Organised by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry for the Environment, Malta
together with the
Islands and Small States Institute of the Foundation for International Studies, University of Malta
in collaboration with the
United Nations Environment Programme
 

POSITION PAPER
OF THE SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES IN THE INDIAN OCEAN, MEDITERRANEAN AND ATLANTIC REGIONS (IMA-SIDS)
SUBMITTED TO THE 
SEVENTH SESSION OF THE 
COMMISSION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
 

November 1998
Printed on 02/01/99
 
IMA-SIDS POSITION PAPER
SUBMITTED TO THE 
SEVENTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
 

PREAMBLE

The small Islands Developing States of the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and Atlantic  (IMA-SIDS) consisting of eleven island states dispersed over 3 regions, have concerted in the process for the preparation of this submission to the CSD7.

This submission focuses on sustainable development issues pertaining to the IMA-SIDS. It shows that IMA-SIDS are not a homogenous island group, but at the same time share common problems.

IMA-SIDS affirm their commitment to the implementation of Agenda 21 and the Barbados Programme of Action.

However, IMA-SIDS are experiencing huge constraints for numerous reasons including lack of resources, both human and financial, to implement these programmes. These difficulties are exacerbated by the fact that they are at a higher risk of sea level rise arising climate change, and subject to recurring national disasters such as hurricanes, drought, earthquakes, and tidal waves. In addition many of them are far from the main commercial centres.  

This document highlights the main priority areas of concern to IMA-SIDS and propose a number of actions that could be taken in this regard.  It covers:
? The main regional problems:
1. Oceans and Seas, 
2. Tourism, 
3. Waste Management, 
4. Freshwater resources, 
5. Biodiversity,
6. Trade.
 
? Cross-cutting issues:
1. Financing,
2. Limitations in human resources and capacity,
3. Institutional weaknesses,
4. Infrastructure development,
5. Integrated management approaches,
6.  Vulnerability index.
 
? Action required by the UN system:
Improving UN coordination.

THE MAIN REGIONAL PROBLEMS

1. Oceans / Seas

IMA-SIDS, by their very nature, enjoy a very large EEZ in relation to their land mass, but they lack the capacity, to assess and manage this vast resource.

CSD is requested to call for:
? Support of programmes to assess the impact of planning and development on the coastal environment, including wetlands, coral reefs habitats and the Exclusive Economic Zones, of IMA-SIDS;
? Development of a methodology or guidelines in a manual for sound practices and techniques suitable for IMA-SIDS, for achieving the integrated management of the coastal and offshore marine development;
? Strengthening of national capacity to improve coastal zone management and to upgrade the ability to sustainably manage the oceans in the EEZ;
? Enhancement of conservation and management of Exclusive Economic Zone resources;
? Formulation of policies and measures to address fisheries needs as an essential resources of food supplies for island population and for economic development.
? Support data collection and preparation of documentation for extending the EEZ when possible
2. Tourism

Tourism constitutes a major activity for generating economic growth, employment and foreign exchange earnings in the majority of IMA-SIDS. Since  environmental and social carrying capacities of SIDS tend to be limited, tourism, if not properly planned and managed, may have negative social and environmental impacts. Therefore sustainable tourism  polices and measures are essential.

CSD is requested to call for:
? Promotion of the concept of sustainable tourism,  incorporating this principle in legislative and educational schemes;
? Enhancement of the value-added of tourism,  as a major source of income in SIDS;
? Provision of financial support to implement programmes conducive towards sustainable tourism policies and measures;
? Assistance for those IMA-SIDS having an underdeveloped tourism sector, and wishing to build their tourism infrastructure and marketing capacities.

3.  Waste Management

Because of the small land area, coupled with the high population density, waste management is a major issue for IMA-SIDS.
 
In this context,  IMA-SIDS is requested to call for 
? Support for the putting in place a comprehensive waste management programme;
? Development and implementation of an appropriate institutional and legislative framework.

4.  Freshwater Resources

IMA-SIDS  face  constant shortage and/or deteriorating quality of freshwater resources with negative impacts on human health and agricultural production.

The CSD is requested to call for;
? Support SIDS’ efforts to rehabilitate watersheds, re-afforestation and the putting into place a system for the sustainable use and development of freshwater resources;
? A re-focus financial assistance programme by donor countries to assist SIDS to take mitigating action against the impact of droughts and high water consumption rates.
 

5. Biodiversity

IMA-SIDS possess very rich marine and terrestrial biodiversity with a high level of endemicity.  Nevertheless, this richness is endangered by strong man-made pressure on natural resources.

In this regard, IMA-SIDS solicit the support of the Commission for Sustainable Development:
? to strengthen national capacity for the planning and management of biodiversity; 
? to assist in developing a financial mechanism for the conservation and appreciation of biodiversity.

6. Trade

Integrating into the world economy should lead to more efficiency and therefore to better utilisation of resources. 

