherEducationforSustainabilityPartnership,whichincludesUNU,UniversityLeadersforaSustainableFuture,theInternationalAssociationofUniversities,CopernicusCampus,andUNESCO,has,inthecontextoftheDecade,initiatedaprojectto develop an Online Resource Centre to assist higher educational representatives in reorienting theireducation,research,communityoutreach,andcampusoperationstowardssustainability.USPhasrecentlybeeninvitedtojointhisgroupandnegotiationsarecurrentlyunderwaytoformalisethislink.Withintheregion,thePacificCentreforEnvironmentandSustainableDevelopment(PACE-SD)intheUniversityoftheSouthPacifichastakeninitiativestopromoteESDaspartoftheWSSD“CapacityBuilding”TypeIIInitiativethatisbeingjointlyfacilitatedbyUSPandSPREP.

3.5 TheFinancingContext

Agricultureandfisheriesremainthemainstayoftheeconomiesofmostoftheindependentcountriesandareparticularlyimportantbecausetheysupportbothsubsistenceeconomiesandexportindustriesthatcontributesignificantlytoeconomicgrowth.OtherextractiveindustriessuchasloggingandminingareorhavebeensignificantindustriesincountriesandterritoriessuchasFiji,Nauru,NewCaledonia,PNGandtheSolomonIslands.Tourismisanimportantindustryinsomecountriesandterritories,especiallyFiji,theCookIslands,FrenchPolynesia,CommonwealthoftheNorthernMarianaIslandsandGuamandisbecomingincreasinglyimportanttomanyotherislandeconomies.GiventhelargeExclusiveEconomicZones(EEZ)ofmostPICTs,developmentofoffshorefisheriesisoneofthefewindustrieswithsignificantdevelopmentpotential.

NearlyalltheindependentstateswithinthePacificregionhaveorusedtohaveastateowneddevelopmentbank,whilst territorieshavesimilararrangementswiththeircolonisers. IntheNorthernPacific,Guam,Palau,NorthernMarianaIslandsandfourstateswithinFSM(Chuuk,Kosrae,PohnpeiandYap)aremembersofthePacificIslandsDevelopmentBankwhichwasestablishedin1989.Ingeneral,thepurposeofthesedevelopmentbankswastocontributetotheeconomicandsocialdevelopmentofcountriesbyprovidingfinancial,technicalandadvisoryassistancetoindividuals,theprivatesector,andbyassistinggovernmentwith their development programmes. National governments often provide capital grants, interestguaranteesandsubsidies;however,developmentbankshaveventuredtoprovideotherfinancialservicesforsustainabilitypurposes.Whilesomeofthesedevelopmentbankshavebeensuccessful,afewbecameinsolventinthepastfewyearsbecauseofanumberoffactorsincludingnon-performingloanportfolios,andill-conceivedgovernmentpolicydirectionsandmismanagement(Hou,2001).Apartfromprovidingloanstoprivateenterprises,mostofthesedevelopmentbanksalsohavespecialprovisionsforindigenouspopulationstoaccesscreditwhichisinnovative,andhasitsownadvantagesanddisadvantages.However,evenwithdevelopmentbanksmakingsuchprovisionstothewiderpublic,accesstocreditisstilllimitedinPICTs.Thepooraccesstocreditisduetomacroeconomicinstability,thelackofcollateral(acceptablebythebanks),theabsenceofcreditorrecords,andthehighcostsofenforcingdebtcontracts;addressingthesefactorsislikelytobefarmoreproductiveinloweringthecostofcreditthansettingupgovernment-ownedbanks(Chand,2006).TheANZbankrecentlypartneredwithUNDPandotherstakeholdersinFijiandtheSolomonIslandstoprovidebankingservicestoruralareasthroughtheuseofretrofittedtrucks.Thesepilotsmayofferbetterchancesofimprovingaccesstocreditandalsocontributetotheeconomyofruralareas.TheState,moreover,hasacriticalroleintheprovisionofprudentialsupervisionandinreducingthecostsofenforcingdebtcontracts(Chand,2006).

BoththeAsianDevelopmentBank’s(ADB)draftPacificRegionalEnvironmentStrategyreleasedin2003andtheEU/PIFRegionalSupportStrategyPaperof2002highlightthegreatdiversityamongthePICTsintermsofboththeirnaturalresourcebaseandstagesofdevelopment.Table11belowliststhemaineconomicactivitiesbycountry:


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Table11:MainEconomicActivitiesofSomePacificIslandCountries

Country Industries

CookIslands Fruit-processing,Tourism,Finance,Copra,Citrusfruits,Clothing,Coffee,Fish, Pearlsandpearlshells,Mining,Handicrafts

FSM Tourism,Construction,Fishprocessing,Craftitems(shell,wood,pearls), Garments,Bananas,Blackpepper

Fiji Sugar,Tourism,Copra,Gold,Silver,Clothing,Timber,Fishprocessing,Cottage industries

Kiribati Fishing,Handicrafts,Copra

MarshallIslands Copra,Fish,Tourism,Craftitems(shell,wood,pearls),Offshorebanking (embryonic),Coconutoil,Trochusshells

Nauru Phosphatemining,Financialservices,Coconutproducts

Palau Tourism,Craftitems(shell,wood,pearl),Commercialfishing,Agriculture

PNG Copracrushing,Palmoilprocessing,Plywoodproduction,Woodchipproduction, Miningofgold,silver,andcopper,Crudeoilproduction,Construction,Tourism, Timber,Coffee,Cocoa,Seafood

Samoa Fishing,Tourism,Timber,Foodprocessing,Coconutoilandcream,Copra,Beer

SolomonIslands Timber,Fish,Palmoil,Cocoa,Copra

Tonga Tourism,Fishing,Squash,Fish,Vanilla,Rootcrops,Coconutoil

Tuvalu Fishing,Tourism,Copra;Stamps/coins

Vanuatu Fishing,Offshorefinancialservices,Tourism,Foodandfishfreezing,Wood processing,Meatcanning;Coconuts,Cocoa,Coffee

Sources:ADBAnnualReports,ABCWorldFactFinderandSPCPocketStatisticalSummary.

OveralleconomicperformanceoverthepastdecadeinmostPICTshasbeenpoor.9Thepublicsectorremainsadominantfeatureoftheeconomiclandscapealthoughitscapacityisoftenstretchedfinanciallyand in termsofhumanresourceswhendealingwithvastdistancesbetweenpopulationcentres/outerislands. This often limits the government’s opportunity to focus or participate fully in internationalevents andagreements that canprofoundly affect theireconomiesor toallocate significant resourcestoenvironmentalmanagement,andconsequentlydependonsignificantaidflowstosupportthisareaofinvestment.Asmallprivatesectorthatfindsitdifficulttoachieveeconomiesofscalecanalsobelimitingintermsofsustainabledevelopment.Weaknessesintheprivatesectorconstraintheabilityofmanyfirmsto respond positively to environmental or sustainable development imperatives that may require thereorientationofproductionandservices,stafftrainingorskillstogenerateinnovativeprojects.

NationalAssessmentReportsofmanyof thePICTshighlight thepooraccess tocredit for individuals,familiesandcustomarygroupstoassistwithdevelopmentactivities.Pressuresarealsobuildingonfarmerstointensifylanduseforeconomicreturnstobalanceincreasingcosts,andtobecontentwithothersocio-economicdriverssuchaslandtenure.Thereisahighcostandrelianceondieselfueltogenerateenergy,whichisaprimaryinputforalldevelopment.

Theestablishmentofeffectivesustainabledevelopmentfinancingmechanisms isessential forsuccessfulimplementationofsustainabledevelopmentstrategies intheregion.Thisshouldencompass innovativefinancing,suchassocialinvestmentfundstohelpalleviatepoverty.TheGEFSmallGrantsProgrammehasbeenextendedtothePacificandprovidessomeopportunitiesinthisregard.Additionalsourcesofseedfundingneedtobeidentified.

9 ADB(1999):Pursuing Economic Reform in the Pacific.

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Thelinkbetweenthenationaldevelopmentplanandtheannualbudgetallowsgovernmentstolookatwhatisfeasibletobefundedfromnationalresourcesandthen,wherepossible,tolookfordevelopmentassistancefundingasappropriate.Inthisrespect,itisvitalthatbothcapitalandrecurrentcostsforprojectsinsupportofthenationalplanareaccuratelyreflectedinthebudget.Demonstratedfinancialcommitmentstoimplementationofthenationalplancouldalsoopenupoverseasdevelopmentassistanceopportunities.Astrongnationalplanallowsamoveawayfromthesituationwherewishlistsorshoppinglistsaretakentodonors(ashasbeenthecaseinthepastwith“DevelopmentBudgets”).Inanenvironmentofshrinkingoverseasdevelopmentassistance funding,developmentpartners inPICTsarenowmorecriticalwhenlookingatthesustainabilityofactivitiesthanbefore.

In the financial context, theAOSIS Declaration from the Fourth Summit of the Heads of State andGovernmentofAOSISadoptedatJohannesburg,1September2002statedthat “We urge the multilateral development financial community to consider augmenting the quantum of resources devoted to financing sustainable development and in this connection we urge the developed partners to be more responsive to agreed official development assistance targets. We note with appreciation the success in efforts for the replenishment of the resources of the GEF, which is a committed and reliable partner in financing sustainable development in Small Island Developing States”. TheSIDSleadersatthe“Inter-RegionalPreparatoryMeetingofSmallIslandDevelopingStatesfortheInternationalMeetingtoreviewimplementationoftheBarbadosProgrammeofActiononthesustainabledevelopment”declaredthat“We recognise the importance of GEF to financing sustainable development initiatives SIDS and in this regard recommend that all necessary measure be taken to ensure the full and complete participation of SIDS at all relevant meetings of the GEF, consistent with the decision of the GEF Council reached at its meeting on 19–21 November 2003”. Thesedeclarationsspeakenoughfortheregionalconcernoverdecliningoverseasaidtosupportsustainabledevelopmentinitiatives.

TherecontinuestobealackoffundingforadaptationprojectsthatneedtobelaunchedinmostPICTstocircumventtheadverseimpactsofclimatevariabilityandclimatechangeundertheUNFrameworkConventiononClimateChangefinancingmechanism. TheUNDepartment forEconomicandSocialAffairs has been requested to prepare a comprehensive background document on the availability offinancialresourcesinsupportoftheBPoA,possiblyasamatrixdocumentrelatingtoavailableinternationalsourcesoffundingforsustainabledevelopmentinSIDS.

Theoptionofestablishingaregionalfinancialfacilityisbeinginvestigatedforclimatechangeadaptationactivities.Suchafacilitymighthelptosecureaccesstoadditionalfinancingfortheregion,includingfromnewdonors,andcouldhelptoimprovecoordinationamongdonorsandbeneficiaries,aswellasbetweenthevariousregionalorganizations.Itsoperationswouldneedtobeefficient,low-cost,transparent,andaccountableandcomplementandutilisecapacityoftheexistingregionalorganizations.

3.6 CustomaryLandTenure:BarrierorBonusforSustainableDevelopment?

LandanditsresourcesarescarceinthePacific;apartfromPNG,whichhasmorethan400,000squarekilometresofland,therestofthePICTshavelandareasintherangeof12to30,000squarekilometres.10ThePacifichasavarietyof landtenuresystemsoftensharingsimilaritiessuchascommunalownershipandspiritualassociationwith land,butmore importantlytheparallelapplicationofcustomary lawandconstitutional law, where the latter seldom reflects customary land tenure11 principles. The parallelrecognitionandapplicationofbothlandtenuresystems,withoutanyfacilitativelinksbetweenthem,givesrise toa“greyarea”whereconflictsoftenarise. Suchconflicts areoftenattributed tocharacteristicsofcustomarylandtenuresystems,giventhatsignificantproportionsoflandinPICTsareownedundercustomarylandtenuresystems.

10 GeraldHaberkon,SPCPopulationProgramme.11 AccordingtoCrocombe,customarytenureincorporatescoloniallawpolicyandpracticewithpostcolonizationcustomary

practicesasquotedbyBoydel(2001).


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Anumberoffeaturesofcustomarylandtenuresystems,suchascommunallandownershipandlackoflandtenuresecurity,areoftenperceivedasbeingcounter-productiveintheviewofcapitalistproprietorship.However,whenoneconcurrentlyconsidersthethreepillarsofsustainabledevelopment,itisquiteclearthat anydevelopmenton the land shouldbenefit all thepeople. As such it ismisleading topurviewcustomarylandtenureasabarriertosustainabledevelopmentwithoutgivingconsiderationtocustomarylandownership. However, thechallengewillbe togeteveryone towork together to reachamicablesolutionsthroughinnovativeapproachesintheutilizationoflandforthesustainablelivelihoodsforall.

Oneofthestrategicresolutionsthatarosefromthelargest-everLandTenureSymposium,heldatUSPin2002,clearlystatedtheneedtoexploreandreachconsensusonwherecitizenswanttobelocatedbetweentheextremesoftraditionalcustomarywaysandwesternmaterialism(Boydell,2004).NationalGovernmentsshouldtakecuefromthisresolutionandinitiatethisprocessthroughappropriatestakeholderdiscussions.Baselinestudiestothoroughly investigatethecurrentsituation ineachof theSouthPacificcountriesneedtobeassembled,settingoutthelegalcontextofcurrenttenuresystems(bothcustomaryand introduced), current customary systems (including informalorextra-legal landdealings) andwhatoptions there are for each country and the consequences and implications of each of those options(Boydell et al., 2002). Anymoves tomaximise access of outsiders to customary land should not betakenbecauseofexternalpressureonly.SuchmovesshouldarisefrommutualdecisionsreachedaftertakingintoconsiderationtheinterestsofPacificcommunitiesandthecomplexnuancesofcustomarylandtenure.TheAsianDevelopmentBank(ADB)(2005)reportontheSolomonIslandsidentifiedthelackofaccesstolandasoneofthemanyobstaclestoeconomicdevelopment.TheADBsuggestedthatlandreformbeinitiatedbytakingactionssuchascadastrallandsurveys,landregistration,andfixingpropertyboundariesusingamodifiedcorporatestructureforcommunallyowned land. However,thiscallmustbescrutinisedandassessednotonlyintheinterestsofforeigninvestorsbutalsothecollectiveinterestsoflocalcommunities.Itiscommonknowledgethatthecallsforlandreformsaredrivenbythedesiretomaximiseprofitunderpinnedbywesternlegalandeconomicphilosophyandindividualpropertyrights.Unfortunately,westernpropertyrightsareinconsistentwithcustomarylandownershipandrights,wherethelatteremphasisecustodialandusufructprinciples(Corpuz,2003).Theresolutionofsustainablelandmanagementmustdealwithcommunaltenuresystems,traditionallandusepracticesandculturalvaluesandtheintegrationofenvironmentalanddevelopmentdecision-making.

3.7 CouplingIndigenousKnowledgeandManagementSystemswithScience

Oneofthemajorlessonslearnedsincethe1992EarthSummitinRioisthatthetransitiontowardssustainabledevelopmentisinconceivablewithoutscience,engineeringandtechnology.Science,technologyandinnovation(STI)aretheenginesofeconomicandsocialdevelopmentandglobalisationandSTIisofparamountimportanceinthepromotionof sustainable development. The recognition of the importance ofscienceandtechnologyinsustainabledevelopmentisbeingreflectedintheestablishedprocessoftheUnitedNationsCommissiononScienceandTechnology for Development. More technologically advancedcountriesarealsousuallymoreeconomicallyadvanced.

Good science is essential for good governance. ImplementationofAgenda 21, JPOI, BPoA and MDGs must all be based on sound

knowledgeandenvironmentallysoundtechnology.Science,engineeringandtechnologyareinstrumentalinadvancinghumancivilizationandimprovingthequalityoflife.InarecentcontributionbythescientificandtechnologicalcommunitytotheTwelfthSessionoftheCSDonthethematicareasofwater,sanitationandhumansettlements,theneedformorepolicy-relevantsciencewasemphasised.Thisincludesamuch

Graphic:UNESCO.

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greater share of integrated problem-oriented and interdisciplinary research that addresses the social,economicandenvironmentpillarsofsustainabledevelopment.

When it comes to scientific investigations relevant for sustainable development, the Pacific regionalsituationhasbeenoneofisolatedstudieswithlittlescopeforcontinuation.Theimproperandinsufficientapplicationofknowledgehasledtogrowingthreatstotheearth’slifesupportsystems.Duringthelastdecade,ontheonehandmajorglobalandregionalchangesinclimateandthe“health”ofthebiospherehavehadseriousimplicationsforthesustainabilityofecosystemsandlivelihoods,andontheother,thesimultaneousmarketdrivenprocessesofglobalisationofpeople,ideasandgoodshaveopenedupbothnewchallengesandopportunities.However,USP,SOPACandSPREPhaverecentlystrengthenedtheirnetworkontheongoingstudiesleadingtoabetterunderstandingoftheatmosphere,weather,theoceanandthebiologicaldiversity.

If science isa structuredandsystematicapproach tounderstandingnatureandsocieties, research themeansbywhichsuchunderstandingisacquired,andtechnologytheappliedformofthisunderstanding,thenthePacificcommunitieshavebeentrulyscientificintheirdealingswithnature.Throughrepeatedtrialanderror,theyhaveacquiredaknowledgeandpracticebasewithapredictivecapacity,whichisnowcalled indigenous (traditional or local) knowledge. It is this knowledge that has enabled them to livegenerationaftergenerationinasustainablerelationshipwiththeirenvironment.Thisisalsotheknowledgeandpracticebase fromwhichthePacificwayof lifeevolved. A framework foractionto facilitatetheaugmentationofSSKPwithISKPneedstobeengenderedatthenationalpoliticallevel,initiallytargetingpolicydirectivesforkeysectorssuchaseducation,fisheries,agricultureandclimate.TheimportanceoflocalknowledgeandmanagementsystemshasbeenstronglystatedbyPICTsandresearchthatfocusesonindigenousknowledgeandnaturalresourcemanagementpracticesisreceivedwithgrowingenthusiasminthePacific.

3.8 DemographicCchange/PopulationMovementsandMigration

According to Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)’s most recent estimates (SPC, 2004), thepopulationofthePacificIslandsreached8.6millionin2004,representinganincreaseofapproximately1.7millionpeopleoverthepasttenyears.Thisgrowthnotwithstanding,populationdistributionhasremainedlargelyunchanged:thefivelargestislandcountriesandterritories(thosecomprisingMelanesia)accountforthevastmajority(86.4%)oftheregionalpopulation,followedbythemuchsmallerislandcountriesandterritoriesofPolynesia(7.4%)andMicronesia(6.2%).TwooutofeverythreeresidentPacificIslandersliveinPNG,whileFiji’scurrentpopulationof836,000is25%largerthanall10PolynesianIslandcountriesandterritoriescombined(Table12).Attheotherendofthepopulationspectrum,thecombinedpopulationtotalofthesevensmallestPICTs(51,800)isaboutequaltothecombinedpopulationofVanuatu’sonlytwo towns (49,500), PortVila and Luganville. The relatively small populations found in MicronesianandPolynesiancountries, and thepastandongoingpolitical associationsmosthavewithmetropolitancountries,makesthesestatesverysensitivetointernationalmigration,whichhasasignificantimpactontheir demographic structure. ManyPacific Islanders (born in PICTs) live in the PacificRim countries,particularlyAustralia,NewZealandandtheUSA.Theadditionof1.7millionPacificIslandpeoplesince1994reflectsanannualpopulationgrowthrateof2.2%perannum;ifsustained,thisgrowthratewouldleadtoadoublingofthePacific Islandpopulation in32years, to17.2million. If theratesofoutwardmigrationdecline,thehighfertilityrateswillfurtheraddtothegrowingpopulationpressures.


