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Environmental awareness

• Environmental issues facing the Pacific islands
• The need for environmental awareness in the Pacific
• What is SPREP doing?

Environmental issues facing the Pacific islands

The environment of the Pacific islands region is diverse, with over 2000 ecosystems including flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world. Traditionally there has been a healthy respect for the environment and a recognition of the linkage between stewardship of the environment and the long-term survival of Pacific island peoples. Rising material expectations and increasing populations are placing considerable pressure on the limited land and coastal marine ecosystems and the biodiversity they contain. Development and resource extraction have in many instances taken place without proper planning or thought for long-term effects. As a result, issues of solid waste management, water conservation, soil erosion, low crop yields and reduction of fish stock have become widespread in the Pacific region. Unsafe practices in toxic waste disposal, anticipated climatic and sea-level changes and species depletion are now adding to the environmental concerns of the region. In addition, the Pacific environment is also under threat from problems which have their origin outside the region, including climate change issues and transboundary movement of wastes.

Pacific island governments are now placing greater emphasis on encouraging investment in areas such as tourism, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and mineral exploration and extraction in the hope of boosting the economy of the region as a whole. For such economic development to continue into the long term, effective environmental management and conservation techniques and policies must become an integral part of all development activities. Policy makers need to become fully aware of the need for integration of environmental management, conservation and planning into the development process, as well as the need for the Pacific to have a voice in international discussions on the means of addressing global problems. At the same time, all other levels of the community must also understand the importance of environmental management and the impacts of uncontrolled economic development activities on their lives.

The need for environmental awareness in the Pacific

Effective implementation of environmental management and conservation programmes depends on education, awareness raising and training in the relevant areas. Without an understanding of how to conserve their natural resources, or indeed, why they must do so, few communities would be motivated to participate actively in programmes on environmental conservation.

The Barbados Programme of Action on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States puts into perspective the need for education with respect to environmental management: “It is a matter of high priority to strengthen national educational and training mechanisms in order to facilitate the flow of information on sustainable development issues, enhance public awareness of the environment and encourage participation in the implementation of effective solutions. A key requirement is to promote access to and improve the quality of basic education” (Barbados Programme of Action on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, par 62) .

The target groups for environmental education are diverse, ranging from children through youth and women’s groups to community leaders and politicians. In addition, the Pacific islands region has a diverse range of languages and cultures which also require special attention. In order that environmental information is effectively imparted to each of these target groups, it is essential that innovative and practicable communication and educational programmes are implemented. The implementation of such programmes requires skilled personnel with a dedicated approach to environmental education and training. Often, in-country training of educators is required to ensure that good teaching practices are employed in formal, non-formal and public education areas. These activities require the dedication of time, funds and personnel. Ensuring widespread awareness and knowledge will strengthen the capacity of Pacific island countries to manage the use of their natural resources over the long term.

What is SPREP doing?