However SIDS are amongst the most open economies in the world and they are  therefore facing the challenges of liberalisation and globalisation to a much higher degree than most larger developing states. 

CSD is requested to call for:
? Support negotiations for the extension of SIDS’ preferential arrangement to enable them to gain more time for restructuring of their economy, and arguing the case that SIDS merit special consideration in view of the vulnerability;
? Facilitate funding for adequate representation at WTO meetings, and the development of a common position by SIDS at the regional and international level..
? Assist in the promotion of better utilisation of resources to improve competitiveness.
 
 

CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES
1. Financing

Increased provision of financial resources is fundamental for the implementation and monitoring of sustainable development initiatives for IMA-SIDS.

 CSD is called upon to:
? Encourage donors to allocate additional Financial resources to relevant sustainable development projects and programmes;
? Improve responsiveness of the Global Environmental Fund and their allocation to assist  SIDS address sustainable development issues;
? Take into account the high level of debt of certain IMA-SIDS and ensure that they benefit from debt reduction mechanisms.
 
 

2. Limitations in human resources and capacity

The small size of most IMA-SIDS, and the fact that often the only resource of significance is the human resource, calls for special attention to education and training and the development of health services.

Often training and education packages developed in larger territories do not take into account the constraints faced by SIDS where the scope for specialisation tends to be very limited, and where multi-functionality is often the best method of utilising administrators and scientists.

CSD is requested to call for:
? Promotion of  sustainable development ideas into the education programmes starting from primary level;
? Introduction education in demographic factors in curricula;
? Infusion of the idea that leaders and managers need to be multi-functional due to small scale and the related limitations;
? Action to discourage undesirable habits such as taking drugs, excessive alcohol and others and support programme of community based organisations in this regards;
? Development of training of trainers schemes to foster human resource development in all its aspects.

3. Institutional weaknesses

Due to their small sizes and populations, SIDS institutions are overloaded by having to intervene in numerous activities.  The achievement of sustainable development is handicapped.

CSD is requested to call for:
? Strengthening of administrative capacity to integrate economic and environmental concerns;
? Adopting inter-disciplinary approaches in planning and decision-making. 
? Improving legislative and enforcement capacities.
? supporting  SIDS in their attempt to improve their capacity to ratify and implement international agreements, such as UNCLOS and related protocols.

4. Infrastructure development

Insular and isolation nature of IMA-SIDS renders the improvement of their transport and communication essential.  (Lack of economies of scale precludes some SIDS to be able to benefit optimum from off the shelf available technology).

CSD is requested to called upon to:
? Facilitate the development of regular and reliable transport and communications linkages;
? Encourage the development and transfer of appropriate and clean technologies for SIDS.

5. Integrated management approaches

The IMA-SIDS require an integrated approach to problem solving rather than a sectoral approach as all the ecosystems are inter-related.

CSD is therefore requested to call for:
? Promotion of 'Islands System Management" that takes into consideration the special nature of IMA-SIDS.
? Facilitate information flows within national and regional bureaucracies and galvanize decision-making processes

6. Vulnerability index

Due to the fragility of the ecosystems and severity of recurring natural disasters, composite vulnerability indices have to be developed for effective pursuit of sustainable development goals.

CSD is requested to call for:
? supporting ongoing work on the economic and ecological vulnerability Index and promote the construction of a composite index, using methods which do not complicate the issue and which as much as possible utilise ready and available data, keeping in mind that complicated methods may render the index as non-operational, and that statistical data which is very difficult or impossible to obtain will render the whole exercise useless.
 

ACTION REQUIRED BY THE UN SYSTEM

Improving UN coordination

Effective implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action and Agenda 21 will require the UN system to make a more effective use of its resources, to mobilise the necessary human technical and financial resources and to improve co-ordination mechanisms for the focused and harmonised delivery of priorities relevant to IMA-SIDS, related to Agenda 21 and the Barbados Programme of Action.

Noting that up to now, CSD has not directly intervened in the implementation of these programmes, IMA-SIDS urge CSD to assist in improving UN co-ordination in the implementation of these programmes.

CSD is requested to call for:
? Development of new mechanisms to implement decisions of the CSD, given that as things stand   at the moment, has no power to direct the mandate of the UN organs to implement the parts of the SIDS PoA;
? Improvement of the linkages between the different UN organs in matters related to the SIDS PoA;
? Development of  performance indicators to assess the extent to which the UN organs are delivering;
? Support for mechanisms to develop cooperative schemes between major stakeholders including civil society and private business in the planning, coordination and implementation of measures which are conducive to sustainable development in SIDS;  
? Support for  regional and national research centres which focus on sustainable development and which can produce scientific work in parallel and in cooperation with UN organs;
? Support for networking schemes with the aim of collecting and disseminating data to those concerned with the sustainable development of SIDS.