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Table12:PopulationStatisticsofPacificIslandCountries

Population Estimated Mid-year Mid-year density annual pop. Population Population Population (people/ Growth as counted estimate estimate km2) rateRegion/country at last 2004 2015 Land area circa 2004 2004–2015or territory census (a) (a) (km2) (b) (%) (c)

MELANESIA 7,444,�00 9,�98,000 540,�48 �4

FijiIslands 775,077 836,000 891,100 18,272 46 0.7

NewCaledonia 196,836 236,900 291,600 18,576 13 1.9

PapuaNewGuinea 5,190,786 5,695,300 7,236,200 462,240 12 2.2

SolomonIslands 409,042 460,100 589,700 28,370 16 2.3

Vanuatu 186,678 215,800 289,400 12,190 18 2.7

MICRONESIA 5�6,�00 655,�00 �,��4 �67

FederatedStatesofMicronesia 107,008 112,700 129,000 701 161 1.2

Guam 154,805 166,100 193,800 541 307 1.4

Kiribati 84,494 93,100 119,700 811 115 2.3

MarshallIslands 50,840 55,400 66,100 181 306 1.6

Nauru 10,065 10,100 11,300 21 481 1.0

NorthernMarianaIslands 69,221 78,000 109,300 471 166 3.1

Palau 19,129 20,700 25,900 488 42 2.0

POLyNESIA 6�5,700 7��,000 8,0�� 79

AmericanSamoa 57,291 62,600 78,000 200 313 2.0

CookIslands 18,027 14,000 12,100 237 59 –1.3

FrenchPolynesia 244,830 250,500 307,200 3,521 71 1.8

Niue 1,788 1,600 1,200 259 6 –3.8

PitcairnIslands 52 – – 39 – –

Samoa 176,710 182,700 201,900 2,935 62 0.9

Tokelau 1,537 1,500 1,500 12 125 0.0

Tonga 97,784 98,300 95,400 650 151 –0.3

Tuvalu 9,561 9,600 10,000 26 369 0.4

WallisandFutuna 14,944 14,900 15,700 142 105 0.5

TOTAL 8,6�5,900 �0,676,�00 55�,48� �6

Source:SPC,2004.

(a) Populationprojectionsfor2004and2015andprojectedage-sexpyramidsarebasedonthelatestavailablecensusresults.Insomecasesthelatestcensuswascollectedtoorecentlyforfertility,mortalityandmigrationestimatestobeavailableforthisposter.Insuchinstancesthetotalcountfromthelatestcensusisshown,butthepreviouscensushasbeenusedasthebasisforprojections.Thismayresultinapparentdiscrepanciesbetweencensuspopulationtotalsandestimatedpopulationtotalsinsomecases.Allprojectionsandestimates,exceptforFijiIslands,FrenchPolynesiaandGuam,areSPCestimates.Theestimatedsmallerpopulationsizesin2015thanin2004fortheCookIslands,NiueandTongaarebasedonrecentSPCprojections,drawingonextrapolations(medium-growthassumption)ofrecentinternationalmigrationtrendsfromtheseislandcountries.

(b) Allpopulationdensityestimatesarebasedon2004populationestimates.

(c) AverageannualgrowthratesarederivedfromthemostrecentSPCpopulationestimatesandprojections(seenotea).

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InthedecadeprecedingtheInternationalConferenceonPopulationandDevelopmentinCairo(1994),populationgrowthwashighestinMicronesia(3.5%),andlowestinthePolynesiancountrieswhereitaveraged1.5%;Melanesiareportedlygrewat2.3%perannum.Overthepasttenyears,however,populationgrowthwashighestinMelanesia(2.4%perannum),aheadofMicronesia(1.4%)andPolynesia(0.6%).ContinuedhighpopulationgrowthacrossMelanesiaisdrivenbymoderatelyhighfertilityratesanddecliningmortality,whichisofparticularrelevancetoPNG,SolomonIslandsandVanuatu.Migration,ontheotherhand,playsamoreprominentroleinFijiIslandsandNewCaledonia.TherehasbeensustainedemigrationfromFijiIslands following thepolitical developmentsof thepast decade, and continued immigration intoNewCaledoniafrommetropolitanFranceandthetwootherFrenchPacificterritories.MigrationistheprimereasonforthemuchslowerannualgrowthratesacrossMicronesiaandparticularlyPolynesia,wherehighratesofemigrationhaveprevailedforalmostfourdecades.Thishasledtoaverysmallpopulationgrowthrateoflessthan0.3%insomeislandcountries(FederatedStatesofMicronesia(FSM),Nauru,andTonga)andactualpopulationdeclineinCookIslandsandNiue.

Populationgrowththroughouttheregionhasbeenmuchhigherinurbanthanruralareas,exceptintheFSMandNiue. This reflects sustainedrural tourbanmigrationover thepastdecade,whichaccountsfortherapidurbanizationtakingplaceacrosstheregion.Infact,migrationwithinmostPICTsmakesthebiggest contribution topopulationdistribution, via rural-to-urbanmigration. While thePacific is still aprimarilyruralregion,whichisreflectedinthefactthatonlyoneinfourPacificIslandersliveinurbanareas,theirassociatedurban lifestyles(rangingfromdietstoemployment,andhealthto leisureactivities)arebeingadoptedbyagrowingnumberofpeople.Atthetimeoftheirlastcensuses,morethan50%ofthepopulationinnineoutoftwenty-twoPICTsalreadylivedintownsandurbanareas,withFijiandKiribatilikelytohavejoinedtheseincreasingthenumberto11.12

At this rateof recent population growth, the region’s population is expected todouble in size in 28years.Obviousimplicationsofthisgrowthmeangrowingandsustainedpressuresonland,theprovisionof services and infrastructure, such as health and education,water supply and access to employmentoutsidetraditionaloccupationsforagrowingnumberofyoungandrelativelymoreeducatedpeoplewithaspirationsbeyondvillage-basedandfamily-orientedagriculturalandfishingactivities.Thisisofparticularconcern in the more populated countries throughout Melanesia, which unlike most Micronesian andPolynesiancountriesandterritoriesdonotenjoyhistoricalmigrationoutletstometropolitancountriessuchasNewZealand,AustraliaandtheUSA,todeflectsustainedpopulationpressuresonsmalllandareasandfragileecosystems.Ontheotherhand,oneofthe impactsof internationalmigrationespecially inthecaseofFijiisthelossofskilledandprofessionalpeople,whichmayunderminetheabilityoftheStatetoprovidesatisfactoryservicesandfacilitatedevelopment. Resource-pooratollenvironments,suchastheMarshallIslands,TuvaluandKiribati,aswellasaresource-depletedNauruandsmallmicrostatessuchasTokelauandNiue lackadomesticeconomicresourcesbasetocontinueprovidingforthesustainedlivelihoodoftheirpeople.

3.9 HumanHealth

Non-communicablediseasesareresponsibleforalargeandincreasingshareofdiseaseburdenandhealthspendinginthePICTs.Thereportsofanoticeableincreaseinnon-communicablediseasesinPICTs,aswellasrecentexperiencesinNauru,andreportsinearly2004intheFijianpressaboutalarmingdeclinesinlifeexpectancyvaluesforFijianmalesandfemales,shouldraisesomeconcernsaboutmorbidityandmortality improvements in thenear future. Further,beyondtheearly recognition thatclimatechangewouldaffecteconomicactivities, infrastructureandmanagedecosystems,thereisnowrecognitionthatitposesriskstohumanhealthtoo.Globalaveragetemperaturehasincreasedbyabout0.6ºCsincethe

12 Applyingthelatestinter-censalurbangrowthratesofFiji(2.6%)andKiribati(5.2%),putsFijiIsland’surbanpopulationandthepopulationofSouthTarawaabovethe50%markofthenationalpopulationtotalin2004.


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1970s,andnowexceedstheupperlimitofnatural(historical)variability.TheWHOestimated,inits “World Health Report 2002”,thatclimatechangeoverrecentdecadeswasresponsiblein2000forapproximately2.4%ofworldwidediarrhoea,and6%ofmalariaindevelopingcountries.

ThefirstdetectableimpactsofclimatechangeonhumanhealthofthePacificIslandcommunitiesmaybealterationsinthegeographicrangeandseasonalityofcertaininfectiousdiseases–includingvector-borneinfections suchasmalaria anddengue fever, and food-borne infections (e.g. salmonellosis)whichpeakduringthehumidsummermonths(Kovatsetal.,2003).InthePacific,denguehasbeenendemicinNewCaledoniaand,inrecentyears,hasbeenresponsibleforepidemicsinFrenchPolynesia,Fiji,Queensland(Australia),Samoa,theCookIslands,Vanuatu,Tonga,Kiribati,FSM,WallisandFutuna.Asaconsequenceofclimatevariabilityandchangeintheregion,PICTscouldfacemoreinstancesofthedenguefeverandalsodiarrhoealdisease,leptospirosis,cholera,acuterespiratoryinfection,influenza,pneumonia,andfilariasis.

The distribution of vector-borne infectious diseases such as malaria is influenced by the spread ofvectorsandtheclimatedependenceoftheinfectiouspathogens.MalariaremainsoneoftheimportantdiseasesinmanyofthePICTsduetohighsummertemperatureandhumidity.Changesinenvironmentaltemperature and precipitation could expand vector-borne diseases such asmalaria and dengue fever.Warmer sea surface temperatures along vast coastlineswould support higher phytoplankton blooms.Thesephytoplanktonbloomsareexcellenthabitatsforsurvivalandspreadofinfectiousbacterialdiseasessuchascholera(ibid.).Water-bornediseasesincludingcholeraandthesuiteofdiarrhoealdiseasescausedby organisms such as giardia, salmonella and cryptosporidium could also become common with thecontaminationofdrinkingwater(Laletal.,2002;Lal,2004).Forpreventiveaction, impactassessmentsarenecessaryonthevariousaspectssuchasnutritionalstatus,drinkingwatersupply,watersalinityandecosystemdamage.Theriskfactorofdiseaseswilldependonimprovedenvironmentalsanitation,hygienicpracticeandmedicaltreatmentfacilities.

Warmer average temperatures combined with increased climatic variability could alter the patternof exposure to thermal extremes and result in health impacts in the region. Heat stress and smoginducedrespiratoryillnessesinurbanareasofthePICTswouldincreaseinthefuture.Exposuretohighertemperaturesappearstobeasignificantriskfactorforcerebralinfarctionandcerebralischemiaduringthesummermonths.Globalwarmingwillenhancethenumberofincidencesofsomediseases,suchasrespiratoryandcardiovasculardiseases.

Healthoutcomesinresponsetoclimatechangearecurrentlythesubjectofintensedebate.Climateisoneofanumberoffactorsinfluencingtheincidenceofinfectiousdisease.Studyingtheimpactofweathereventsandclimatevariabilityonhumanhealthrequiresappropriatespecificationofthemeteorological“exposure”.Climatechangeisoneofseveralconcurrentenvironmentalchanges(e.g.,urbanairquality)thatsimultaneouslyaffecthumanhealth–ofteninteractivelyinthePICTs.Thepatternoftransmissionofvector-borneinfectiousdiseasesinrelationtoclimaticconditions,populationmovement,forestclearanceand land-use patterns, biodiversity losses (e.g., natural predators of mosquitoes), freshwater surfaceconfigurations, and humanpopulation density needs to be examined. A better understanding of theinteractionamongclimatechange,andtheenvironmentalandhealthstatusincommunitiesatregionalandlocalscalesiscrucialtoforgephysiologicalacclimatizationandsocialadaptation.

Healthy populations in the Pacific are a basic underlying factor to ensure sustainable development.Problemsandthreatsincludeobesity,cardio-vasculardisease,HIV/AIDS,SARS(SevereAcuteRespiratorySyndrome),WestNileVirus,agriculturalpestsandotherissuesincludinggeneticallymodifiedorganisms,sanitation,solidandliquidwastedisposal,andillicitdrugproductionanduse.Socialvulnerability issuesincluding emigration, poverty, security and crime and cultural decay are also crucial in PICTs. In thiscontext,somepertinentquestionsforwhichanswersarestillneededaresummarisedoverleaf:

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• WhatdothePICTsknowabouttheimpactofseasonal(wetseason,dryseason,cycloneseason),inter-annual(acrossENSOevents),andlonger-termvariabilityinrainfallandtemperatureontheriskofinfluenza,acuterespiratoryinfections,diarrhoealdisease,denguefever,leptospirosis,andfishpoisoning?Dothesehealthproblemsoccurmorefrequentlyinthewetseasonordryseason?Dotheyoccurmorefrequentlyorlessfrequentlyduringdroughts,floods,orfollowingtropicalcyclones?DotheyseemtoincreaseordecreaseduringENSOevents?Havetheincidencesofthesediseasesorreportsofthesediseasesincreasedsincethe1970s?

• Whathasourresearchandtheresearchofotherpeopleshownabouttheimpactofvariationinrainfallandtemperatureontheincidenceofsaiddiseases?

• Whatpublichealthmeasuresarealreadybeingusedtopreventthesediseases?Doweuseclimateandweather forecasts now ifwe know there is an increased riskof diarrhoeal disease fromadroughtortropicalcycloneortheonsetoftherainyseasonordryseason?

• Canweuseclimateandweatherforecaststoanticipateincreases(ordecreases)intheriskofanyofthediseaseswearefocusingon?Whatkindofclimateandweatherinformationisnowavailable?Whatkindofforecastinformationdoweneed?Howdoclimateandweatherforecastsneedtobechangedtomakethemmoreusefulinpreventingdiseases?

• Whatresearchisrequiredtobetterunderstandtherelationshipsbetweenvariabilityinrainfallandtemperatureandextremeweathereventslikecyclonesanddroughtsandfloodsandtheincidenceofdiseasesbeforeweimplementnewpublichealthresponsemeasures?and

• Whatadditionaldataisneededtoeitherconductfurtherresearchontheimpactofvariabilityinclimateortoallowustomonitordiseaseincidencetodevelopandimplementmoreeffectivepublichealthprogrammes?

APacificUmbrellaInitiativeonPacificIslandsHealthforSustainableDevelopmentwaslaunchedinJuly2002withimprovedhealthsurveillanceforallPacificIslandcommunitiesasitskeyobjectivealongwithacoordinatedandstrategicapproachtothereductionofenvironmentalhealththreatsintheregion.Theexpectedoutcomesinclude:

(a) improvedidentificationofpriorityenvironmentalhealththreatsintheregion;

(b) improvedmanagementofthesethreats,includingthroughenhancedcoordinationandcooperationbetweencountriesandterritories;

(c) support to individual countries and territories to assist them in developing and implementingenvironmentalhealthimprovementplansandotherinitiatives,anddevelopmentandimplementationofrelevantlegislativeprovisions;and

(d) continuing advocacy for environmental health initiatives, and for the importance of achievingenvironmentalhealthimprovements.Thisinitiativeislikelytoleadto:

(i) improvedpreparednessforcommunicablediseaseoutbreaks;

(ii) improvedinvestigationcapacitiesforcommunicablediseaseoutbreaks;

(iii) improvedaccesstodiagnosticfacilities;

(iv) improvedpublichealthresponsetooutbreaksofcommunicablediseases;and

(v) limitedspreadofepidemics.

RegionallevelcoordinationofhealthsurveillancecomponentsofthisinitiativeisbeingmanagedthroughthePacificPublicHealthSurveillanceNetworkCoordinatingBodyandtheCouncilofRegionalOrganizationsofthePacific(CROP)HealthandPopulationWorkingGroupwithimplementation,whereappropriate,bytheRegionalExposurePreventionInformationNetwork(EpiNet)Teamandrelevantorganizations,inparticulartheSPC’sPublicHealthProgramme.Thearrangementsforcapacitybuildingandtechnologytransferunderthisinitiativeinclude:


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(a) traininginpublichealthsurveillanceandresponsetobeprovidedtotheEpiNetteammembers;

(b) strengtheningofnationalEpiNetsurveillanceandresponseteams;

(c) publichealthlaboratorycapacitybuilding(training,equipment)forselectedPacificIsland-basedpublichealthlaboratoriesaimingatproviding,onasub-regionalbasis,testingforepidemiccommunicablediseasesnotavailablein-country;and

(d) provisionofsupportatregionallevelfornationalEpiNetteamsthroughnetworkingPacificIsland-basedexpertise.

It is also envisaged that locally relevant policies, plans and legislation would be developed, in closecollaborationwithnationalagenciesandstaff,andlocalcapacitywouldbeenhancedto:

(i) undertakepriorityenvironmentalhealthwork;

(ii) developaregionalstrategicapproachtopriorityenvironmentalhealthissues;

(iii) reducefragmentationinthemanagementofenvironmentalhealthissuesintheregion;and

(iv) assist countries and territories in the region to fulfil international commitments. Indeed,reducing the impactsof climatichazardsonhumanhealthwill havea central role in thetransitiontosustainableactivitiesintheregion.

4. PACIFIC RESPONSES TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES

There have been many action plans for resolving environmental issues and facilitating sustainabledevelopmentinthePacificIslands.ThefirstoftheseweretheearlyactionplansestablishedbySPREP

in1986.Then,duringthelead-uptotheUNCED,theUNEconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific(ESCAP)andSPREPencouraged15PICTstoproduceNationalEnvironmentManagementStrategies (NEMS). TheNEMSand theNationalStateof theEnvironment reportswithclose to120proposedactivities/plansweresubsequentlypresentedattheUNCEDas“ThePacificWay”in1992andattheBPoAforthesustainabledevelopmentofSIDSin1994.WhiletheBPoAidentifiedninepriorityenvironmentalissues,andsixcross-sectoralmanagementissuesincludingactionplansforeachoftheseissuesintoNational,RegionalandInternationalresponses,amajorachievementofUNCEDwasAgenda21,athoroughandbroad-rangingprogrammeofactionsdemandingnewwaysofinvestinginthefuturetoreachglobalsustainabledevelopmentinthetwenty-firstcentury.Later,atthe1999reviewoftheBPoAbytheUNGeneralAssembly,sixofthefourteenissueswereprioritisedasneedingurgentattentionoverthenextfiveyears:

• adapting to climate change and rising sea levels, which could submerge some low-lying islandcountries;

• improvingpreparednessforandrecoveryfromnaturalandenvironmentaldisasters;

• preventingworseningshortagesoffreshwaterasdemandsgrow;

• protectingcoastalecosystemsandcoralreefsfrompollutionandover-fishing;

• developingsolarandrenewableenergytolessendependenceonexpensiveimportedoil;

• managingtourismgrowthtoprotecttheenvironmentandculturalintegrity.

Thesepriorityenvironmentalproblemshavealreadyplacedpressureonthenaturalresources,lifestylesandeconomicdevelopmentofthePacificregionandhavebeenidentifiedprogressivelyovertheyears.

