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Environment
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Environment
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Extract from 171EX/4 March 2005
(pdf
version of the complete document)
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Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands (CSI)
II.1.4:
Towards sustainable living in coastal regions and on small islands
Main line of action 1: Advancing an intersectoral and interregional programme of action in Small Island Developing States
97. Expected result: Capacities in Member States in SIDS strengthened for contributions to the high-level United Nations review meeting (+10).
Progress achieved as related to performance indicators:
contribution to preparations for the Mauritius International Meeting (MIM) (January 2005) and to the 10-year review of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA);
inputs to the United Nations and to the Alliance of Small Island States’ (AOSIS) preparatory activities, including contributions to the United Nations Secretary-General’s consolidated report to the Commission on Sustainable Development;
information circulated and global discussions held through the Internet forum on Wise Coastal Practices (20,200 participants);
UNESCO activities in support of SIDS highlighted through an interactive website;
small-island dossiers published in the New Courier and A World of Science;
publication and distribution prior to MIM of a booklet entitled “Island Agenda 2004+: Coping with change and sustaining diversities in small islands”.
98. Expected result: Linkages established between small-island projects in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Pacific regions.
Progress achieved as related to performance indicators:
integration of sustainable development issues into science education in 16 island countries through the Sandwatch Project;
experience-sharing, capacity-building and promotion of concepts of community self-sufficiency between Caribbean islands, through a workshop on “Community-based Responses to Coastal Erosion” in Cuba in cooperation with the Havana Office.
Main line of action 2: Developing wise practices: building capacities for managing conflicts over coastal resources in small islands and continental regions
99. Expected result: National capacities reinforced to manage conflicts over coastal resources and social, economic and cultural values.
Progress achieved as related to performance indicators:
as a result of regional cooperation within the UNITWIN network, “WiCoP-Europe”, first textbooks on integrated coastal management published in Russian;
lessons learned from an initiative to promote voluntary management of the Trochus mollusk and other coastal marine resources entitled “Evolution of village-based marine resource management in Vanuatu” published (CSI Papers 15);
translation of fishing laws into Creole allowed local people in Haiti to understand the legal framework, be informed of State responsibilities to the marine environment, and understand how application of these laws may benefit fishing communities;
assessment of the socio-ecological and economic situation of the fishermen of Aqaba, Red Sea, Jordan to ensure their sustainable livelihoods, and mobilization of stakeholders to protect the coastal zone; awareness generated resulted in the government purchasing fishing boats for the fishermen, assisting them in finding alternative incomes, and developing a comprehensive coastal management;
Jointly with SC/ECO and Culture Sector:
Main line of action 3: Enhancing the linkages between biodiversity and cultural diversity as a key basis for sustainable development
89. Expected result: Improved sustainability of both cultural and biological diversity in selected sites.
Progress achieved as related to performance indicators:
work under way to assess impact of the tsunami disaster, document the role of indigenous knowledge in disaster response and guide relief assistance using baseline data compiled to date.
Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS) in a global society
257. The project empowers rural communities by advocating that poverty eradication and sustainable development must be attuned to local knowledge, practices and worldviews. Project partners include: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS-France); University of Bergen (Norway); University of Durham (United Kingdom); Native Law Centre (Canada); Wageningen University (Netherlands); UNEP and CBD. The following results were obtained:
indigenous knowledge of key resources recorded and used as tools for education and local resource governance in field projects with Mapuche Pewenche (Chile) and Mayangana of the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve (Nicaragua); the series of educational CD-ROMs has been consolidated with The Canoe is the People CD-ROM on indigenous knowledge of Pacific navigation and its Learning Resource Pack; as well as a multimedia CD-ROM for the Cree First Nations (with funding from the Cree School Board of James Bay, Canada);
field project network extended to SIDS. Through UNEP/GEF funding, a project on indigenous knowledge and biodiversity governance was developed with the SIDS and LDCs of Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Palau. To initiate these activities, the Environmental Encyclopedia of Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands was published in indigenous and English languages;
with the International Fund for the Promotion of Culture (IFPC), Cree “bush schools” (James Bay, Canada) inscribed on the Harmony List in recognition for their role in reinforcing local knowledge transmission.
Small Islands Voice (SIV)
274. The Small Islands Voice project continued to advance local and interregional community-based sustainable development initiatives in 13 small islands, the results of which are shared via publications, video production, media (television, radio and print), electronic newsletters and Internet discussions. In addition, the project featured in the report of the United Nations Secretary-General (para. 90) to the 12th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development; a keynote presentation at the Islands of the World VIII Conference; and on www.sivglobal.org, an Internet discussion forum that connects more than 20,000 islanders and is often repeated by other wire and Internet services. During the reporting period, the following results were obtained:
technological capacity improved through Internet connections and provision of new computers for community centres, multimedia centres, libraries and schools in nine island States;
island youth actively involved in review and future follow-up to the SIDS Programme of Action through the “Youth Visioning for Island Living” initiative (extra-budgetary funds of $65,000 from Lighthouse Foundation secured for this initiative) and the “Youth Focus Bahamas” event;
youth Internet discussion forum, www.sivyouth.org (username: view, password: only), involving 38 schools in 12 islands, provided electronic discussion for “Youth Visioning” and inspired exchange visits to implement joint sustainable development projects in Seychelles and Maldives.
Highlights on the Mauritius International Meeting
43. UNESCO contributed actively to the preparations for the Mauritius International Meeting (SIDS); an interactive website was created to highlight UNESCO’s activities in support of Small Island Developing States, and a publication prepared and widely distributed. Activities to promote wise practices in coastal regions and to foster the use of indigenous and local knowledge were also supported in all regions.
