86
B. Crawley and J. Aston
is to build national capacity to protect and improve the environment of the region for
the benefit of Pacific Island people, now and into the future.
One of the goals of the Action Plan is to develop Integrated Coastal
Management (ICM) approaches for Pacific Island situations (SPREP, 1996). ICM is
accepted world-wide as a comprehensive, multi sectoral integrated approach to the
planning and management of coastal areas. ICM is also recognised as an appropriate
process for dealing with coastal problems in the Pacific (Fauvao, 1995). It is
particularly suited to the small Pacific Island countries because of the
interconnectedness of the coast and terrestrial areas.
The islands are a scattered community, isolated by hundreds if not thousands
of kilometres (SPC, 1992). The smallness of the islands has a profound influence on
their social goals and development options, as well as magnifying the impacts of poor
decisions (Fauvao, 1995). Therefore, decisions regarding management of coastal
resources must be based on the best available information.
The Action Plan recognises the importance of improved availability of
information on all aspects of environment and development for decision making
towards sustainable development (SPREP, 1997). This is supported by Agenda 21,
Chapter 40 that emphasises the need for improved collection as well as presentation of
data and information.
International and Regional Initiatives
THE ACTION PROGRAMME FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF
SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES
At an international level, the particular dimensions of the "coastal management
problem", recognised in the Action Programme for the Sustainable Development of
Small Island Developing States, are:
1)
2)
3)
the paucity of "data" necessary to manage the coastal zone”
the lack of institutions at the national level and;
the need for an approach to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
that is relevant to islands.
In recognising these constraints, the Action Programme for the Sustainable
Development of Small Island Developing States, considered and endorsed by the
Barbados Conference, calls for better information to assist decision-making, the
strengthening of appropriate institutions and legislation, and the development of
island-appropriate methodologies for ICZM.
Regional Priority Setting Exercises
The issues and problems facing the small island developing states in the management
of their coastal areas have been prioritised over the last ten years through ad hoc needs
analyses and priority setting exercises. Such priority setting exercises have identified
B. Crawley and J. Aston
is to build national capacity to protect and improve the environment of the region for
the benefit of Pacific Island people, now and into the future.
One of the goals of the Action Plan is to develop Integrated Coastal
Management (ICM) approaches for Pacific Island situations (SPREP, 1996). ICM is
accepted world-wide as a comprehensive, multi sectoral integrated approach to the
planning and management of coastal areas. ICM is also recognised as an appropriate
process for dealing with coastal problems in the Pacific (Fauvao, 1995). It is
particularly suited to the small Pacific Island countries because of the
interconnectedness of the coast and terrestrial areas.
The islands are a scattered community, isolated by hundreds if not thousands
of kilometres (SPC, 1992). The smallness of the islands has a profound influence on
their social goals and development options, as well as magnifying the impacts of poor
decisions (Fauvao, 1995). Therefore, decisions regarding management of coastal
resources must be based on the best available information.
The Action Plan recognises the importance of improved availability of
information on all aspects of environment and development for decision making
towards sustainable development (SPREP, 1997). This is supported by Agenda 21,
Chapter 40 that emphasises the need for improved collection as well as presentation of
data and information.
International and Regional Initiatives
THE ACTION PROGRAMME FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF
SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES
At an international level, the particular dimensions of the "coastal management
problem", recognised in the Action Programme for the Sustainable Development of
Small Island Developing States, are:
1)
2)
3)
the paucity of "data" necessary to manage the coastal zone”
the lack of institutions at the national level and;
the need for an approach to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
that is relevant to islands.
In recognising these constraints, the Action Programme for the Sustainable
Development of Small Island Developing States, considered and endorsed by the
Barbados Conference, calls for better information to assist decision-making, the
strengthening of appropriate institutions and legislation, and the development of
island-appropriate methodologies for ICZM.
Regional Priority Setting Exercises
The issues and problems facing the small island developing states in the management
of their coastal areas have been prioritised over the last ten years through ad hoc needs
analyses and priority setting exercises. Such priority setting exercises have identified