There have more recently been attempts that present sustainable development in the Pacific in anintegratedmannerwhereenvironmental,socialandeconomicrealmsareallconsidered.TheseincludethePacificPlanattheregionallevelandNationalSustainableDevelopmentPlans(NSDP)atthenationallevel.

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PACIFIC RESPONSES TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ChALLENgES

4.1 RegionalLevelEnvironmentalResponses(ParticipationinRio,Johannesburg,Mauritius, UNFrameworkConventiononClimateChange,ConventiononBiologicalDiversity, MontrealProtocoletc.)

SIDShavesuccessfullyachievedaspecialcasestatusinoverarchingsustainabledevelopmentagreementssuchasAgenda21,theWSSD,JPOIandMIMbutthis isnotadequatelyrecognizsedinrelevantMEAs.Whilstinternationally-agreedgoals,suchastheMDGs,offerimportantbenchmarksforsuccess,additionaleffortisrequiredtoadaptthesegoalstosuittheparticularneedsofSIDS.ItisessentialthattheburdenonSIDSfromreportingagainstMDGsandtoMEAsbealleviated.Inordertoachievethis,theregionhasbeenseekingsupportto:

• Develop,where necessary, SIDS-specific implementation programmes underMEAs such as thedecisionoftheCBDtodevelopaspecialprogrammeonislands;

• ImprovetherepresentationofSIDSatthepoliticallevelwithintheMEAs;and

• Streamlineinternationalsustainabledevelopmentreportingrequirements.

Pacific leaderscontinuetoemphasisethatpartnershipatdifferent levelsmustbeencouragedtomeetcommon responsibilities and provide services cost-effectively, such as common regional reporting oninternationalobligations;regionalrepresentationatinternationallevel;agreedregionalpolicyframeworkswhere needed; common laws and policies on legal or legislative aspects; technical services; transportservices; research anddata; and training andeducation. Asmentioned above, a Pacific Plan hasbeendevelopedto“giveeffectto”theirnewvisionthroughthepromotionof“deeperandbroaderregionalcooperation”.ThePacificregionisnotedforitsspecialgovernancesystemsbasedontraditionalwaysandindigenousknowledgeandpracticesthatpromotesustainabledevelopmentina Pacific Way.JudgingfromtheattentiongiventocultureduringtheMauritiusInternationalMeeting,itisexpectedthattheMauritiusStrategywillhelpensuresurvivalofPacificcommunitiescombiningthebestofbothworlds.

The challenge now is to mainstream sustainable development at a time of decreasing developmentassistancetoSIDS,decliningforeigndirectinvestmentflows,diversionofdevelopmentresourcestomeetnew securityobligations, graduationof SIDS fromconcessionary resources, andestablishmentof newtraderules–allservingtofurtherexacerbateSIDS'growingvulnerabilities.ButaspledgedduringWSSD,JohannesburgandagainatMauritius,itisallaboutmakingithappenbyconsideringmeasuresequaltothetask.

4.2 NationalLevelResponses:MainstreamingofSustainableDevelopment,NEMS, NationalCapacitySelfAssessment,NationalSustainableDevelopmentStrategies (NSDS),SectorPoliciesandFrameworks

The development ofNSDS in PICTs follows the commitment countriesmade at theRio Summit asarticulated inChapter8ofAgenda21. TheWSSDandtheMauritiusStrategy furtherhighlightedtheneedfordevelopmenttobesustainableandthePICTsrecommittedthemselvestodevelopingNSDSby2005.

ThePacificPlanwillmakesubstantialcontributionstotheregionalaspirationsto implementanumberofconvention-relatedcommitmentsthatPICTshavemade. ThoughthedevelopmentofaNSDSanditsimplementationareanationalresponsibility,theSIDS,ingeneral,lacktheoverallcapacityneededforintegratedapproaches,andconsequentlycalledforinternationalsupportduringtheMIM.

MostcountriesinthePacifichavenationaldevelopmentplanswhichconformtotheguidelinesofNSDSbuttheweaknesshasbeenthelackofaholisticandprogrammaticapproachtodevelopmentwithlittlecentralised coordination. However, there is now a move towards a more inclusive approach to thedevelopmentofnationalstrategies.AclassiccasewastheprocessTuvaluadoptedinpreparingitsNSDS.


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A zero order draft NSDS was prepared by a task force after wide consultation and in a two-weeknationalmeetingofallstakeholders,thedraftwasfurtherdiscussedextensivelyinplenaryandinbreakoutgroups.Governmentleaders,communityorganizations,faith-basedgroups,diplomats,andrepresentativesofCROPandUNagencieswereallpartofthesediscussions.SuchaparticipatoryprocesscarriedoutinthetruePacificwayisperhapsthebestapproachtodevelopingNSDSinthePICTs.Fiji,Samoa,FSMandCookIslandsalsohavedevelopedNSDSortheirequivalent.

Anumberof environmental assessments havebeen carriedout in the recent past as partof severalnational and internationalobligations. The summariesof these assessments andenvironmental trendshavebeenincludedinreportsoftheESCAPonthe Asia-Pacific State of the Environment,theUNEP Global Environment Outlook Reports,andtheADBandUNDP-fundedprojecttoprepareNEMSforthePICTs.ThesestudieswerecoordinatedbySPREP.

Inarecentlypublished Pacific Region Environmental Study,eightenvironmentalchallengeswereidentifiedasbeingofhighestprioritytothePICTs:

(i) threatstofreshwaterresources;

(ii) degradationofthemarineandcoastalenvironment;

(iii) degradationoflandandforests;

(iv) problemsofurbanizationandwastemanagement;

(v) depletionofbiodiversity;

(vi) concernaboutenergyuse;

(vii) adaptationtoclimatechange;and

(viii) weaknesses in environmental management capacities and governance. These and relatedenvironmentalchallengespresentmajorconstraintsforsustainabledevelopmentinthePacificregion.Inordertoaddressthesechallengesitisimportanttomainstreamenvironmentalconsiderationsintoeconomicanddevelopmentplanning.

TheNSDSneeds tobedeveloped in a participatory and inclusivemanner involving key governmentofficials andother stakeholders– local experts, theprivate sector, non-governmentorganizations, andcommunities.Multilateralandbilateralfinancialinstitutionsandregionalinstitutionswillalsohavetobeconsulted.Poolingnationalcapacityfornationaldevelopmentmustbetheessenceofthemainstreamingprocess.Thus,atanytimeindividualnationsandtheregionitselfmustbeawareoftheiroverallcapacitytomoveforwardwithsustainabledevelopmentstrategies.ItisinthiscontextthatthePICTsareinvolvedin a process called the National Capacity SelfAssessment (NCSA) supported adequately by GlobalEnvironmentFacility(GEF).ThoughthisexerciseismeanttocovercapacityneedsoftheimplementationofthethreeRioConventions,forSIDS,anoverallcapacityassessmentmakesmoresense.Notonlywillsuchanassessmentgenerateinformationonbaselinecapacity,itwillalsoidentifycapacitygapsforwhichbothnationalandregionalmechanismandinstitutionsmaybeused.

For a strategic approach to development in specific sectors, PICTs have negotiated several regionalconventions, treaties, programmes and frameworks such asApiaConvention for theConservationofNature, the Noumea Convention for the Protection of Natural Resources and the Environment, theRegionalSeasProgramme,PacificIslandsClimateChangeAssistanceProgramme,PacificIslandsFrameworkonClimateChange,ClimateVariabilityandSeaLevelRise,theWaiganiConventiontobanimportationofhazardousandradioactivewaste,PacificIslandsRegionalOceanPolicyandtheSouthPacificBiodiversityConservationProgrammetomentionafew.

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4.3 CommunityLevelActions:IdeasthatcanbeReplicated

Identifyingcommunity-levelactionsinthePacificorelsewherethatcanbereplicatedisachallengeitselfbecause of the need to specify the criteria to determine worthy community level actions and whatmeasures(indicatorsofsuccess)willbeusedtoclarifyeachcriterion.Tosimplifythecourseofactionneededtoaddresssuch issues,aconsensus-basedapproachcouldbefollowedbasedmainlyonthoseactionsthataredocumentedandavailableelectronicallyorinprintformatandhavereceivedacclamationlocallyandinternationally.Itisalsoimperativetonoteherethatthecommunitylevelactionslistedbelowwereperhapsimplementedundervaryingpolitical,socio-economicconditionsandreligiouscircumstances.Assuch,directapplicationelsewheremayneedtobeadaptedtothelocalconditions.Furthermore,thecommunitylevelactionsmentionedherearenotanexhaustivelistwarrantingreplication.

• Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMA):13ALMMAisanareaofnearshorewatersthatisactivelybeingmanagedbylocalcommunitiesorland-owninggroups,orisbeingcollaborativelymanagedbylocalcommunitiestogetherwithlocalgovernmentand/orotherpartnersbasedintheimmediatevicinity.AnLMMAstrategyoffersanalternateandcomplementaryapproachtothecentrally-managedsystemwhereacentralisedbody(suchasanationalgovernmentagency)largely“commands-and-controls” themanagementof amarine area, sometimes froma remote location. However, anLMMAdoesnotnecessarilyexcludenationalgovernmentorotherinstitutionalinvolvement;ratheritmeansthatthemarineareainquestionismanagedlocally,perhapswithorwithoutgovernmentaid.

TheLMMAapproachiscurrentlybeingimplementedinanumberofPacificcountriessuchasFiji,Palau,FSM,SolomonIslandsandPNG.AnotherpositiveaspectofthisisthatthereisactivenetworkingwithincountriesandinternationallywithLMMApractitionersinAsia.TheLMMAapproachhasmostofthefeatures(suchasparticipatoryandcollaborativefoci,networkingandsharingofknowledgewithinandacrosstheborders,engagingmultiplestakeholders,andrecognizingandutilizingIKSPinconjunctionwithSSKP)conduciveforcommunityempowermentanddevelopmentanditcouldbereplicatedelsewhereinthePacific.AnimportantaspectoftheLMMAapproachistheapplicationofIKSPfornaturalresourcemanagementinmodernsettings.

Moreover,theLMMAapproachhasbeentestedandfoundtobeeffectiveinthePacific.InfactsomeLMMApractitionersandadvocateshavealsobeenrecognisedinternationallyandawardedthe“Equator InitiativeAward” by UNDP as early as 2002 during theWSSD in Johannesburg,SouthAfrica and more recently they were awarded the“2004WhitleyAward for People andthe Environment”. The LMMA approach may also be extended to managing terrestrial areas.Furthermore,theMacarthurFoundationin2004awardedsevenmembersofthisnetworkafinancialgrantamountingtooneandhalfmillionUSdollarsinrecognitionoftheireffortsinconservation.

• International waters Project (IWP):14 The IWP implemented by SPREP worked with pilotcommunitiesin14PICTstofindpracticalwaystostrengthenenvironmentalmanagementinthreekeyareas:coastalfisheries,wastereduction,andfreshwaterprotection.Thesepilotcommunitiestryandunderstandtherootcausesofresourcemanagementproblemsandidentifypossiblelowcostsolutionsthatcanhelptheircountryimproveresourcemanagementplanningatthenationallevel.

The IWPconceptof identifying“champions”atthecommunity level fordifferentenvironmentalsectorssuchaswasteandbiodiversityisaproactiveapproachinthecontextofthePacific,wherethereisalotofemphasisatthecommunitylevelforrolemodels.ThisconceptisalsocongruentwithmostPacificindigenouscultures,wherelearningbyobservationiscommonlypracticed.Theconceptof“champions”canalsobeextendedtootherissues,likepromotionofhumanrightsandhealthylifestyles.

13 Source:http://www.lmmanetwork.org/whatisanlmma.htm14 Source:http://www.sprep.org.ws/iwp/index.asp


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• grassroots Opportunities for Action and Leadership Project (GOAL-Project):15ThisisaprojectimplementedbytheFoundationofthePeoplesoftheSouthPacificInternational.Theprojectaimstopromotecommunity-initiateddevelopmentthatcanlinkPacificcommunitiestotheCotonouAgreement’sfundingframeworks.Theprojectiscurrentlybeingrunin100communitiesinFijiand70intheSolomonIslands.GOALaimstobuildthecapacitiesofcommunitiestofacilitatetheirowndevelopmentthroughastructuredprocessofplanning,decision-makingandactionthateventuatesincommunity lifeplansandprojectgenerationforfunding.Toensuresustainability,PacificIslandtrainerslearnbestpracticesinparticipatorytoolsforempowermentandcommunityfacilitation.

The activities carriedout tomeet thebasic aimsof theproject include trainingof trainersonParticipatory Learning andAction (PLA) tools, conflict management and leadership skills. Thecommunities are also given the opportunity to develop their development plans using PLAmethodologies,whereemphasisisonthecommunitiestakingchargeofcommunitydevelopmentplanningand implementation. Theapproachesused in thisprojectencompasscapacitybuilding,community development planning, and familiarizationwith amajor donor agency in thePacific,andincludestheimplementationofdevelopmentplans.ManycommunitiesinthePacificseldomdocumenttheirdevelopmentplansandofteniftheydohavesuchplans,itmayhavebeendevelopedwithoutwider community stakeholder inputs. However, theproject activity report has alreadyaddressedthesetwoconcernsandtakendevelopmentplanningtoastepfurtherthroughthedirectinvolvementofadonoragency.

• PFNet Approach:16 People First Net (PFNet) was established through the Solomon IslandsDevelopmentAdministrationandParticipatoryPlanningProgramme (SIDAPP), aprojectof theUNDP and theUnitedNationsOffice for Project Services. SIDAPPpiloted consultations andparticipatory techniques with rural communities to profile each of 14 political constituenciesincluded in the pilot phase. Oneof themajor challenges experienced in the Solomon Islandswasthelackofconnectivity(intermsoftelecommunicationbetweenruralareasandthecapitalHoniara,andtotheoutsideworld).Thelackofconnectivity,asiswidelyknown,cancomplicatesocio-economic activities. Furthermore, the current telecommunication provider (SolomonTelekomLimited)essentiallyoperatesinurbanandsemi-urbanareasandtheirprohibitivechargescouldonlybeaffordedbyasmallpercentageofthepopulation.MostruralareasareoutsideoftheserviceprovidedbySolomonTelekomLimitedandthis issocio-economicallycounterproductivesincemorethan85%oftheSolomonIslandspopulationresidesinruralareas.Ontheotherhand,itisworthnotingthattheproviderisalsoanimportantpartneroftheRuralDevelopmentVolunteersAssociation(RDVA)inimplementingPFNetinitiatives.

Following the closure of the SIDAPP project in 2001 and its recommendation to the nationalgovernmentandUNDPtoestablisharural informationandcommunicationsystem,PFNetwasreorganisedand implementedasaprojectoftheRDVA.RDVAwasalsodevelopedundertheSIDAPPtoserveaspartneragencytotheMinistry’sRuralDevelopmentDivision,SolomonIslandsCollegeofHigherEducation,USPandotherentitiesinvolvedinhelpingtoimprovethequalityoflifeinruralcommunitiesthroughoutthecountry.PFNetwasconceivedasoneofthemeanstobridgethecommunicationsgap,andindoingso,empowerruralcommunitiesandmakethelinkbetweenthemandthegovernmentmoreeffective.PFNethasthreecomponents:

• InternetcaféinthecapitalHoniara,whichisfinanciallyself-sustainingfromitscharges.

• PFNet website, which is a popular rural development portal and also provides links tonational,independentandregionalnewagencies.ThewebsitealsohasotherfeaturessuchasanonlinemessageboardandalibraryofpicturesoftheSolomonIslands.

15 Source:http://www.fspi.org.fj/program/governance/GOAL.htm16 Source:http://www.peoplefirst.net.sb/

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• Networkofrurale-mailstations,aninnovativeapproachintheuseofbasicICTtofurtherconnectivityandcommunication.Thestationsuseasimple,robustandwell-proventechnology,consistingofashort-waveradio(alreadyubiquitousandwell-knownintheSouthPacific),alow-endcomputer,andsolarenergy.Onschedule,severaltimesaday,eachremoteemailstationconnectstothehubstationinHoniaraautomatically,whereincomingoroutgoingemailsaretransferredbetweentheremotestationandthehub.ThehubstationfacilitatesthetransferorreceiptofemailstoandfromtheWorldWideWeb.Thenetworkhasbeenusedtofacilitatetheruralnetworkingneedsofsectorssuchaseducation,health,financeandagriculture.In2002,PFNetinassociationwiththeUSPCentreintheSolomonIslandssuccessfullytestedtheuseoftherurale-mailstationstoassistindeliveringUSP’sdistancelearningcoursestostudentsinruralareas.

TheRDVAhasrecently(2005)embarkedonaDistanceLearningCentres(DLC)ProjectfundedbytheEuropeanUnioninpartnershipwiththeSolomonIslandsMinistryofEducationandHumanResourcestoestablishlearningcentresinruralcommunityschoolsineachprovince,equippedwithbroadband internet throughanewlyestablished sattelitenetwork. Theproject isworkingwitheducationprovidersbuildingcapacitytodeliverdistanceeducationinsupportofthecurriculum,forin-schoolteachertraining,technicalandvocationaltraining,andopenandflexiblelearning.Thecentreswillberunasmultipurposecommunitytelecentres,buildingonthePFNet’ssustainableruralnetworkingexperience,andareexpectedtohavewideimpactsinruraldevelopment.

InthelargerandmorescatteredcountriesofthePacificsuchasSolomonIslands,PNG,VanuatuandFiji,wheretelecommunicationservicesprovidedbyestablishedserviceprovidersmaynotbefullyaccessibleandaffordabletothoseinruralareas,asuccessfulandtestedapproachsuchasthePFNetcancomplimenttheeffortsofestablishedtelecommunicationproviders.PFNethasbeenrecognisedinternationallyandwasfinalisttwice(2003and2004)intheStockholmChallengeandalsoafinalistintheUNESCO’sInternationalProgrammefortheDevelopmentofCommunicationruralcommunicationprizein2004.ItisimperativethatanapproachlikePFNetisexpandedintheSolomonIslandsandadaptedinotherislandcountries.

• USP Science (Chemistry) Outreach Programmes:TheChemicalSocietyoftheSouthPacific(CSSP)basedatUSPhasbeeninvolvedforanumberofyearsinthepromotionofchemistryandmorerecentlyenvironmentalscienceeducationawarenesstomainlysecondaryschoolsinFijiandinothermembercountriesofUSP.AmajorboosttothiseffortwasthefinancialassistancebytheUNESCOoffice inApia,whichenabled threemajor“opendays” topromoteenvironmental awareness inFijiandoneinSamoa.Thetargetgroupsfortheseactivitiesincludehighschoolstudents,villagecommunitiesandyouthgroups.In2004,the“OceanFuturesSociety”andUNESCO's"SmallIslandsVoice"(SIV)werecollaboratorsintheoutreachtovillagesandschools.Themajorobjectiveoftheoutreachtovillageswastostartyouth-basedsustainabledevelopmentprojectsunderthethematicapproach“CleanX”whichcouldbecleanvillage,cleanschooletc.The initiativewastested inasquattersettlement inSuvaandwaswellreceivedasbothCSSP(andcollaborators)andvillageyouthsworkedtogethertoinitiatewaste-cleanupandraisetheawarenesslevelofthesquattersofbetterwastemanagementpractices.Twoimportantaspectsofthisinitiativearetheuseofyounguniversitystudentstoworkhand-in-handwithsquatteryouthsandalsotheinputbyUNESCOandothercollaboratorsandpartners.


