Global
elena
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15 Apr 2011
Small island developing States are heavily dependent on imported petroleum products, largely for transport and electricity generation, and they are also heavily dependent on indigenous biomass fuels for cooking and crop drying. This is likely to continue in the short to medium term, however the efficiency of such use can be greatly increased through appropriate technology and national energy policies which promote more economic and environmentally beneficial energy use. Several...
elena
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15 Apr 2011
Because of their small size and particular geological, topographical and climatic conditions, many small island developing States face severe constraints in terms of both the quality and quantity of freshwater. This is particularly the case for low-lying coral-based islands, where groundwater supplies are limited and are protected only by a layer of thin permeable soil. Even where rainfall is abundant, access to clean water has been restricted by the lack of adequate storage facilities...
elena
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15 Apr 2011
The small size of most small island developing States, coupled with land tenure systems, soil types, relief and climatic variation, limit the area available for urban settlement, agriculture, mining, commercial forestry, tourism and other infrastructure, and create intense competition between land use options. Most aspects of environmental management in small island developing States are directly dependent on, or influenced by, the planning and utilisation of land resources, which in turn are...
elena
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15 Apr 2011
Tourism has contributed much to the development of many small island developing States and, as one of only a few development strategies currently being employed, will continue to be very important for their future growth. It could also stimulate the development of other sectors. However, if not properly planned and managed, tourism could significantly degrade the environment on which it is so dependent. The fragility and interdependence of coastal zones and the unspoilt areas on which eco-...
elena
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15 Apr 2011
Pollution prevention and the management of waste is both a critical and complicated issue for small island developing States. Small land mass and limited availability of other resources, combined with an increase in polluting and hazardous substances due to population growth, are contributing factors to the difficulty of managing waste. Waste in SIDS tends to be highly visible, but due to their limited capacity to monitor the waste stream the true extent of the problem remains poorly...