47. UNESCO actively contributed to the review of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA) for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and to the forward-planning process of the Mauritius International Meeting.
48. The Mauritius International Meeting (MIM), hosted by the Republic of Mauritius (10-14 January 2005), was held to review the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action. MIM was attended by 18 Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Prime Ministers, some 60 ministers and nearly 2,000 delegates, civil society representatives and journalists from 114 countries and by 15 United Nations or multilateral agencies.
49. The UNESCO delegation was headed by the Director-General who gave a widely reported press conference on UNESCO’s projected role in setting up a global tsunami warning system. In his intervention in the high-level segment, the Director-General addressed the tsunami disaster and its follow-up as well as UNESCO’s recent, ongoing and proposed future work relating to sustainable development of SIDS. He also emphasized the critical importance of forging broad-based partnerships in addressing issues related to environmental vulnerability of SIDS.
50. The principal outcomes of MIM feature in the Mauritius Strategy – proactive measures designed to further implement the Barbados Plan of Action (BPoA) – and in the Mauritius Declaration – representing commitment at the political level.
51. The Mauritius Declaration reaffirms the continued validity of the BPoA as the “blueprint providing the fundamental framework for the sustainable development of small island developing States”. Reiterating that the acknowledged vulnerability of such States will grow unless urgent steps are taken, it reaffirms the international community’s commitment to support the efforts of small island developing States. The Declaration emphasizes that small island developing States continue to be a “special case” for sustainable development. It recognizes that the tragic impact of the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and the recent hurricane season in the Caribbean and the Pacific highlight the need to develop and strengthen effective disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, emergency relief, and rehabilitation and reconstruction capacities. In this regard, the Declaration urges that particular attention be given to building resilience in small island developing States, including through technology transfer and development, capacity-building and human resource development. It further recognizes that international trade is important for building resilience and sustainable development and, therefore, calls upon international financial institutions to pay appropriate attention to the structural disadvantages and vulnerabilities of small island developing States. Finally, the Declaration commits to timely implementation of the Mauritius Strategy.
52. The Mauritius Strategy for further implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action, emphasizes that small island developing States, or SIDS “are located among the most vulnerable regions in the world in relation to the intensity and frequency of natural and environmental disasters and their increasing impact, and face disproportionately high economic, social and environmental consequence”, as highlighted by the tragic impact of the 26 December Indian Ocean tsunami and the recent hurricane/cyclone/typhoon season in the Caribbean and Pacific. Recognizing that SIDS are faced with a large spectrum of issues ranging from natural disasters and climate change, fragility of land and marine ecosystems to remoteness, trade losses and threats from HIV/AIDS, the Strategy elaborates on a wide variety of actions to overcome the economic and environmental vulnerabilities of small islands and to secure support and assistance by the international community.
53. Various categories of events were organized within the framework of the Mauritius meeting, including a Civil Society Forum supported by the Organization, and a “Small Islands Voice” parallel event. As part of the high-level segment plenary session, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to set up a SIDS Universities Consortium initially involving the Universities of Malta, Mauritius, South Pacific, Virgin Islands, and West Indies. The main aim of the consortium is to strengthen the national capacity of small island States to implement the Strategy. Possible affiliation of the consortium with UNESCO’s UNITWIN network and links with the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development are currently being discussed.
54. Under the Culture Sector’s leadership, the plenary panel on “The Role of Culture in the Sustainable Development of SIDS” expressed strong support for the recognition of culture as an indispensable and all-pervading component of human living and development, emphasizing the issues of cultural identity and diversity, the protection of the tangible and intangible heritage, the incorporation of local languages and traditional knowledge in formal education, as well as the economic opportunities provided by culture, in particular through cultural industries.
55. In addition, the UNESCO “Youth Visioning for Island Living” special event brought together youth from the different island regions of the world to discuss their perceptions and aspirations for the future of their islands. Discussions were organized around three main themes: “Life and love in islands” (island lifestyles and cultures); “My island home” (safeguarding island environments); and “Money in my pocket” (economic and employment opportunities). Conclusions presented to the plenary of MIM feature in a Declaration that articulates the distinct roles young islanders identify for themselves as key contributors to small island development. The Declaration calls upon the international community to help youth play a significant role in decision-making, to strengthen their role as environmental advocates, to take into account their priorities and needs, including HIV/AIDS prevention and substance abuse awareness, and especially to assist them in securing viable job opportunities. The youth representatives also committed themselves to strong community-based follow-up actions. The Director-General took part together with the United Nations Secretary-General in the closing ceremony of this event.
56. The United Nations and its specialized agencies were invited at MIM “to strengthen their support to the Strategy through enhanced coherence, coordination and appropriate monitoring”. As a result, UNESCO’s current programme of work was reviewed with a view to fully contributing to the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy. With regard to the forthcoming biennial period (33 C/5), UNESCO will continue to focus on a two-pronged approach that combines traditional and new information and communication technologies with the strengthening of endogenous island capacities. In order to enhance endogenous island capacities and protect diversities, draft document 33 C/5 includes activities targeting education for sustainable development of the small islands, formal and non-formal education methods and training capacities, biodiversity conservation and monitoring as well as the strengthening of local and indigenous knowledge relevant for sustainable development. Particular attention will be given to culture, indigenous people, youth, and disaster prevention and preparedness. For instance, the small islands’ environmental vulnerabilities will be addressed through the global early warning system proposed by UNESCO, which will cover not only tsunamis but also other natural disasters. Of course, UNESCO will also continue to promote integrated approaches to sustainable development in SIDS, in particular through interdisciplinary and intergenerational cooperation.