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5. UNESCO’S ROLE IN FURTHERING PACIFIC ISLAND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

UNESCO has contributed distinctively tothe review and forward-planning process

associatedwiththe1994BPoAfortheSustainableDevelopment of SIDS and to events connectedwith the MIM, in such fields as culture, youth,communities in action, and ocean and coastalmanagement. In October 2003, the UNESCOGeneral Conference at its thirty-second sessionadoptedaresolution(32C/Res.48)17specificallyaddressedtothe“SustainableDevelopmentofSmallIsland Developing States: further implementationand review of the“BPoA+10”. The draft of thisresolutionwassubmittedbyUNESCO’s15Pacific

MemberStates,supportedbyMemberStatesinotherregions,andwasconsideredbyeachofthefivesubstantiveprogrammecommissionsoftheUNESCOGeneralConference.AssubsequentlyadoptedbythePlenaryoftheGeneralConference,theresolutionincludesoperativeparagraphsaddressedtoMemberStatesandAssociateMembers,NGOsinofficialrelationswithUNESCO,andtheDirector-General,andaddressesthecontinuedimplementationoftheBPoA,participationinthepreparationsforaninternationalmeetingwithhigh-levelsegment(MIM),andreportingtoUNESCO’sgoverningbodiesontheplanning,outcomesandfollow-upoftheMIM.TheprincipalnegotiatedoutputsoftheMIM–astrategydocumentandapoliticaldeclaration–callforactioninmanyfieldsrelatedtoUNESCO’sconcerns,programmesandprioritieswhichemphasisethecriticalimportanceofpartnershiparrangementsinaddressingissuesrelatedtoenvironmentalvulnerabilityofSIDS. Intermsof followup,UNESCOhasproposedatwo-prongedapproach:amainstreamingapproachtoaddresstheneedsofSIDSinalltheOrganization’sactivities,andtocontinuepromotingaholistic,integratedapproachtosustainablelivinganddevelopmentinSIDS,andnurturingintersectoralcooperationwithanintergenerationaldimensionattheinterregionallevel.Inthis,particularattentionisgiventoeasilymarginalisedaspectssuchasculture,disasterpreparedness,youth,andouterislands.

5.1 Education:PromoteEducationforSustainableDevelopmentthroughtheDecadefor EducationforSustainableDevelopment

Asmentionedearlier,UNESCOandUNUareservingastheleadagenciesfortheDecadeforEducationforSustainableDevelopment(DESD),andnationsandeducationalinstitutionsarebeingencouragedtoestablishtheirownDecade-orientedinitiatives.ResponsesinthePacificcommencedwiththeidentificationofUSPastheRegionalCentreofExpertise(RCE)forthepromotionofESDinthePICTs.ThisfollowednegotiationsbythePACE-SD,whichwillcoordinatethedecadalactivitiesintheregion.TheCentrewaslaunchedattheInternationalConferenceonGlobalisationandEducationforSustainableDevelopmentatNagoyainJapan27and28June2005.ThisconferencewasorganisedbyUNESCOandUNUforthepromotionofDESD.

Since globalisation, quality education and sustainable development are intricately linked, the NagoyaConferencewasseenasanearlyopportunitytoexplorethekeyinterfacebetweenESDandglobalisation,includingthespecialrolehighereducationplaysinthisregard.Thus,ESDcomplementsotherinternationalinitiativeswithrelevancefortheeducationsectorsuchastheMDGs,theEducationForAll(EFA)movement,andtheUnitedNationsLiteracyDecade.

17 http://www.unesco.org/csi/B10/32C-Res48.pdf

Photo:UNESCOApia.

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UNESCO’S ROLE IN FURThERINg PACIFIC ISLAND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A CRITICAL ANALySIS

In early 2006, UNESCO commenced working with a wide range of regional organisations, nationalgovernmentsandotherpartnerstoprepareaframeworkforESDinthePacificthatcouldbeusedtoguideDESDimplementationinthePacificinastrategicmanner.ThePacificESDFrameworkwasendorsedbythePacificMinistersforEducationinSeptember2006andnowworkiscontinuingonmappingESDatbothnationalandregionalscalesandonthepreparationofaPacificESDActionPlan.PACE-SDandUNESCOarecollaboratingintheseprojectsandareincludingwidenetworksaspartoftheconsultationprocess.

Simultaneously,theAsiaPacificCulturalCentre(ACCU)forUNESCOhaslaunchedtwomajorprogrammestopromoteESDintheAsiaPacificregion:

(i) ACCU-UNESCOAsiaPacificInnovationProgrammeforESD;and

(ii) ACCU-UNESCOCOE(CentresofExcellence)ProgrammeforESD.AspartoftheCOEinitiative,ACCUhasestablishedfiveESDCentresofExcellence in theAsia-Pacificregion(2006), fourofthembeinginAsia,andUSPasthefifthCOEservingthePacificIslandregion.AfiveyearUSP/COEprojectonmainstreamingESDatUSPtoenhanceeducation-basedcapacitybuildingforsustainabledevelopment in thePICshas already startedwithemphasison teachereducation, sustainabilityeducationandcommunityempowerment.

Within thePacific region,PACE-SDtogetherwithSPREP,hasbeen involved in thepromotionofESDaspartoftheWSSD‘CapacityBuilding’TypeII initiativedesignedtopromotesustainabledevelopmentthrougheducation,trainingandresearch,andRCEPacificwillsubstantiallyenhancetheseefforts.

The Rethinking Pacific Education Initiative (RPEI) is amulti-year project, funded by theNewZealandAgencyforInternationalDevelopment(NZAID)thathelpstopromoteESDinmanyinnovativeways.ThemajorgoaloftheRPEIistopromoteleadershipbyPacificeducatorsforeducationinPICs.Since2001,theInitiativehasimplementedanumberofprojectsintheregion.

AnumberofactorsandvariedmodalitiesbecomenecessaryforthepromotionofESD.Theseincludetheformaleducationalsector(e.g.,EducationMinistries,schools);universities(USP,UniversityofPNG,NationalUniversityofSamoa,SIDSUniversityConsortium,PRIDE,IOE);CROPagenciesanditsworkinggroups;andthenon-formaleducationalsector(e.g.NGOs,governmentauthorities,faith-basedorganisationsandtheprivatesector),PacificMinisterialfora,aswellasactivitiesbydonors,governmentdepartments,,women’sgroups,CommunityMultimediaCentres,UNESCOandotherUNagencies.

InthePacific,amajorreviewofbasiceducationiscurrentlyunderwaywithintheForumBasicEducationActionPlanthroughthePacificRegionalInitiativefortheDeliveryofBasicEducationProgramme(PRIDE).What is needed urgently is a mechanism to address the tertiary education system within the ESDframework.TheRegionalCentreofExpertiseandCOE-PacificwillbeabletoworkcloselywithPRIDEandconcentrateonthetertiarylevelinparticular.

PriorityESDactionsinthePacificcouldincludeareorientationoftheschoolcurriculumtoaccommodatehands-on projects to facilitate ESD, e.g. UNESCO’s Sandwatch project, Live and Learn EnvironmentalEducation’sRiverCareprogramme,USP’sChemistryOutreachtoSchoolsthatfocusesonweatherandwastemanagement, and the collaborativeUNESCO–AustralianNationalUniversity’sCentre for thePublicAwarenessofScienceprogrammeofworkonsciencecommunicationinthePacific.

Such an approach is needed at the tertiary level aswell. Urgent priorities for specialised training inthe region include theareasofEnvironmentalAccounting,EnvironmentandSustainableDevelopment,ClimateChangeandSeaLevelRise,ClimateVariabilityandExtremeWeatherEvents,Community-basedConservation, Integrated Coastal Management, Integrated Waste Management, Environment ImpactAssessment/Strategic Environment Assessment, Geographical Information System/Remote Sensing


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applications,teacherin-servicethroughdistanceandflexiblelearningapproaches,MEAcapacitybuildingandsciencepolicyinteraction.

ESD isdesigned topromoteoverall knowledgemanagement, and in this context it should specificallyaddress the special areas highlighted in NCSA and NSDS documents from the countries. Based onthe regional submissions to international and regional meetings lately, these include natural resourceuseincludingwater, landandoceanresources,studyoftheeconomicallyactiveecosystems,sustainabletrade,urbanization, integratedwastemanagement,climatechangeandvariability, impactsandresiliencebuilding,climatechangeadaptationstudies,IKSP-STIconnectioninthePacific,communitylevelwork,greenaccounting,povertyalleviation,MDGimplementation, integratedcoastalzonemanagement,biodiversityand biosafety, fisheries, production and consumption, demographic issues, governance, HIV-AIDS andotherhealth issues,empowermentofwomen,extractiveandagriculturaldevelopmentandinstitutionalarrangements.

Auseful exampleofof aplatform for activitywithin the frameworkof theDESD,UNESCO’sLINKSprojectsafeguards localknowledgeandknow-howrelevant forsustainabledevelopmentbypromotingvernacular language and intercultural education in indigenous communities. Furthermore, it profilesindigenous values,ways-of-life andworldviews to abroadpublic to incitemainstream society to alterconsumptionpatterns and re-think their relationshipwith theenvironment. In this regard, the LINKSprogrammeengagesinfieldprojectswithindigenouscommunities(e.g.Marovopeoples,SolomonIslands)todevelopbilingualandinterculturalmaterialsandmethodsthatprofileindigenousknowledge,practicesandworldviewsintheclassroom.AnEnvironmentalEncyclopaedia,basedonSolomonIslanderknowledge,isbeingpilotedinlocalschoolstodevelopteachermanualsandmethods.Aseriesof interactiveCD-ROMs with accompanying Learning Resource Packs, is under development to reinforce ties betweenindigenouseldersandyouth.Expertmeetingsandworkshopsareorganisedwithindigenouscommunities,teachers,curriculumdevelopersandministriesofeducationandculture,inordertoelaboratestrategiesandcoordinateactiontoreviseteachingmethodsandcurriculatoaccommodatealternativeknowledgeandvisions(e.g.Vanuatu,SolomonIslands).

Contributingtoenvironmentallysustainable,sociallyequitable,culturallyrespectfulandeconomicallyviabledevelopment insmall islandsandcoastal regions is theover-reachinggoalof the inter-sectoralCoastalRegionsandSmallIslandsPlatform(CSI).DuringtheDESD,CSIwillreinforceitsESDactivitiestofocusoncapacitydevelopmentthrough“learningbydoing”sothatcommunities,civilsocietygroups,andyouth(includingschool-agedchildren)cometounderstandthenatureandappreciatetheneedforsustainabledevelopmentthroughlocally-basedactivitiesandprojects.Initiativesincludecommunitiesplanningtheirown future development, groups sharing eco-friendly practices, youth promoting local languages inreaffirmingtheiridentity,andschoolchildrenadoptingahands-onapproachtoaddressingenvironmentalissuesandproblemswiththehelpoftheircommunities.ThescopeandreachoftheselocalinitiativeswillbebroadenedbynetworkingsupportedbytraditionalmediaandtheInternet.

Capacitybuilding andESDhavebeengivenmajor importance inAgenda21. Education is critical forpromotingsustainabledevelopmentandimprovingthecapacityofthepeopletoaddressenvironmentanddevelopmentissues.YouthVisioningforIslandLivingseekstobuildcapacityamongislandyouth;togiveyouthavoiceinsustainabledevelopmentmatters;andtomakepositivechangesatthelocalandnationallevel.Severalyouth-ledprojectshavebeeninitiated,includingcreatingawarenessaboutsubstanceabusein theSolomon Islands, trainingyoung leaders fora sustainableFiji,developingappreciationofNiueanlanguageinNiueandenvironmenttrainingforyouthofTonga.Towardsthisend,suchtrainingmustbeinterdisciplinary,andbasedonanintegratedapproach,combiningeconomic,social,cultural,environmental,ethicalandpoliticalconsiderations.

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South-SouthtechnicalcooperationisonewayofbuildinglocalcapacityinthePacific.Anotherdomainimportantfortheoveralleducationsectoristhatofreliableinformationonstatusandtrendsineducationalperformance.OneinitiativeoftheUNESCOInstituteforStatisticsrelatestobuildingcapacityforstatisticscollectingandreportinginthePacificregion.Thetwo-yearproject–fundedbyJapanesefunds-in-trust–completeditsfieldworkphaseinFebruary2006,withfindingsandrecommendationsincludedinadraftreporttobereleasedlaterin2006(provisionallyentitled“StatisticalCapacityBuildingtoPacificRegioncountries intheproductionanduseofstatistical information forbettermanagementof theeducationsector”).

Withthisasbackgroundandcontext,priorityactionareasinclude:

Short-termobjectives:

• EnhancethecapacityofPICTstoaddresstheirsustainabledevelopmentchallengesthroughrelevanteducation,targetedandresult-orientedresearchandappropriatetrainingaspromotedbySPREP,USPandotherCROPagenciesthroughactivitiesbytheRegionalCentreofExpertiseandCOE-Pacific.

• SupportrelevantresearchbytheSIDSUniversitiesConsortiumactivitiesinvolvingUSP,andinvolvingotherUNESCOpartnerssuchasSIVasassociatemembers.

• UndertakecurriculumreorientationexercisesforESDatthebasiceducationarea,vocationaltrainingandtertiaryeducationtakingintoaccounttheindigenousknowledgesystemsinthePacific.

• IntroduceESDtoteachertraininginstitutionsthroughouttheregion.

• Undertake skillsdevelopment innatural resourcemanagement, ICTs, vocational areas,medicineandengineeringforincomegenerationandpovertyalleviation,policydevelopment,andinstitutionalmanagement.

• Facilitatedistanceandflexiblelearninginitiativestoreachouttotheoften“unreached”.

• Form a network of education and training based capacity building initiatives targeted towardsschoolstudentsandyouthinordertoworktogetherinspecificgeographicalareas.SuchanetworkcouldinvolvetheUSPChemistryOutreachtoSchoolsprogramme,theSIVinitiative;SandwatchandRiverCareprogrammes,YouthVisioningforIslandLiving,PacificYouthEnvironmentNetworkprojectandrelevantNGOyouthandruraldevelopmentinitiatives.

• Strengthenandsustainteachingofcultureandtraditionsinnationaleducationsystems.TheLINKSprogrammehasalreadyundertakenmanyactivitiesinthisregard.Forinstance,Reef and Rainforest: An Environmental Encyclopaedia of Marovo Lagoon –aSolomonIslandspublicationforuseintheclassroomand The Canoe is the People: Indigenous Navigation in the Pacific –an interactiveCD-Rom.

Long-termobjectives:

• CapacityenhancementforthePacificIslanderstounderstandandtomanagetheirenvironment,economyandsocietiesinasustainablewayasarticulatedinthePacificTypeIIinitiativeoncapacitybuilding,regionaltrainingneedassessments,NCSA,NSDSandthePacificPlan.

• Incorporatelocalcontent, includingtraditional/indigenousknowledge, intotheschoolcurriculum;e.g.promotionofagroforestry,marineprotectedareasandparticipatorymethodologies.

• Transformeducationsystemstoincludeindigenousknowledgeandvaluesasalong-termprocessrequiringnotonlynewteachingmaterial,butalsopoliticalwilltorevisecurricula,andconsciousness-raisingandteachertrainingforitsimplementation.Longer-termeffortsalsoincludetransformingteachingmethodstoensureanactiverole for localknowledgeholders. Sharingofexperiencesandlessonslearnedbyincludingotherindigenousgroupsandcreatingnetworkswillenhancetheimpact.


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• Useinnovativeandcost-effectivewaysforprovidingeducationandtraining.Forexample,theuseofdistanceandflexibledelivery,includingtheuseofinternet-basedteachingandlearning.

• Strengthen commitment to science, technology, research and development underpinning alleducationandtrainingwithgroupworkofamultidisciplinarynatureforproblemsolving.

• IntegrateESDintertiarylevelteaching,trainingandresearch;gradatemorestudentswhohavetheknowledge,skills,perspectiveandvaluesnecessaryforpromotingsustainabledevelopment.

• Improvenetworkingactivities, twinningandmentoringwithteachingand/orresearch institutionsandNorth-SouthandSouth-Southpartnershipstobridgethedigitalandinformationdivide;andtostrengthenprovenICTinitiativessuchasPFNet.

• Strengthencollaborationbetweennational, regional (CROP)and international (UN) institutionsandcivilsocietyorganizationsinvolvedintrainingandeducation.

• Improvetrainingandcapacitybuildingatnationalandregionallevelsformanagingnaturalresourcesconservationatthecommunitylevel,climatechange,health,women’sempowerment,environmentalassessments [environmental impact assessment/strategic environmental impact assessment] anddisastermanagement and renewable energy studies, integrated coastalmanagement andwastemanagement.

• IntroducewidespreaduseofGeographicInformationSystems/RemoteSensing(GIS/RS)toolsandclimatescenariogenerationforsustainabledevelopmentinthePacific.

• Helpcreateknowledgesocietiesthroughimprovedskilldevelopmentandknowledgemanagementwithaviewtoalleviatingpovertyandaddressingurbanizationissues.

5.2 PromoteCulturallySensitiveDevelopment

For development to be sustainable, according toProf. KonaiThamanofUSP, itmust be rooted inpeople’s cultural values. Pacific cultural valuessuch as trust, reciprocity, creativity, restraint,compassion and their interdependence with theirislandenvironmentareintrinsictobothcultureandsustainabledevelopmentintheregion.IntheWorldCommissiononCultureandDevelopmentReport Our Creative Diversity,UNESCOdefinescultureas“thewholecomplexofdistinctivespiritual,material,intellectualandemotionalfeaturesthatcharacterisea society”, which partly captures the oceanicnotion. InmostPacific languages, thewordsusedtodescribeculture,life,andenvironmentareoften

thesameindicatingtheconnectednessoftheseideasintheindigenousmind.Forexample, Faa SamoaisSamoanCultureortheSamoanWayofLife;Faka Tonga isTonganCultureortheTonganWayofLife.Within eachnotion,“environment” (often inadequately translated as land) is fonua (Tongan)or vanua(Fijian); it iswhatsurrounds,embraces,andpermeatesallthatwedo,knowandare,which,collectively,amountstoourheritage,ourculture.

ConsiderationofPacificcultureshasnotbeencentraltomostdevelopmentprojects,includingeducationalprojectsforPICTsinrecentyears.ThisculturalgapinsustainabledevelopmentdebateisevidentwhenweexaminethevariousdevelopmentmodelsandparadigmscurrentlyfollowedbymostPICTs–modelsthatareimportedfromdifferentcountrieswithdifferentculturalcontextsanddifferentassumptions,goalsandvalues.Today,modernscienceandmoderneconomicrationalismcontinuetodominatetheglobalapproachtodevelopment.

Photo:UNESCOApia.

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Theglobalemphasesonmarket-driveneconomiesanddevelopmentintoday’sworldaremakingissuessuchascross-culturaltransfer,globalisedcurriculaandappropriateteachingstrategiesextremelycriticalforallofPICTsasglobalisationthreatenstoblurtheculturalandlinguisticdiversityforwhichtheAsia-Pacificregioniswellknown.Likecolonialism,globalisedcultureisseennotasempoweringmostPacificpeoples,especiallythoseinruralareas,thepoor,theelders,andthosewhohavenotbeenfullyexposedtomodernvaluesandepistemologies.ThesearetheverypeoplewhohavetraditionallybeenthecustodiansofPacifictraditionalculturalvaluesandknowledge.

Therearealsoongoingresearchprojects,whichexplorePacificbiodiversity,includingindigenousandlocalknowledgeofbothmarineandterrestrialenvironments.However,moreactionisneededtoencouragetherecording,documentationandvaluingofwaysofknowingandknowledgeassociatedwithPacificIslandculturesandenvironments,aswellastheacceptancebytheacademicsofalternativemethodsofresearchaslegitimateareasofacademicstudy.Forexample,"IslandMemories"arebeingdocumentedonvideobySIVintheCookIslands–notasanacademicexercise,butthroughtheeyesofcommunitymembers.

InoneoftheplenarypaneldiscussionsattheMIMon“Cultureandsustainabledevelopment inSIDS”organisedbyUNESCO,itwasagreedthatdevelopmentcanonlybetrulysustainableifitisbasedonandgrowsoutofculturalidentityandthatthereisneedtodevelopculturalinstitutionsandindustriessuchasmusic,art,festival,theatre,film,andculturaltourism.CulturalindustriesandinitiativesareviewedasanareainwhichPICTshavecomparativeadvantage,whichhavethepotentialtodiversifyeconomiesofPICTsandbuildtheirresiliencewhiletheyadjusttochangesintheglobaleconomy.

Priorityactionareasinclude:

• Developmentandimplementnationalculturalpoliciesandlegislativeframeworkstosupportthedevelopmentofculturalindustriesandinitiativesinsuchareasasmusic,art,theliteraryandculinaryarts,fashion,festivals,theatreandfilm,sportsandculturaltourism;

• Buildinghumanresourcedevelopment,particularlythatoftheyouth,toactivelygetinvolvedintheaboveareas;

• CreateawarenessamongyouthondiseasessuchasHIV/AIDS;

• Development of measures to protect the natural, tangible and intangible cultural heritage andincrease resources for the development and strengthening of national and regional culturalinitiatives;

• Improveinstitutionalcapacityforadvocacyandmarketingofculturalproductsandtheprotectionofintellectualproperty;

• Seek venture capital and access to credit to small and medium-sized cultural enterprises andinitiatives,includingthroughtheestablishmentofculturesupportfundsinPacificIslandcountries;

• Reinforce the appropriate use of indigenous systems of knowledge and practice in sustainabledevelopmentandthemanagementofnaturalresources;and

• Promote the work of regional cultural centres such as the USP Oceania Centre forArt andCulture.

5.3 SupportCommunityLevelActivitiesforStakeholderEmpowerment

ThedeclarationoftheMauritiusCivilSocietyForumaptlydescribesthesituationwithinSIDSwithregardstoempoweringcommunitiestodevelopsustainably.Communitiesmustbeatthecentreofpolicymakingandparticipatoryprocessesmustbeinstitutionalisedatall levelsofdecision-making.Oneofthemostpowerfulcommunitylevelactivitiesthathasprovenveryvaluableinanumberofprojectsbynumerousactors is the use of PLA tools to enable communities to isolate specific problems and identify themeasuresthatshouldbetakentoaddresssuchproblems.PLAmethodologiesinvariousformshavebeenemployedbyNGOs,CROPagenciesandsomegovernmentdepartmentstoassisttheminempowering


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communities.However,itisworthmentioningthatgovernmentsseldomdrivecommunitydevelopmentplanningbyemployingPLAtools.Ontheotherhand,asignificantconstraintintheapplicationofPLAtoolsisthelackofsufficientcapacityincommunitiestoapplyPLAmethodologiesassuchontheirown.ThereforemanypromotersofPLAmethodologiesalsodevotetimetocapacitybuildingforPLAuseincommunities.Forexample,SIVinPalauhasshownthatcommunitiesarenotreadytoundertakeactivitiessuchascommunityvisioning(planning),andthatmonthsandyearsofcapacitybuildingarerequiredwithcontinuedback-upfromsupportingagencies.Indeedthisandotherinitiativesemphasisethatcontinuity,perseveranceandoutsidesupportareneededoverperiodsoftimebeyondthenormalprojectcycle.

AlsowithinUNESCO, theSocial andHumanSciencesSectorhas aparticularly strong interest in thetransferof research results topolicy anddecision-making. In this vein, the sectorhas taken a lead infocusingontheconcernsof“nationalandregionalenablingenvironments”(ChapterXVIoftheMauritiusStrategy)asalensforapproachingsustainabledevelopment,andinencouragingcross-sectoralsynergies.AkeyareaidentifiedforfurtherdiscussionisthegapbetweenpolicyandimplementationthatexistsinmanyPacificcountries.Theproposalistodevelopanintegratedresearchmodelviacommunity-basedactionresearchinitiatives,withwomen,youthandpovertytheinitialthematicfocus inthePacific.TheinformationfromthisresearchwillbeutilisedaspartoftheanalysisofappropriatepolicyresponsesforthePacific.

Pacificecosystemsarehighlyfragileandvulnerabletoexternaldisturbancesandneedprotectionthroughactive biodiversity conservation measures and by proper management of invasive species. Pacificcommunitiesrelyheavilyonmarineresourcesfortheirsustenanceandlivelihood.Ascustodiansoftheseresources,communitiesneedadequatetrainingonhowtoapplyeffectivemanagementapproachesthatdraw from modern science and traditional practices. Being primarily agricultural societies, food andwatersecurityisalsoofparamountimportanceforincomegenerationandpovertyalleviation.However,the impacts of climate change, climatic extremes and global trade liberalization seem to make thesecommunitiesveryvulnerableandurgenteffortsmustbemadetoimprovetheirresilience.

Theexamplescoveredunderthesection4.3shareanumberofsimilarfeaturessuchastheencouragementof communal and participatory approach to decisionmaking, engagement of rural people, youth andschoolchildrenandthepartnershipbetweenmultiplestakeholderssuchasacademia,NGOs,communities,CROPagenciesandgovernmentauthorities.Itshouldalsobenotedthattheseexamplesembracedbothabottom-upandatop-downapproachtodevelopment,wheretheneedformicro-leveldevelopmentplanningandimplementationofactivitiesisadvocatedsupportedbymacro-levelmechanisms(institutional,political andfinancial) thatareusuallyunder thecontrolof thenational governmentand, toacertainextent,thelocalauthorities.

5.4 SpecificSectors,IssuesorCountrieswhereInterventionisWarranted

In preparation forWSSD andMIM, there have been several regionalmeetings of PICTswherein thedelegatesstronglyreaffirmedtheirdeepconcernregardingtheimpactsofclimatechange,climatevariability,sealevelriseandextremeweathereventsasanimpedimenttosustainabledevelopment.TheycalledoncountriesthathadnotratifiedtheKyotoProtocoltodoso,andurgedtheinternationalcommunitytosupportimplementationoftheRegionalFrameworkforActiononClimateChange.

PICTsagreedtotheneedforfullandeffectiveimplementationof:

(i) theRegionalActionPlanonSustainablethePacificWastewaterPolicyStatementandFrameworkforAction(2001)withkeyactionareassuchasgovernance,awareness,infrastructureandinformation,financingandcapacitybuilding;and

(ii) the Pacific RegionalAction Plan on SustainableWater Management (2002) with a clear set ofpriorityactionswithinaframeworkofsixkeyareas,namely,waterresourcesmanagement,island

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vulnerability,awareness,technologies, institutionalarrangementsandfinancing.SIDSdelegatesatMIMfurtherrecalledtheJPOItargettoeffectivelyreduce,preventandcontrolwasteandpollutionandtheirhealth-relatedimpactsthroughinitiativesaimedatimplementingtheGlobalProgrammeofActionfortheProtectionoftheMarineEnvironmentfromLand-basedActivitiesinSmallIslandDevelopingStates formulated in2004. In this regard theactive involvement and technical andfinancial support from the Secretariat of the Global Programme ofAction to SIDS would becritical.

It is crucial to have full and effective implementation at the national and regional level of the PacificRegionalOceanPolicywhichincludesthefollowingfiveguidingprinciples:

(a) improvingourunderstandingoftheocean;

(b) sustainably developing and managing the use of ocean resources, including the promotion andutilizationoftraditionalpractices;

(c) maintainingthehealthoftheocean;

(d) promotingthepeacefuluseoftheocean;and

(e) creatingpartnershipsandpromotingco-operation.

ItisessentialthatinternationalsupportforthePolicybesecured.ItwasalsoacknowledgedatMIMthattransport and communication remains important challenges in thepromotion and implementationofsustainabledevelopmentintheregion.Programmesinsupportoftheprovisionoftransportationservicesareurgentlyneeded.

Freshwater resources are another major concern in many PICTs. UNESCO’s contribution to thedevelopmentofintegratedapproachesforsoundwatermanagementprimarilytakesplaceinthecontextofthe InternationalHydrologicalProgramme(IHP)throughapartnershipwiththeSOPAC.Emphasisisplacedonfieldoperations, inparticularthroughtrainingactivitiesandcatchment-basedmanagementof freshwaterresources. This includesworksupportedthroughtheUNESCOpriorityof“waterandassociatedecosystems”,which includes joint initiativesof IHPand theManand theBiosphere (MAB)Programme.

In closepartnershipwith regional bodies anddonor agencies, activities are focusedonengaging localandindigenouscommunitiesinwaterresourcesmanagementandmonitoringpartnerships,aswellasona recent three-year regional trainingprogramme forhydrological technicians. IHP’sHydrology for theEnvironment,LifeandPolicy(HELP)initiativehasrecentlybeenlaunchedinthePacific.AjointinitiativeofUNESCOandtheWorldMeteorologicalOrganization,HELPaimstocreateanewapproachtointegratedcatchmentmanagementthroughthecreationofa framework forwater lawandpolicyexperts,waterresourceowners,managers,localcommunitiesandscientiststoworktogetheronwater-relatedproblemsusingthedrainagebasinasthemainunitforcooperation.TaliseinVanuatuisthefistsmallislandPacificbasintoberecognisedasamemberoftheglobalHELPnetwork.ThemoreformalisedparticipationofPacific-SIDSintheIHPisalsobeingpromoted,byrotationalparticipationintheSoutheastAsiaandthePacificIHPRegionalSteeringCommittee.

ThebookWater and Indigenous Peoples recentlypublishedby theLINKSproject furtherhighlights therealneedtoinvolveindigenouspeoplesdirectlyindevelopmentprocesses,whetheratlocal,nationalorgloballevels.Thispublicationadvocatesarevisionofinternationaldevelopmenteffortstofullyembraceindigenous peoples’ knowledge, values, land tenure, customary management, social arrangements andrightspertainingtowater.

WastemanagementhasnowbecomeapriorityareainPICTswithaparticularfocusonthedevelopmentofnationalwastemanagementstrategiesforthereduction,recycling,reuseandappropriatesafedisposal


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ofsolid,liquidandhazardouswastes.Thereisagrowingconcernintheregionaboutelectronicwaste.The restriction of the importation or banning of the use of products that excessively contribute tosignificantwasteproblemsandhealthconcernsshouldbeconsidered,andallPICTsshouldbeencouragedtobecomepartiestotheRotterdamConvention.Anotherconcernisthesecurityandenvironmentalimplicationsofthedisposalandtransportofradioactivematerialsinandthroughtheregionandthelackofliabilityandcompensationregimes.

Intermsofislandbiodiversity,UNESCO’scontinuingeffortsarerootedintwocomplementaryinternationalinitiativesfortheconservationofbiologicaldiversity:theConventionfortheProtectionoftheWorld’sNaturalandCulturalHeritageandtheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserves.BoththeWorldHeritageListandtheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReservescontainrelativelyfewsitesinPacificIslandcountries,andthecoordinatingbodiesandsecretariatsforbothinitiativeshaveidentifiedmeasuresforredressingpresentunder-representationandreinforcingactivitiesintheregion.

TheAction Plan for the Implementation of theWorld Heritage-Pacific Programme (“Pacific 2009”)provides the overall framework for development of field activities. Component activities in 2005included support toWorld Heritage National StrategyWorkshops held in Palikir, Pohnpei (FSM) andKoror(Palau).AlsoactionstopromotethediffusionanduseofOur Pacific Heritage: The Future in Young Hands,aneducationalresourcekitforteachers,preparedincooperationwiththeNewZealandNationalCommissionforUNESCOanddesignedtointroduceWorldHeritageeducationintoclassroomteaching.ArelatedinitiativeistheWorldHeritageMarineProgramme,includingtwopilotprojectsinthePacificeachcontainingMarineProtectedAreasandsmallislands.

TheMABprogrammeintheAsia-Pacificregionhasreceivedspecialattentioninrecentyears.Inparticular,theimplementationoftheprojecton“AsiaPacificCo-operationfortheSustainableUseofRenewableNatural Resources in Biosphere Reserves and Similarly ManagedAreas (ASPACO)”, financed by theGovernmentofJapan,helpedtoestablishsolidbasesfornatureprotectioninSouthPacificislandsthroughtheestablishmentofbiospherereservesorsimilarlymanagedareas.

The Fifth Interregional Meeting on“Ecosystem Management and Biosphere Reserves in Small Islands:ChallengesandOpportunitiesinthePacific”,tookplace6to10December2004atthePalauInternationalCoralReefCentre,Koror, intheRepublicofPalau. ItwasconvenedbytheGovernmentofPalauandUNESCO in collaboration with UNU, the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems and MAB-Japan.

TheroleoftheASPACOProjecthasbeendefinedintheSouthPacificIslandStatesasassistingUNESCOMemberStatesoftheAsiaandthePacificregioninidentifyingandimplementingnationalstrategiesforbiodiversityprotectioninbiospherereservesandsimilarlymanagedareaswithspecialemphasisoncoastalareas,smallislandsandmangroveforests.Furthermore,itisaimedatestablishingSouth-SouthtechnologytransferandintensivetraininginselectedcasestudiesforthemanagementofrenewablenaturalresourcesthroughoutspecificdevelopingcountriesinAsiaandthePacificregion.

Pacific Island states committed themselves to continue or initiate in their countries cooperationwiththe MAB programme and theWorld Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO as a vehicle forbiodiversityconservation,researchandintegratedmanagementofnaturalresources intheregionwithparticularreferencetotheASPACOinitiative.Furthermoretheywillcontinuetoundertakeeffortsforbiologicalandculturaldiversityconservationandnaturalresourcemanagementactivitiesinlinkagewithsustainabledevelopmentoflocalcommunities,andtocollaboratewiththeinternationalcommunityandpartnerstoincreaserecognitionandappreciationoftheuniquecultural,socialandenvironmentalvaluesandcustomsoftheregionandtoensurethattheseareintegratedinprojectactivities.

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Asadirectfollow-up,countriestookstepstowardsidentifyingnewsitesforprojectandpotentialBiosphereReservedevelopmentwithinthecontextoftheASPACOProjectandtheoutcomesoftheKorormeetingdiscussions,aswellastoestablishintheircountriesMABNationalCommitteesorFocalPointswheretheystilldonotexist,andtofurtherstrengthenthosealreadyestablished.

UNESCOanditspartnerswithintheMABprogrammewillhelptoidentifynewfundingopportunitiesforbiodiversityconservationandnaturalresourcemanagementinordertocontinuetheactivitiesstartedundertheASPACOProject,andtodrawtheparticularattentionofdonorsandpartnerstotheMABcommunity in thePacific, and to theneed forensuring support foremergingPacific IslandBiosphereReservesduringthiscriticalearlystageoftheregionalprogramme.

Asadirectoutcomeofthismeeting,theMABBureauapprovedin2005twonominationsofnewBiosphereReservesfromtheFSMandPalau.AsecondBiosphereReservewasestablishedinFSMin2007.Otherproposalsareunderelaboration,emanatingfromPNG,theKingdomofTongaandfromSamoa.Finally,aPacificIslandsMABNetworkwasestablishedinDecember2006atameetingofMABCoordinatorsandBiospereReservemanagersheldinPohnpei,FSM,withthesupportfromtheDivisionofEcologicalandEarthSciencesatUNESCO.

Thesustainableuse,conservationandmanagementofPacificbiodiversityremainsaconcern.Althoughmost Pacific Islands have a rich biodiversity patrimony, this ecologically fragile biological inheritance isseriously threateneddue tobothhuman impactsandnaturalevents. Therearealready far toomanyexamplesoftheillegalaccess,overexploitation,endangermentandextinctionofPacificIslandbiologicalresources,andthelossofassociatedtraditionalknowledge.ToaddressthisissueitisessentialthattheActionStrategy forNatureConservation in thePacific Islands (2003–2007)be implemented, that theNational Biodiversity StrategicAction Plans be completed and implemented, and that the CartagenaProtocol be ratified and implemented. There is a need to promote the appropriate engagement oftraditionalknowledgeofindigenousandlocalcommunitiesinresourcemanagement,aswellastodeveloprulesforitslegalprotection,notingtheongoingworkinthecontextoftheCBDandWorldIntellectualPropertyOrganization.Thereisaneedforregulatoryframeworksorinstrumentsthatwillensurefairandequitablebenefitsharingtoindigenousandlocalcommunitieswhilstprovidingafairsystemofaccessandbenefitsharingtoinvestors.

Inadditiontothesetwoconceptsandtoolsforpromotingthe in situconservationofbiologicaldiversity,other activities include studies on marine living resources within the UNESCO IntergovernmentalOceanographicCommission(e.g.collaborativeassessmentsofcoralreefs,benthicfauna,harmfulmarinealgae).

Invasivespecies,includingpestanddiseaseorganisms,threatenfoodandagriculturalsystems,andcriticalterrestrial, freshwater andmarine ecosystems and environmental services. In this regard the regionalinvasivespeciesstrategyshouldbeimplementedandfurtherdevelopedtostrengthenordevelopnationalinvasivespeciesactionplans.TheinternationalcommunityshouldbeurgedtoassistthePacificregionintheimplementationofthesestrategiesandactionplans.

In respect tonaturaldisasters, there isneedtoshiftemphasis fromreliefandemergencyresponsetopreventivemeasuresandincreasedpreparednessandeducationofpotentiallyaffectedpopulations.Onerecentexampleofaresponsetothisgenericchallengeisavolcano-awarenessprogrammeforschoolson Niuafo’ou Island in the Kingdom ofTonga, undertaken as part of UNESCO’s activities of naturaldisaster preparedness and prevention. UNESCO’s contribution to community-driven natural disasterpreparednesswasputtothetestduringthelate2005eruptionoftheAmbaeIslandvolcano.ThroughapartnershipwithMasseyUniversityinNewZealand,UNESCOhasoverthepastfiveyearssupportedthedevelopmentof locallydrivenvolcanichazardspreparednessplanscombining local and traditional


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knowledgeofnaturalhazardswith inAmbaeandother islands inVanuatu. Dataontheeruptionandthesuccessfullocalcommunityresponseisnowbeinganalysedandwillbepublishedinthenearfuture.UNESCOcontinuesitscooperationwithMasseyUniversityinthehopesofextendingtheapproachusedinAmbaetootherislandcommunities–aswellasotherhazardtypes.

It is importanttofindeffectivewaysandmeanstodevelopcommunity-basedinitiativesonsustainabletourismandbuild the capacities necessary todiversify tourismproducts,whileprotecting culture andtraditions, andeffectively conserving andmanagingnatural resources, inparticular through communityconsultationsandeffectivecapacitybuilding.RenewedcommitmentisneededforthefullandeffectiveimplementationofthePacificIslandsRegionalEnergyPolicy(2001)toensureavailable,reliable,affordable,andenvironmentallysoundenergyforsustainabledevelopmentforallintheregion.Non-formalexchangemechanisms,suchastheSIVGlobalInternetForumandtheYouthInternetForum,shouldbefullyutilisedtoprovideawidespreaddiscussionofissuesandsolutionsatthegrassrootslevel.Already,discussionsonsustainabletourismandrenewableenergyhaveprovokedpublicinterestandpresentedsomeinterestingand innovative directions for the future. Mechanisms need to be established so that Pacific tertiaryinstitutionscanfurtheradvancetheseideasinanappliedmanner.ThislinkbetweenacademiaandthepubliccouldbefurtherpursuedthroughanagreementbetweenSIVandtheUniversitiesConsortiumofSmallIslandStates.Suchmechanismsalsoprovideforinter-regionalexchangeandthisiswhereUNESCO,through initiatives such as SIV, Sandwatch, LINKS andothers, has a key role to play by providing andstrengtheningthelinksbetweenregions.

MEAscapacitybuildingforsustainabledevelopmentinSIDSremainsahighpriority.Thisincludesissuesrelatedtostrengtheninglegalandlegislativeframeworks.Thisrequiresasupportstructureatinternationalorregionallevel,andtheneedforthedevelopmentofcapacitythroughtheuseofregionalandnationaltrainingexperts.TheintegrationoftheprinciplesofsustainabledevelopmentintocurrentplanningsystemswillallowNSDSstobeproperlydevelopedandimplementedisatvariousstagesofdevelopmentintheregion. There is also theneed for accurate andup todateeconomic, social andenvironmentaldata,andinformationontoolsfornationalandurbanplanning,suchasGIS.Fullandeffectiveimplementationof the Pacific Islands Regional Information and CommunicationTechnologies Policy (2002) is urgentlyrequired.Mechanismsforaccesstomicro-financingforsustainabledevelopmentinremoteareasandtheuseofotherinnovativesmallgrantsprogrammestofinancecommunity-basedsustainabledevelopmentinitiativesneedtobedeveloped.Theregionisveryconcernedabouttheincreasingincidenceofemerginghealth issues such as HIV/AIDS, drug resistant malarial strains, dengue, nutritional disorders and non-communicablediseasesandtheirimpactonsustainabledevelopment.

Inadditiontothepriorityactionareasdescribedabovethefollowingalsowarrantseriousconsideration:

• ImplementationofthePacific Regional Ocean Policyatthenationalandregionallevels.

• Project-levelsupportforintegratedwastemanagementinallPICTs.

• Implementationofeffectivewaysandmeanstodevelopcommunity-basedinitiativesfor incomegenerationandpovertyalleviation.

• AssistancefortheimplementationofthePacificIslandsRegionalEnergyPolicy(2001)toensureavailable,reliable,affordable,andenvironmentallysoundenergyforsustainabledevelopmentforallintheregion.

• Promotionofwaterandfoodsecurity.

• BuildingMEAcapacityforsustainabledevelopmentinPICTs.

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CONCLUDINg REMARKS

6. CONCLUDING REMARKS

Naturalcapital iskeytosocialandeconomicdevelopmentinthePacific;however, itswiseuseandmanagementcannotbedecidedwithoutunderstandingandappreciationoftheaspirations,values

andinherentcapacities(socialcapital)ofcommunities–andinstitutingameansforthesetobeaddressedindecision-making.Themainstreamingofenvironmentanddevelopment,andintegratedplanningsystemsto coordinate decision making within a community development framework is consistent with theemergenceofrelatedkeyobjectivesintheJPOI.Certaintyandconfidenceininvestmentforenvironmentalmanagementisasimportantasthatforeconomicdevelopment.Thelackoflinkagebetweenlevelsofgovernance inPICTsmaybeareflectionof fundamental shortcomings in localenablingenvironments,ortheconcentrationoverthelastdecadeonthematicenvironmentalissues,withoutthecorrespondingdevelopmentofinstitutionalprocessesforimplementation.

Inordertoensurethatprogressoutstripsdegradation,PICTsneedtofocusonthreekeyendeavours:

• Settingpriorities(targetsandmeanstomonitor);

• Developingpartnerships;and

• Allocatingadequateresourcesforsustainabledevelopment,thoughtheeffectiveandefficientuseofendogenouscapacitiesandmeans,whileattractingadditionaltechnicalandfinancialsupport.

There have been considerable gains for the Pacific in the international arena over the last decade.Significantinternationalcommitmentnowexistsalthoughtheremaybereasontoarguethatthishasnotconvertedtosustainedassistance.Regionalplansandagreementsareinplaceforanumberofsectors,coveringawiderangeofissuesrelevanttothesustainabledevelopmentoftheregion.ManyPICTshavealsoinstigatedaraftofenvironmentalstrategiesandplans.Thetranslationofthesestrategiesandplansintobenefitsatthenationalandlocallevelshasnotbeenquick.Therearedeficienciesinlocalenablingenvironments for this tooccur. The“enablingenvironments” (smallness, remoteness, fragility, resilience,institutionalpreparedness), thedriving forcesand thedirect implicationsdegradationhasonpeople–meansthatthePacificneedsuniqueinputs(e.g.data,research,know-howandresources)andsolutionsbasedon cross-cutting institutional development. These deficiencies could be addressed through theinceptionofcommunitydevelopmentframeworksandintegratedplanningsystems.However,bothofthesemeasureswillrequiresignificantinvestmentandtrailingoverthecomingdecade.Improvingcoordinationandcollaboration throughpartnerships is seenasaprimeprospect forprogress. The involvementofcivilsocietyisahealthyextensiontotheconceptsofpartnering,andwithcommunitydevelopmentandintegratedplanningshouldrevealsomepositiveattributesforgovernance:

• Empowermentofpeopleandcommunities;

• Strengthenedabilitytomobiliselocalandtraditionalknowledge;

• Improvedabilityandproceduresforcommunityplanning(owningproblemsandsolutions);

• Development of effective process and product links between local and national levels ofgovernment;

• Positiveinfluencesonresourcesflows–thatprovidetheincentivesforsustainabledevelopment;and

• Valuingofenvironmentassetsandcapturingoffinancialleakage.

Sustainabledevelopmentisanargumentforrestraintandcompromiseinordertopreservetheenvironmentandenhancesocio-economicdevelopment.Itsetsnature’sneedsinbalancewiththoseofhumanbeingsandadvocatestechnologyfordevelopingcountries.PICTsmustcomeupwiththeirowndevelopmentstrategyandtheemphasismustbeonpeopleandtheirculture.Therealissueforpolicymakersishowtostimulatecreativityandmaximisetheresourcefulenergiesofislandpeoples.


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Duncan,R.,1994:OnachievingsoundandstableeconomicpoliciesinthePacificIslands,PacificEconomicBulletin.Vol.9,No.1.pp.21–25.

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77

APPENDIx I: PACIFIC COUNTRy STATUS wITh MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AgREEMENTS gLOBAL

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78

APPENDIX – II

COUNTRyANDTERRITORyPROFILES18

Theprofilesbelowfocuspredominentlyonthecolonial,post-colonialandrecenthistoryofthecountriesandterritories.Itisimportanttonotethatalltheseislandsalsohadveryimportantpre-colonialhistorieswhichalsoinfluencedtheirpresentsustainabledevelopmentachievements,challengesandpropectsforthefuture.WeencouragethereadertofurtherexploretherichhistoryandprehistoryofthePacificregion.

SAMOA

History

TheSamoanislandswerepopulatedas longagoas1,000BCwhenthefirstarchaelogicalevidenceofsettlementhasbeendated.Samoawascolonisedduringthelate1800sunderaGermanprotectorate.AttheoutbreakofWorldWarIin1914,NZtookoveradminstrationoftheislands,whichcontinuedtoadministertheislandsasamandateandthenasatrustterritoryuntil1962,whentheislandsbecamethefirstPolynesiannationtoreestablishindependenceinthetwentiethcentury.Thecountrydroppedthe“Western”fromitsnamein1997.

Geography

Samoa is in theOceaniagroupof islands in theSouthPacificOcean,aboutone-halfof theway fromHawaiitoNewZealand.ThetotalareaforSamoais2,994km2withlandcovering2,934km2andwatercoveringonly10km2.SamoaoccupiesanalmostcentralpositionwithinPolynesia.

Theclimateofthecountryismostlytropical,witharainyseason(NovembertoApril)andadryseason(MaytoOctober).SomeofthenaturalhazardsoccurringinSamoaareoccasionaltyphoonsandactivevolcanism.

The natural resources of the country include hardwood forests, fish and hydropower. The currentenvironmentalissuesincludesoilerosion,deforestation,invasivespeciesandoverfishing.

Population

ThetotalpopulationofSamoais177,287(July2005est.).

Economy

TheeconomyofSamoahastraditionallybeendependentondevelopmentaid,familyremittancesfromoverseas,agriculture,andfishing.Thecountryisvulnerabletodevastatingstorms.Agricultureemploystwo-thirdsof the labor force,and furnishes90%ofexports, featuringcoconutcream,coconutoil,andcopra.Themanufacturingsectormainlyprocessesagriculturalproducts.Thedeclineoffishstocksintheareaisacontinuingproblem.Tourismisanexpandingsector,accountingfor25%ofGDP;about88,000touristsvisited the islands in2001. One factory in theForeignTradeZoneemploys3,000people tomakeautomobileelectricalharnesses foranassemblyplant inAustralia. TheSamoangovernmenthascalledforderegulationofthefinancialsector,encouragementofinvestment,andcontinuedfiscaldiscipline,meantimeprotectingtheenvironment.Observerspointtotheflexibilityofthelabormarketasabasicstrengthforfutureeconomicadvances.Foreignreservesareinarelativelyhealthystate,theexternaldebtisstable,andinflationislow.

TheGDPpercapitais$5,600(2002est.).

18 AdaptedfromtheCIAFactBook,accessedfromhttp://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

79

APPENDIx II: COUNTRy AND TERRITORy PROFILES

SOLOMON ISLANDS

History

TheUKestablishedaprotectorateovertheSolomonIslandsinthe1890s.SomeofthebitterestfightingofWorldWarIIoccurredontheseislands.Self-governmentwasachievedin1976andindependencetwoyearslater.TheSolomonIslandsrecentlyexperiencedethnictension(2000)whichcausedserioussocialandeconomicproblems,howeverthesituationhassubsidedandthecountryisslowlyrecoveringwiththeassistanceoftheRAMSI.

Geography

Solomon Island is agroupof islands in theSouthPacificOcean,eastofPNG. The total area for theSolomonIslandsis28,450km2withlandcoveringof27,540km2andwatercoverof910km2.SolomonIsland’slocationisstrategicallylocatedonsearoutesbetweentheSouthPacificOcean,theSolomonSea,andtheCoralSea.

Theclimaticpatternincludestropicalmonsoonandfewextremesoftemperatureandweather.SomeofthenaturalhazardsoccurringontheIslandaretyphoons,whicharerarelydestructive.Itislocatedinageologicallyactiveregionwithfrequentearthtremorsandvolcanicactivity.

Thenatural resources includefish, forests, gold,bauxite,phosphates, lead, zincandnickel. Thecurrentenvironmentalissuesaredeforestation,soilerosionandmanyofthesurroundingcoralreefsnearpopulatedareasandloggingoperationsarebeingsubjectedtoalotofstress.

Population

ThetotalpopulationoftheSolomonIslandsis538,032(July2005est.).

Economy

Thebulkofthepopulationdependsonagriculture,fishing,andforestryforatleastpartoftheirlivelihood.Mostmanufacturedgoodsandpetroleumproductsmustbeimported.Theislandsarerichinundevelopedmineralresources.PriortothearrivalofRAMSI,severeethnicviolenceresultedinclosingofkeybusinesses,andanemptygovernmenttreasuryculminatedinaneconomiccollapse.RAMSIhasenabledareturntolawandorder,anewperiodofeconomicstability,andmodestgrowthastheeconomyrebuilds.


VANUATU

History

VariousgroupsofindigenouspeoplewithdistinctlanguagesmovedintotheseislandsinthemillenniabeforetheBritishandFrenchsettledVanuatu(formelyNewHebrides)inthe19thcentury.TheBritishandFrenchagreedin1906toanAnglo-FrenchCondominium,whichadministeredtheislandsuntilindependencein1980.

Geography

VanuatuconsistofagroupofislandsintheSouthPacificOcean,aboutthree-quartersofthewayfromHawaiitoAustralia.ThetotalareaofVanuatuis12,200km2whichcoversjustthelandspace.VanuatuisaY-shapedchainoffourmainislandsand80smallerislands;severaloftheislandshaveactivevolcanoes,andabout65oftheislandsareinhabited.

The climate type ofVanuatu is tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October;moderaterainfall fromNovember toAprilandmaybeaffectedbycyclones fromDecember toApril.


80

Someof thenaturalhazardsoccurringare tropical cyclonesor typhoons (January toApril); volcanismcausesminorearthquakesandtsunamis.

The natural resources of the country include manganese, hardwood forests and fish. The currentenvironmentalissuesofconcernaredeforestationandamajorityofthepopulationnothavingaccesstoareliablesupplyofpotablewater.

Population

ThetotalpopulationofVanuatuis205,754(July2005est.).

Economy

ThisSouthPacific Islandeconomy isbasedprimarilyonsmall-scaleagriculture,whichprovidesa livingfor65%ofthepopulation.Fishing,offshorefinancialservices,andtourism,withabout50,000visitorsin2004,areothermainstaysoftheeconomy.Mineraldepositsarenegligible; thecountryhasnoknownpetroleumdeposits.Asmalllightindustrysectorcaterstothelocalmarket.Taxrevenuescomemainlyfrom importduties. Economicdevelopment ishinderedbydependenceonrelatively fewcommodityexports,vulnerabilitytonaturaldisasters,andlongdistancesfrommainmarketsandbetweenconstituentislands.GDPgrowthroselessthan3%onaverageinthe1990s.Inresponsetoforeignconcerns,thegovernmenthaspromisedtotightenregulationofitsoffshorefinancialcenter.Inmid-2002thegovernmentsteppedupeffortstoboosttourism.Agriculture,especiallylivestockfarming,isasecondtargetforgrowth.AustraliaandNewZealandarethemainsuppliersoftouristsandforeignaid.

TheGDPpercapitaofthecountryis$2,900(2003est.).

FIJI

History

Fijibecameindependentin1970,afternearlyacenturyasaBritishcolony.Democraticrulewasinterruptedbytwomilitarycoups in1987,causedbyconcernoveragovernmentperceivedasdominatedbytheIndiancommunity(descendantsofcontractlaborersbroughttotheislandsbytheBritishinthenineteenthcentury).A1990constitutionfavorednativeMelanesiancontrolofFiji,butledtoheavyIndianemigration;thepopulationlossresultedineconomicdifficulties,butensuredthatMelanesiansbecamethemajority.Amendmentsenactedin1997madetheconstitutionmoreequitable.Freeandpeacefulelectionsin1999resultedinagovernmentledbyanIndo-Fijian,butacoupinMay2000usheredinaprolongedperiodofpoliticalturmoil.ParliamentaryelectionsheldinAugust2001providedFijiwithademocraticallyelectedgovernment.Anothercoupwasstagedbythemiliaryattheendof2006,whichsawtheremovalofarecentlyelectedgovernment and its replacementwith an interimgovernmentheadedby themilitarycommander.

Geography

Fiji isagroupof islands intheSouthPacificOcean,abouttwo-thirdsofthewayfromHawaiitoNewZealand.ThetotalareaofFijiis18,270km2whichjustcoversthelandspace.Fijiincludes332islandsofwhichapproximately110areinhabited.

Theclimateismostlytropicalmarineandthereisonlyslightseasonaltemperaturevariation.ThecycloneseasonisfromNovembertoJanuary.

TheNaturalresourcesofthecountryaretimber,fish,gold,copper,offshoreoilpotentialandhydropower.Someoftheenvironmentalissuesofconcernaredeforestationonsoilerosion.

8�


Population

ThetotalpopulationofFijiis893,354(July2005est.).

Economy

Fiji,endowedwithforest,mineral,andfishresources,isoneofthemostdevelopedofthePacificIslandeconomies,thoughstillwithalargesubsistencesector.Sugarexportsandagrowingtouristindustry–with300,000to400,000touristsannually–arethemajorsourcesofforeignexchange.Sugarprocessingmakesupone-thirdofindustrialactivity,butisinefficient.Long-termproblemsincludelowinvestment,uncertainlandownershiprights,andthegovernment’sabilitytomanageitsbudget.Yetshort-runeconomicprospectsaregood,providedtensionsdonotagaineruptbetween indigenousFijiansand Indo-Fijians. OverseasremittancesfromFijiansworkinginKuwaitandIraqhaveincreasedsignificantlyintherecentpast.

TheGDPpercapitaofFijiis$5,900(2004est.).

NEW CALEDONIA

History

NewCaledoniahasanindgenouspopulationthatcolonisedtheislandspriortoitssettlementbybothBritainandFranceduringthefirsthalfofthenineteenthcentury,theislandwasmadeaFrenchpossessionin1853.Itservedasapenalcolonyforfourdecadesafter1864.Agitationforindependenceduringthe1980sandearly1990shasdissipated.

Geography

NewCaledoniaiseastofAustralia.ItconsistsofthemainislandofNewCaledonia(oneofthelargestinthePacificOcean),thearchipelagoofIlesLoyaute,andnumeroussmall,sparselypopulatedislandsandatolls.Thetotalareais19,060km2withlandcoverof18,575km2andwatercoverageof485km2.

Theclimaticpattern includes tropicalmodifiedby southeast tradewinds,hotandhumid. ThenaturalhazardsoccurringinNewCaledoniaarecyclones,mostfrequentfromNovembertoMarch.

Thenaturalresourcesoftheislandincludesnickel,chrome,iron,cobalt,manganese,silver,gold,leadandcopper.Currentenvironmentalissuesincludeerosioncausedbyminingexploitationandforestfires.

Population

ThetotalpopulationofNewCaledoniais216,494(July2005est.).

Economy

NewCaledoniahasabout25%oftheworld’sknownnickelresources.Onlyasmallamountofthelandissuitableforcultivation,andfoodaccountsforabout20%ofimports.Inadditiontonickel,substantialfinancialsupportfromFrance–equaltomorethanone-fourthofGDP–andtourismarekeystothehealthoftheeconomy.Substantialnewinvestmentinthenickelindustry,combinedwiththerecoveryofglobalnickelprices,brightenstheeconomicoutlookforthenextseveralyears.


GUAM

History

GuamwascededtotheUSbySpainin1898.CapturedbytheJapanesein1941,itwasretakenbytheUSthreeyearslater.ThemilitaryinstallationontheislandisoneofthemoststrategicallyimportantUSbasesinthePacific.


8�

Geography

GuamisanoceanicislandintheNorthPacificOcean,aboutthree-quartersofthewayfromHawaiitothePhilippines.ItisthelargestandsouthernmostislandintheMarianaislandsarchipelagoastrategiclocationinthewesternNorthPacificOcean.ThetotalareaofGuamis549km2.

Theclimateistropicalmarine;generallywarmandhumid,moderatedbynortheasttradewinds,withadryseasonfromJanuarytoJuneandarainyseasonfromJulytoDecemberwithlittleseasonaltemperaturevariation. Thenatural hazards include frequent squalls during the rainy season and relatively rarebutpotentiallyverydestructivetyphoons(June–December).

Thenaturalresourcesofthecountryarefishing(largelyundeveloped)andtourism(especiallyfromJapan).Thecurrentenvironmentalissuesincludeextirpationofnativebirdpopulationbytherapidproliferationofthebrowntreesnake,anexoticinvasivespecies.

Population

Thetotalpopulationofthecountryis168,564(July2005est.).

Economy

TheeconomydependsonUSmilitaryspending,tourism,andtheexportoffishandhandicrafts.TotalUSgrants,wagepayments,andprocurementoutlaysamountedto$1billionin1998.Overthepast20years,thetouristindustryhasgrownrapidly,creatingaconstructionboomfornewhotelsandtheexpansionofolderones.MorethanonemilliontouristsvisitGuameachyear.TheindustryhadrecentlysufferedsetbacksbecauseofthecontinuingJapaneseslowdown;theJapanesenormallymakeupalmost90%ofthetourists.Mostfoodandindustrialgoodsareimported.Guamfacestheproblemofbuildingupthecivilianeconomicsectortooffsettheimpactofmilitarydownsizing.


TONGA

History

Thearchipelagoof“TheFriendly Islands”wasunited intoaPolynesiankingdom in1845. Itbecameaconstitutionalmonarchyin1875andaBritishprotectoratein1900.Tongaacquireditsindependencein1970andbecameamemberoftheCommonwealthofNations. Itremainstheonlymonarchy inthePacific.

Geography

Tongaisabouttwo-thirdsofthewayfromHawaiitoNewZealandandisanarchipelagoof169islands(36inhabited).Thetotalareais748km2withlandcoveringof718km2andwatercoverageof30km2.

TheclimateofTongaismainlytropical;modifiedbytradewinds;warmseason(DecembertoMay)andcoolseason(MaytoDecember).Thenaturalhazardsoccurringarecyclones(OctobertoApril),earthquakesandvolcanicactivityonFonuafo’ou.

The natural resources of the country include fish and fertile soil. Current environmental issues aredeforestationwhichresultsasmoreandmorelandisbeingclearedforagricultureandsettlement,somedamagetocoralreefsfromstarfishandindiscriminatecoralandshellcollectorsandoverhuntingthreatensnativeseaturtlepopulations.

8�


Population

ThetotalpopulationofTongais112,422(July2005est.).

Economy

Tonga, a small, open, SouthPacific Islandeconomy,with a narrowexportbase two-thirdsofwhich iscomprisedofagriculturalgoods.Squash,coconuts,bananas,andvanillabeansarethemaincrops.Thecountrymustimportahighproportionofitsfood,mainlyfromNewZealand.Tourismisthesecondlargestsourceofhard currencyearnings following remittances. The country remainsdependentonexternalaid and remittances fromTongan communitiesoverseas tooffset its tradedeficit. The government isemphasizingthedevelopmentoftheprivatesector,especiallytheencouragementofinvestment,andiscommittingincreasedfundsforhealthandeducation.Tongahasreasonablysoundbasicinfrastructureandwell-developedsocialservices.Highunemploymentamongtheyoung,acontinuingupturnininflation,andrisingcivilserviceexpendituresaremajorissuesfacingthegovernment.


PALAU

History

After three decades as part of the UNTrustTerritory of the Pacific under US administration, thiswesternmostclusteroftheCarolineIslandsoptedforindependencein1978ratherthanjointheFSM.ACompactofFreeAssociationwiththeUSwasapprovedin1986,butnotratifieduntil1993.Itenteredintoforcethefollowingyear,whentheislandsgainedindependence.

Geography

PalauisintheNorthPacificOcean,southeastofthePhilippines.ItisthewesternmostarchipelagointheCarolinechain,consistsofsixislandgroupstotalingmorethan300islands.ItincludestheWorldWarIIbattlegroundofBeliliou(Peleliu)andworld-famousrockislands.Thetotal landareaincludinglandandwateris458km2.

The climatepatternof the country ismostly tropical,with a hot andhumid andwet seasonMay toNovember.ThenaturalhazardsoccurringaremostlytyphoonsfromJunetoDecember.

The natural resources of the country include forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products anddeep-seabedminerals.Someofthecurrentenvironmentalissuesincludeinadequatefacilitiesfordisposalofsolidwaste;threatstothemarineecosystemfromsandandcoraldredging,illegalfishingpracticesandoverfishing.

Population

ThetotalpopulationofPalauis20,303(July2005est.).

Economy

Theeconomyconsistsprimarilyoftourism,subsistenceagriculture,andfishing.Thegovernment isthemajoremployeroftheworkforce,relyingheavilyonfinancialassistancefromtheUS.Businessandtouristarrivalsnumbered63,000in2003.ThepopulationenjoysapercapitaincometwicethatofthePhilippinesandmuchofMicronesia.Long-runprospectsforthekeytouristsectorhavebeengreatlybolsteredbytheexpansionofairtravelinthePacific,therisingprosperityofleadingEastAsiancountries,andthewillingnessofforeignerstofinanceinfrastructuredevelopment.



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PAPUA NEW GUINEA

History

Theeasternhalfof the islandofNewGuinea– thesecond largest island in theworld–wasdividedbetweenGermany (north) and theUK (south) in 1885. The latter areawas transferred toAustraliain 1902, which occupied the northern portion duringWorldWar I and continued to administer thecombinedareasuntilindependencein1975.Anine-yearsecessionistrevoltontheislandofBougainvilleendedin1997afterclaimingsome20,000lives.

Geography

PNG consists of a group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea betweentheCoralSeaandtheSouthPacificOcean,eastofIndonesia.ItsharestheislandofNewGuineawithIndonesia(WestPapua).Thetotalareaincludinglandandwaterspaceis462,840km2.

TheclimateofPNGismostlytropical,withnorthwestmonsoon(DecembertoMarch),southeastmonsoon(MaytoOctober)andslightseasonaltemperaturevariation.Thenaturalhazardsoccurringincludeactivevolcanism,frequentandsometimessevereearthquakes,mudslidesandtsunamis.

The natural resources of the country include gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil and fisheries.Currentenvironmentalissuesinthecountryaredeforestationasaresultofgrowingcommercialdemandfortropicaltimber,pollutionfromminingprojectsandseveredrought.

Population

ThetotalpopulationofPNGis5,545,268(July2005est.).

Economy

PNG is richly endowed with natural resources, but rugged terrain and the high cost of developinginfrastructurehavehamperedexploitation.Agricultureprovidesasubsistencelivelihoodfor85%ofthepopulation. Mineraldeposits, includingoil,copper,andgold,account for72%ofexportearnings. Theeconomyhasimprovedoverthepasttwoyears,followingaprolongedperiodofinstability.FormerPrimeMinisterMekereMoratuahadtriedtorestoreintegritytostateinstitutions,tostabilisethekina,restorestabilitytothenationalbudget,toprivatisepublicenterpriseswhereappropriate,andtoensureongoingpeaceonBougainville. Australia annually supplies$240million in aid,which accounts for 20%of thenationalbudget.

TheGDPpercapitaofPNGis$2,200(2004est.).

FRENCH POLYNESIA

History

TheFrenchannexedvariousPolynesianislandgroupsduringthenineteenthcentury.InSeptember1995,FrancestirredupwidespreadprotestsbyresumingnucleartestingontheMururoaatollafterathree-yearmoratorium.ThetestsweresuspendedinJanuary1996.

Geography

FrenchPolynesia is locatedintheOceaniaarchipelagoes intheSouthPacificOcean,aboutone-halfofthewayfromSouthAmericatoAustralia.Itincludesincludesfivearchipelagoes(fourvolcanic,onecoral);MakateainFrenchPolynesiaisoneofthethreegreatphosphaterockislandsinthePacificOcean–theothersareBanaba(OceanIsland)inKiribatiandNauru.Thetotalareais4,167km2(118islandsandatolls)includinglandandwatercoverage.

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TheclimatepatternofFrenchPolynesiaismostlytropical,butmoderate.ThenaturalhazardsoccurringaremostlyoccasionalcyclonicstormsaroundthemonthofJanuary.

Thenaturalresourcesofthecountryincludetimber,fish,cobaltandhydropower.

Population

ThetotalpopulationofFrenchPolynesiais270,485(July2005est.).

Economy

Since1962,whenFrancestationedmilitarypersonnelintheregion,FrenchPolynesiahaschangedfromasubsistenceagriculturaleconomytooneinwhichahighproportionoftheworkforceiseitheremployedbythemilitaryorsupportsthetouristindustry.WiththehaltofFrenchnucleartestingin1996,themilitarycontributiontotheeconomyfellsharply.Tourismaccountsforaboutone-fourthofGDPandisaprimarysourceofhardcurrencyearnings.Othersourcesofincomearepearlfarminganddeep-seacommercialfishing.Thesmallmanufacturingsectorprimarilyprocessesagriculturalproducts.TheterritorybenefitssubstantiallyfromdevelopmentagreementswithFranceaimedprincipallyatcreatingnewbusinessesandstrengtheningsocialservices.


NIUE

History

Niue’sremoteness,aswellasculturalandlinguisticdifferenceswithitsnearestPolynesianneighbourssuchasSamoa,TongaandtheCookIslandsledtoitbeinggovernedseparatelyandinfreeassociationwithNewZealand.Thepopulationoftheislandcontinuestodrop(fromapeakof5,200in1966toabout2,150in2005),withsubstantialemigrationtoNewZealand,2,400kmtothesouthwest.

Geography

NiueisasingleOceaniaislandintheSouthPacificOcean,eastofTongaandisoneofworld’slargestcoralislands.Thetotalareais260km2.

Theclimatepattern ismostly tropical,modifiedbysoutheast tradewinds. Thenaturalhazardsontheislandincludetyphoons.

Thenaturalresourcesofthecountryarefishandarableland.Thecurrentenvironmentalissuesincludeincreasingattentiontoconservationistpracticestocounterlossofsoilfertilityfromtraditionalslashandburnagriculture.

Population


Economy

TheeconomysuffersfromthetypicalPacificIslandproblemsofgeographicisolation,fewresources,andasmallpopulation.Governmentexpendituresregularlyexceedrevenues,andtheshortfall ismadeupby critically needed grants fromNewZealand that is used to paywages to public employees. Niuehascutgovernmentexpendituresbyreducingthepublicservicebyalmosthalf.Theagriculturalsectorconsistsmainlyofsubsistencegardening,althoughsomecashcropsaregrownforexport.Industryconsistsprimarilyofsmallfactoriestoprocesspassionfruit,limeoil,honey,andcoconutcream.Thesaleofpostagestampstoforeigncollectorsisanimportantsourceofrevenue.TheislandinrecentyearshassufferedaseriouslossofpopulationbecauseofmigrationofNiueanstoNewZealand.EffortstoincreaseGDP


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include the promotion of tourism and a financial services industry, although former Premier LakataniannouncedinFebruary2002thatNiuewouldshutdowntheoffshorebankingindustry.EconomicaidfromNewZealand in2002wasabout$2.6million. Niue sufferedadevastatinghurricane in January2004,whichdecimatednascenteconomicprogrammes.Whileintheprocessofrebuilding,Niuehasbeendependentonforeignaid.


AMERICAN SAMOA

History

Settledasearlyas1000B.C.,Samoawas“discovered”byEuropeanexplorersintheeighteenthcentury.An 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago settled internationalrivalriesinthelatterhalfofthenineteenthcentury.TheUSformallyoccupieditsportion–asmallergroupofeasternislandswiththeexcellentharborofPagoPago–thefollowingyear.

Geography

AmericanSamoaisabouthalfwaybetweenHawaiiandNewZealand.PagoPagohasoneofthebestnaturaldeepwaterharborsintheSouthPacificOcean,shelteredbyshapefromroughseasandprotectedbyperipheralmountainsfromhighwinds;itisastrategiclocationintheSouthPacificOcean.Thetotalareis199km2.

Theclimaticpatternofthecountryismostlytropicalmarine,moderatedbysoutheasttradewinds,annualrainfallaveragesabout3m,witharainyseasonfromNovembertoApril,dryseasonfromMaytoOctoberand little seasonal temperature variation. The natural hazards occurring are typhoons common fromDecembertoMarch.

Thenatural resourcesof thecountry includepumiceandpumicite. Thecurrentenvironmental issuesincludelimitednaturalfreshwaterresources;thewaterdivisionofthegovernmenthasspentsubstantialfundsinthepastfewyearstoimprovewatercatchmentsandpipelines.

Population

Thepopulationofthecountryis57,881(July2005est.).

Economy

This is a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned.EconomicactivityisstronglylinkedtotheUS,withwhichAmericanSamoaconductsmostofitsforeigntrade.Tunafishingandtunaprocessingplantsarethebackboneoftheprivatesector,withcannedtunatheprimaryexport.TransfersfromtheUSGovernmentaddsubstantiallytoAmericanSamoa’seconomicwell-being. Attemptsbythegovernmenttodevelopa largerandbroadereconomyarerestrainedbySamoa’sremotelocation,itslimitedtransportation,anditsdevastatinghurricanes.Tourismisapromisingdevelopingsector.


WALLIS AND FUTUNA

History

AlthoughdiscoveredbytheDutchandtheBritishintheseventeenthandeighteenthcenturies,itwastheFrenchwhodeclaredaprotectorateovertheislandsin1842.In1959,theinhabitantsoftheislandsvotedtobecomeaFrenchoverseasterritory.

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Geography

WallisandFutunaisabouttwo-thirdsofthewayfromHawaiitoNewZealandandbothislandgroupshavefringingreefs.Thetotalareais274km2

Theclimaticpatternismostlytropical,withahot,rainyseason(NovembertoApril),andacool,dryseason(MaytoOctober). Itrains2,500–3,000mmperyear(80%humidity)andtheaveragetemperature is26.6oC.

Someofthecurrentenvironmental issuesaredeforestation(onlysmallportionsoftheoriginalforestsremain)largelyasaresultofthecontinueduseofwoodasthemainfuelsource;asaconsequenceofcuttingdowntheforests,themountainousterrainofFutunaisparticularlypronetoerosion;therearenopermanentsettlementsonAlofibecauseofthelackofnaturalfreshwaterresources.

Population

ThetotalpopulationofWallisandFutunais16,025(July2005est.).

Economy

Theeconomyislimitedtotraditionalsubsistenceagriculture,withabout80%oflaborforceearningsfromagriculture(coconutsandvegetables),livestock(mostlypigs),andfishing.About4%ofthepopulationisemployedingovernment.RevenuescomefromFrenchgovernmentsubsidies,licensingoffishingrightstoJapanandSouthKorea,importtaxes,andremittancesfromexpatriateworkersinNewCaledonia.


MARSHALL ISLANDS

History

AfteralmostfourdecadesunderUSadministrationastheeasternmostpartoftheUNTrustTerritoryofthePacificIslands,theMarshallIslandsattainedindependencein1986underaCompactofFreeAssociation.CompensationclaimscontinueasaresultofUSnucleartestingonsomeoftheatollsbetween1947and1962.TheMarshallIslandshoststheUSArmyKwajaleinAtollReaganMissileTestSite,akeyinstallationintheUSmissiledefensenetwork.

Geography

Marshall Islands is a groupof atolls and reefs in theNorthPacificOcean, aboutone-half of thewayfromHawaiitoAustraliaandisintwoarchipelagicislandchainsof30atollsand1,152islands;BikiniandEnewetakareformerUSnucleartestsites;Kwajalein,thefamousWorldWarIIbattleground,isnowusedasaUSmissiletestrange.ThetotalareaofMarshallIslandsis181.3km2.

Theclimaticpatternismostlytropical,hotandhumid,withawetseasonfromMaytoNovember.Theislandsborderthetyphoonbelt.Someofthenaturalhazardsoccurringareinfrequenttyphoons.

Thenaturalresourcesofthecountryarecoconutproducts,marineproductsanddeepseabedminerals.Someofthecurrentenvironmentalissuesareinadequatesuppliesofpotablewater,pollutionofMajurolagoonfromhouseholdwasteanddischargesfromfishingvessels.

Population

Thetotalpopulationoftheislandis59,071(July2005est.).


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Economy

USgovernmentassistanceisthemainstayofthistinyislandeconomy.Agriculturalproduction,primarilysubsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts andbreadfruit.Small-scaleindustryislimitedtohandicrafts,tunaprocessing,andcopra.Thetouristindustry,nowasmallsourceof foreignexchangeemploying lessthan10%ofthe labor force,remainsthebesthopeforfutureaddedincome.Theislandshavefewnaturalresources,andimportsfarexceedexports.UnderthetermsoftheAmendedCompactofFreeAssociation,theUSwillprovidemillionsofdollarsperyeartotheMarshallIslandsthrough2023,atwhichtimeaTrustFundmadeupofUSandMarshallIsland contributions will begin perpetual annual payouts. Government downsizing, drought, a drop inconstruction,thedeclineintourismandforeigninvestmentduetotheAsianfinancialdifficulties,andlessincomefromtherenewaloffishingvessellicenseshaveheldGDPgrowthtoanaverageof1%overthepastdecade.


NORTHERN MARIANAS

History

UnderUSadministrationaspartoftheUNTrustTerritoryofthePacific, thepeopleoftheNorthernMarianaIslandsdecidedinthe1970snottoseekindependencebutinsteadtoforgecloserlinkswiththeUS.Negotiationsforterritorialstatusbeganin1972.AcovenanttoestablishacommonwealthinpoliticalunionwiththeUSwasapprovedin1975.Anewgovernmentandconstitutionwentintoeffectin1978.

Geography

NorthernMarianasisaboutthree-quartersofthewayfromHawaiitothePhilippinesandhasastrategiclocationintheNorthPacificOcean.Thetotalareacoverageis477km2.

Theclimateof the country ismostly tropicalmarine,moderatedbynortheast tradewinds,with littleseasonaltemperaturevariationandadryseasonDecembertoJune,andarainyseasonJulytoOctober.ThenaturalhazardsincludeactivevolcanoesonPaganandAgrihan,andtyphoons(especiallyAugusttoNovember).

Thenaturalresourcesofthecountryincludearablelandandfish.SomeofthecurrentenvironmentalissuesincludecontaminationofgroundwateronSaipanmaycontributetodisease,landfillcleanupandconflictsbetweenprotectionofendangeredspeciesanddevelopment.

Population


Economy

TheeconomybenefitssubstantiallyfromfinancialassistancefromtheUS.Therateoffundinghasdeclinedas locally generated government revenues have grown. The key tourist industry employs about 50%oftheworkforceandaccountsforroughlyone-fourthofGDP.Japanesetouristspredominate.Annualtouristentrieshaveexceededone-halfmillioninrecentyears,butfinancialdifficultiesinJapanhavecausedatemporaryslowdown.Theagriculturalsectorismadeupofcattleranchesandsmallfarmsproducingcoconuts,breadfruit,tomatoes,andmelons.Garmentproductionisbyfarthemostimportantindustrywithemploymentof17,500mostlyChineseworkersandsizableshipmentstotheUSunderdutyandquotaexemptions.

TheGDPpercapitaoftheNorthernMarianasis$12,500(2000est.).

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FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA (FSM)

History

In 1979 the FSM, a UNTrustTerritory under US administration, adopted a constitution. In 1986independencewasattainedunderaCompactofFreeAssociationwiththeUS,whichwasamendedandrenewedin2004.Presentconcernsincludelarge-scaleunemployment,overfishing,andoverdependenceonUSaid.

Geography

FSMisinthenorthPacificOcean,aboutthree-quartersofthewayfromHawaiitoIndonesiaandhasfourmajorislandgroupstotaling607islands.Thetotalareacovers702km2.

The climatepatterns are tropical,withheavy year-round rainfall, especially in theeastern islands. It islocatedonthesouthernedgeofthetyphoonbelt,andreceivesoccasionalseveredamagefromJunetoDecember.

Thenaturalresourcesofthecountryareforests,marineproducts,deep-seabedmineralsandphosphate.Thecurrentenvironmentalissuesincludeoverfishing,climatechangeandpollution.

Population


Economy

Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineraldepositsworthexploiting,exceptforhigh-gradephosphate.Thepotential foratourist industryexists,buttheremotelocation,alackofadequatefacilities,andlimitedairconnectionshinderdevelopment.TheAmendedCompactofFreeAssociationwiththeUSguaranteedtheFSMmillionsofdollarsinannualaidthrough2023,andestablishedaTrustFundintowhichtheUSandtheFSMmakeannualcontributionsinorder toprovideannualpayouts to theFSM inperpetuityafter2023. Thecountry’smedium-termeconomicoutlookappearsfragileduenotonlytothereduction inUSassistancebutalsototheslowgrowthoftheprivatesector.Geographicalisolationandapoorlydevelopedinfrastructureremainmajorimpedimentstolong-termgrowth.


KIRIBATI

History

TheGilbertIslandsweregrantedself-rulebytheUKin1971andcompleteindependencein1979underthenewnameofKiribati.TheUSrelinquishedallclaimstothesparselyinhabitedPhoenixandLineIslandgroupsina1979treatyoffriendshipwithKiribati.

Geography

Kiribaticonsistsof33coralatollsstraddlingtheequator;thecapitalTarawaisaboutone-halfofthewayfromHawaiitoAustralia.Note:on1January1995,KiribatiproclaimedthatallofitsterritoryliesinthesametimezoneasitsGilbertIslandsgroup(GMT+12)eventhoughthePhoenixIslandsandtheLineIslandsunderitsjurisdictionlieontheothersideoftheInternationalDateLine.Twenty-oneofthe33islandsareinhabited;Banaba(OceanIsland)inKiribatiisoneofthethreegreatphosphaterockislandsinthePacificOcean–theothersareMakateainFrenchPolynesia,andNauru.Thetotalareais811km2.


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TheclimateofKiribati is tropical,marineandhotandhumidmoderatedby tradewinds. Thenaturalhazardsofthecountryincludetyphoonswhichcanoccuranytime,butusuallyfromNovembertoMarch,occasionaltornadoesandlowlevelofsomeoftheislandsmakethemverysensitivetochangesinsealevel.

Thenaturalresourcesincludephosphatebutproductiondiscontinuedin1979.ThecurrentenvironmentalissuesareheavypollutioninlagoonofsouthTarawaatollduetoheavymigrationmixedwithtraditionalpracticessuchaslagoonlatrinesandopen-pitdumping;andtheriskofgroundwatercontamination.

Population

ThetotalpopulationofKiribatiis103,092(July2005est.).

Economy

Aremotecountryof33scatteredcoralatolls,Kiribatihasfewnaturalresources.Commerciallyviablephosphate depositswere exhausted at the timeof independence from theUK in 1979. Copra andfishnowrepresentthebulkofproductionandexports.Theeconomyhasfluctuatedwidely inrecentyears.Economicdevelopmentisconstrainedbyashortageofskilledworkers,weakinfrastructure,andremotenessfrominternationalmarkets.Tourismprovidesmorethanone-fifthofGDP.Thefinancialsectorisatanearlystageofdevelopmentasistheexpansionofprivatesectorinitiatives.ForeignfinancialaidfromUK,Japan,Australia,NewZealand,andChinaequals25%–50%ofGDP.Remittancesfromworkersabroadaccountformorethan$5millioneachyear.

TheGDPpercapitaofthecountryis$800(2001est.).

COOK ISLANDS

History

NamedafterCaptainCookwhosightedthemin1770,theislandsbecameaBritishprotectoratein1888.By1900,administrativecontrolwastransferredtoNewZealand;in1965residentschoseself-governmentinfreeassociationwithNewZealand.TheemigrationofskilledworkerstoNewZealandandgovernmentdeficitsarecontinuingproblems.

Geography

TheCookIslandsarelocatedintheSouthPacificOcean,aboutone-halfofthewayfromHawaiitoNewZealand. ThenorthernCook Islandsareseven low-lying,sparselypopulated,coralatolls; thesouthernCookIslandsconsistofeightelevated,fertile,volcanicisleswheremostofthepopulacelives.Thetotalareacoverageis240km2.

The climatic patterns are tropical andmoderatedby tradewinds. The natural hazardsoccurring aretyphoonsfromNovembertoMarch.

Population

ThetotalpopulationoftheCookIslandsis21,388(July2005est.).

Economy

LikemanyotherSouthPacific Islandnations, theCook Islands’economicdevelopment ishinderedbythe isolationofthecountryfromforeignmarkets,the limitedsizeofdomesticmarkets, lackofnaturalresources,periodicdevastationfromnaturaldisasters,andinadequateinfrastructure.Agricultureprovidestheeconomicbasewithmajorexportsbeingcopraandcitrusfruit.Manufacturingactivitiesarelimited

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tofruitprocessing,clothing,andhandicrafts.Tradedeficitsareoffsetbyremittancesfromemigrantsandbyforeignaid,overwhelminglyfromNewZealand.Inthe1980sand1990s,thecountrylivedbeyonditsmeans,maintainingabloatedpublicserviceandaccumulatingalargeforeigndebt.Subsequentreforms,including the sale of state assets, the strengthening of economic management, the encouragement oftourism,andadebtrestructuringagreement,haverekindledinvestmentandgrowth.


NAURU

History

Nauru’s phosphate deposits began to be mined early in the twentieth century by a German-Britishconsortium;theislandwasoccupiedbyAustralianforcesinWorldWarI.Nauruachievedindependencein1968andjoinedtheUNin1999.Nauruistheworld’ssmallestindependentrepublic.

Geography

NauruissouthoftheMarshallIslands.NauruisoneofthethreegreatphosphaterockislandsinthePacificOcean–theothersareBanaba(OceanIsland)inKiribatiandMakateainFrenchPolynesia.Nauruisonly53kmsouthoftheequator,withatotalareaof21km2.

TheclimatepatternistropicalwithamonsoonalpatternandrainyseasonfromNovembertoFebruary.Theonlynaturalhazardisdrought.

Thenaturalresourcesarephosphateandfish.Thecurrentenvironmentalissuesincludelimitednaturalfreshwaterresources;roofstoragetankscollectrainwater,buttheislandisdependentonasingle,agingdesalinationplant.Intensivephosphateminingduringthepast90years–mainlybyaUK,Australia,andNZconsortium–has leftthecentral90%ofNauruawastelandandthreatens limitedremaining landresources.

Population


Economy

Revenuesofthistinyislandhavetraditionallycomefromexportsofphosphates,butreservesarenowdepleted. Few other resources exist with most necessities being imported, mainly fromAustralia, itsformeroccupierandlatermajorsourceofsupport.Therehabilitationofminedlandandthereplacementofincomefromphosphatesareseriouslong-termproblems.InanticipationoftheexhaustionofNauru’sphosphatedeposits,substantialamountsofphosphateincomehavebeeninvestedintrustfundstohelpcushionthetransitionandprovideforNauru’seconomicfuture.Asaresultofheavyspendingfromthetrustfunds,thegovernmentfacesvirtualbankruptcy.Tocutcoststhegovernmenthascalledforafreezeonwages,areductionofover-staffedpublicservicedepartments,privatizationofnumerousgovernmentagencies,andclosureofsomeoverseasconsulates.InrecentyearsNauruhasencouragedtheregistrationofoffshorebanksandcorporations.In2004thedeteriorationinhousing,hospitals,andothercapitalplantcontinued, and the cost toAustraliaof keeping the government andeconomy afloat has substantiallymounted.FewcomprehensivestatisticsontheNaurueconomyexist,withestimatesofNauru’sGDPvaryingwidely.

TheGDPpercapitaofthecountryis$5,000(2001est.),butseethecommentabove.


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TOKELAU

History

OriginallysettledbyPolynesianemigrantsfromsurroundingislandgroups,theTokelauIslandsweremadeaBritishprotectoratein1889.TheyweretransferredtoadministrationbyNewZealandin1925.

Geography

Tokelauisaboutone-halfofthewayfromHawaiitoNewZealand.Itconsistsofthreeatolls,eachwithalagoonsurroundedbyanumberofreef-boundisletsofvaryinglengthandrisingtooverthreemetersabovesealevel.Thetotalareais21km2.

Theclimatepatternsare tropical andmoderatedby tradewinds fromApril toNovember. ThemainnaturalhazardisthatTokelauliesinthePacifictyphoonbelt.SomeofthecurrentenvironmentalissuesarethatTokelauhasverylimitednaturalresourcesandovercrowdingiscontributingtoemigrationtoNewZealand.

Population


Economy

Tokelau’ssmallsize(threevillages),isolation,andlackofresourcesgreatlyrestraineconomicdevelopmentandconfineagriculturetothesubsistencelevel.ThepeoplerelyheavilyonaidfromNewZealand–about$4millionannually–tomaintainpublicservices,withannualaidbeingsubstantiallygreaterthanGDP.Theprincipalsourcesofrevenuecomefromsalesofcopra,postagestamps,souvenircoins,andhandicrafts.MoneyisalsoremittedtofamiliesfromrelativesinNewZealand.


TUVALU

History

In1974,ethnicdifferenceswithintheBritishcolonyoftheGilbertandElliceIslandscausedthePolynesiansoftheElliceIslandstovoteforseparationfromtheMicronesiansoftheGilbertIslands.Thefollowingyear,theElliceIslandsbecametheseparateBritishcolonyofTuvalu.Independencewasgrantedin1978.In2000,TuvalunegotiatedacontractleasingitsInternetdomainname“tv”for$50millioninroyaltiesoverthenextdozenyears.

Geography

Tuvalu is aboutone-half of theway fromHawaii toAustralia. Tuvalu is alsooneof the smallest andmostremotecountriesonEarth;sixofthecoralatolls–Nanumea,Nui,Vaitupu,Nukufetau,Funafuti,andNukulaelae–havelagoonsopentotheocean;NanumayaandNiutaohavelandlockedlagoons;Niulakitadoesnothavealagoon.Thetotalareais26km2.

Theclimatepatternistropical,moderatedbyeasterlytradewindsfromMarchtoNovemberandwesterlygalesandheavyrainfromNovembertoMarch.Thenaturalhazardsincludeseveretropicalstormswhicharerare,but,in1997therewerethreecyclones;thelowelevationoftheislandsmakethemverysensitivetosealevelchanges.

Thenaturalresourceofthecountryisfish.Someofthecurrentenvironmentalissuesarethatsincetherearenostreamsorriversandgroundwaterisnotpotable,mostwaterneedsmustbemetbycatchmentsystemswithstoragefacilities(theJapanesegovernmenthasbuiltonedesalinationplantandplanstobuild

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oneother);beachheaderosionbecauseoftheuseofsandforbuildingmaterials;excessiveclearanceofforestundergrowthforuseasfuel;anddamagetocoralreefsfromthespreadoftheCrownofThornsstarfish.Tuvaluisveryconcernedaboutglobalincreasesingreenhousegasemissionsandtheireffectonrisingsealevels,whichthreatenthecountry’sundergroundwatertable;in2000,thegovernmentappealedtoAustraliaandNewZealandtotakeinTuvaluansifrisingsealevelsshouldmakeevacuationnecessary.

Population


Economy

Tuvaluconsistsofadenselypopulated,scatteredgroupofninecoralatollswithpoorsoil.Thecountryhas no known mineral resources and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the primaryeconomicactivities.Fewerthan1,000tourists,onaverage,visitTuvaluannually. Governmentrevenueslargelycomefromthesaleofstampsandcoinsandworkerremittances.About1,000TuvaluansworkinNauruinthephosphateminingindustry.NauruhasbegunrepatriatingTuvaluans,however,asphosphateresourcesdecline.Substantialincomeisreceivedannuallyfromaninternationaltrustfundestablishedin1987byAustralia,NewZealand,andtheUKandsupportedalsobyJapanandSouthKorea.Thankstowise investmentsandconservativewithdrawals,this fundhasgrownfroman initial$17milliontoover$35millionin1999.TheUSgovernmentisalsoamajorrevenuesourceforTuvalubecauseofpaymentsfroma1988treatyonfisheries.Inanefforttoreduceitsdependenceonforeignaid,thegovernmentispursuingpublicsectorreforms,includingprivatizationofsomegovernmentfunctionsandpersonnelcutsofupto7%.In1998,Tuvalubeganderivingrevenuefromuseofitsareacodefor“900”linesandin2000,from the leaseof its“tv” Internetdomainname. Royalties from thesenew technology sourcescouldincreasesubstantiallyoverthenextdecade.Withmerchandiseexportsonlyafractionofmerchandiseimports,continuedreliancemustbeplacedonfishingandtelecommunicationslicensefees,remittancesfromoverseasworkers,officialtransfers,andincomefromoverseasinvestments.


PITCAIRN ISLANDS

History

PitcairnIslandwasuninhabitedwhendiscoveredin1767bytheBritishandsettledin1790bytheBountymutineersandtheirTahitiancompanions.PitcairnwasthefirstPacificIslandtobecomeaBritishcolony(in1838)andtodayremainsthelastvestigeofthatempireintheSouthPacific.Outmigration,primarilytoNewZealand,hasthinnedthepopulationfromapeakof233in1937tolessthan50today.

Geography

Pitcairn Islands is about midway between Peru and New Zealand. It is thus Britain’s most isolateddependency;onlythelargerislandofPitcairnisinhabitedbutithasnoportornaturalharbor;suppliesmustbetransportedbyrowedlongboatfromlargershipsstationedoffshore.

Theclimatepatternsaretropical,hotandhumid,modifiedbysoutheasttradewinds,witharainyseasonfromNovembertoMarch.Typhoonsarethemainnaturalhazard,occurringfromNovembertoMarch.

Thenaturalresourcesoftheislandaremirotrees(usedforhandicrafts),fishandalsomanganese,iron,copper,gold,silver,andzinchavebeendiscoveredoffshore.Someofthecurrentenvironmental issuesincludedeforestation(onlyasmallportionoftheoriginalforestremainsbecauseofburningandclearingforsettlement).


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Population

Thepopulationofthecountryis46(July2005est.).

Economy

Theinhabitantsofthistinyisolatedeconomyexistonfishing,subsistencefarming,handicrafts,andpostagestamps. The fertilesoilof thevalleysproducesawidevarietyof fruitsandvegetables, includingcitrus,sugarcane,watermelons,bananas,yams,andbeans.Barteringisanimportantpartoftheeconomy.Themajorsourcesofrevenuearethesaleofpostagestampstocollectorsandthesaleofhandicraftstopassingships.InOctober2004,morethanone-quarterofPitcairn’slaborforcewasarrested,puttingtheeconomyinabind,sincetheirserviceswererequiredaslightercrewtoloadorunloadpassingships.

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LIST OF ACRONyMS

LIST OF ACRONYMS

ACCU AsiaPacificCulturalCentre

ADB AsianDevelopmentBank

AOSIS AllianceofSmallIslandStates

ASPACO AsiaPacificCo-operationfortheSustainableUseofRenewableNaturalResourcesin BiosphereReservesandSimilarlyManagedAreas

BPoA BarbadosProgrammeofAction

CBD ConventiononBiologicalDiversity

CCD ConventiontoCombatDesertification

CITES ConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpeciesofWildFloraandFauna

COE CentresofExcellence

COFA CompactofFreeAssociation

CROP CouncilofRegionalOrganizationsofthePacific

CSD CommissiononSustainableDevelopment

CSI CoastalRegionsandSmallIslandsPlatform

CSSP ChemicalSocietyoftheSouthPacific

DESD UnitedNationsDecadeofEducationforSustainableDevelopment

EEZ ExclusiveEconomicZones

ENSO ElNiño–SouthernOscillation

EpiNet ExposurePreventionInformationNetwork

ESCAP EconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific

ESD EducationforSustainableDevelopment

FAO FoodandAgricultureOrganization

FSM FederatedStatesofMicronesia

GDP GrossDomesticProduct

GEF GlobalEnvironmentFacility

GIS/RS GeographicInformationSystems/RemoteSensing

ICT InformationandCommunicationTechnology

IHP InternationalHydrologicalProgramme

IKSP IndigenousSystemsofKnowledgeandPractices

IWP InternationalWatersProject

JPOI JohannesburgPlanofImplementation

MAB ManandtheBiosphere

MDGs MillenniumDevelopmentGoals

MEAs MultilateralEnvironmentalAgreements

MIM MauritiusInternationalMeeting

NCSA NationalCapacitySelfAssessment

NEMS NationalEnvironmentManagementStrategies

NGOs NonGovernmentalOrganizations


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NSDP NationalSustainableDevelopmentPlans

NSDS NationalSustainableDevelopmentStrategies

PACE-SD PacificCentreforEnvironment&SustainableDevelopment

PICs PacificIslandCountries

PICTs PacificIslandCountriesandTerritories

PIFS PacificIslandsForumSecretariat

PLA ParticipatoryLearningandAction

PNG PapuaNewGuinea

PRIDE PacificRegionalInitiativefortheDeliveryofBasicEducationProgramme

RAMSI RegionalAssistanceMissiontotheSolomonIslands

RDVA RuralDevelopmentVolunteersAssociation

RPEI RethinkingPacificEducationInitiative

SD SustainableDevelopment

SIDAPP SolomonIslandsDevelopmentAdministrationandParticipatoryPlanningProgramme

SIDS SmallIslandDevelopingStates

SIV SmallIslandsVoice

SOPAC SouthPacificAppliedGeosciencesCommission

SPC SecretariatofthePacificCommunity

SPREP SecretariatofthePacificRegionalEnvironmentProgramme

SSKP ScientificSystemsofKnowledgeandPractices

STI Science,technologyandinnovation

UNCED UnitedNationsConferenceonEnvironmentandDevelopment

UNCLOS UnitedNationsConventionontheLawoftheSea

UNDP UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme

UNEP UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme

UNESCO UnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganization

UNFCCC UnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChange

UNU UnitedNationsUniversity

USP UniversityoftheSouthPacific

WCED WorldCommissiononEnvironmentandDevelopment

WSSD WorldSummitonSustainableDevelopment

WTO WorldTradeOrganization

Hans

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sustainable development - a pacific island perspective

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