Evaluate the environmental challenges and implications for the sustainable future of Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

By Mr. Kennedy Pemberton

 

According to the renowned Caribbean historian Sir Ruel B Reid, economic growth relies in a very real sense on nature, both for the supply of raw materials and for the absorption of the resulting wastages. Thus, based on Reid’s perception I have come to believe in the economic principle that “growth is a necessary and sufficient condition for economic development.” In this context, environmental challenges refer to strains and burdens placed on the natural social and economic conditions of a country. A sustainable future can be viewed as the gradual and continuous enhancement of the economic, ecological, social and political climate of a country, thereby meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the survival and enrichment of future generations. While, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are those countries that are characterized by Small, Poor, Open and Transition economies (SPOT Economies).[1]

Today, I believe that it is resoundingly evident that SIDS in particular are wrangling with the monumental task of ensuring their development, and have even sought to redefine the structure of their economies in pursuit of sustainability. Hence, without the massive resource base taken for granted in many world nations, SIDS have been forced to undergo major economic transitions. To this end I contend that when considering the sustainability of SIDS, the fast moving and ever evolving tourism industry must be given a more detailed and modern focus. Though at present many SIDS engage in and are heavily dependant on the tourism industry it is my assertion that for far too long our islands’ perception of tourism has been unjustly stereotypical. Over the decades, SIDS have enclosed themselves in the perception that their share of the industry is founded on Sea, Sun and Sand, or as I simply call it the “Triple S Mentality.” Consequently, if our islands are to attain some means of viable development, we must change our perception of this industry and adopt what I call an ‘outside the box mentality’.

We have all heard of the many benefits to be derived from this fast paced, metamorphic industry known as tourism, but it is my belief that the potential spoils of tourism have yet to be harnessed by developing island states. Islands like Hawaii, The Bahamas, Anguilla, Trinidad & Tobago and St. Kitts & Nevis for instance all hold reputable acclaim in this industry for various reasons. However the major underpinning commonality shared by these islands is that of the ‘Triple S’ perception by the world at large. Though the ‘Triple S Mentality’ has brought positive economic gains, I strongly believe that change is the most constant and dynamic force which mankind has yet to master. Therefore, if SIDS are ever to attain some viable means of sustainability we must be willing to revisit and amend our antiquated methodologies while designing and adapting new strategies.

Tourism in its true sense is a multidimensional industry with many avenues for development and groundbreaking revenue generating initiatives. As such, to confine this industry to a ‘Sea, Sun and Sand’ image, pitched towards upscale markets with a focus on five star resorts, is simply shortsighted. Why focus on this streamline perspective when this industry has the capacity to maintain Eco-Tourism, Cultural Tourism, Sports Tourism, Study Tourism, and Conference Incentive Tourism, just to name a few.

For instance, Study Tourism may be defined as programs and activities for learning, training or increasing knowledge on site, involving students and teachers with professionals. Thus, when comparing the gains of Study Tourism with those of the ‘Triple S’ concept, I feel it is evident that Study Tourism has a longer lasting direct impact on the economy, and long lasting impacts are better suited towards fostering sustainability.  Hence, with due consideration to many underutilized aspects of tourism, this industry can form the catalyst for viable development rooted in enhanced continuity.

However, as quoted by Mr. Hugh Heyliger, Development Economist & Lecturer at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, his somewhat catchy acronym reads ‘TANSTAAFL’ and translates into a dialect saying of ‘there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch’. Thus, though tourism has great potential as an economic fuel, its enhancement inevitably comes at a cost to the receiving environment.

In keeping with the TANSTAAFL concept one major environmental challenge expedited by the tourism industry is that of the contamination of the fragile and limited food sources of small island states. In this case, tourism places an additional demand on small island states to produce more food at a faster rate and so the use of chemical enhancements and pesticides has become a startling reality. Hence, when these chemicals are spilled or administered in wrong proportions it affects the quality of the crops and contaminates the soil and animals that feed on organic elements growing in those soils. Additionally, tourism also demands the creation of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, piers and buildings all of which promote some environmental degradation based on the components used in their assembly. Again these dangerous compounds find themselves contaminating the soils that grow our food, and via rainfall runoff eventually invade the sea, poisoning the habitat of organisms existing there.

With the contamination of food sources, SIDS inevitably have to combat the social ill of an unhealthy population, which in turn leads to declining productivity and by extension declining economic growth in these states. As was mention before, growth is a necessary and sufficient condition for economic development, therefore with the health risk posed by the contamination of food sources this challenge has the ability to destroy the natural surroundings, and retard both the social and economic gains initially being pursued.

Another implication of contaminated food sources is that of increased government expenditure on health care thereby helping to fuel budget deficits and national debt in small states. According to Lipsey, Courant and Ragan in the text Twelfth Edition Economics, the government’s annual budget deficit is the excess of total expenditure over total revenue in a given year. Therefore, because governments have to borrow in order to finance budget deficits, the accumulation of budget deficits (borrowings) is then referred to as the National Debt. Food contamination, however, also has some positive implications given that governments are now forced to invest in trained health care professionals and proper health care facilities, which act as a powerful incentive for attracting tourists.

Nonetheless, food contamination is a threat to the survival of developing states, and to deal with this issue I propose the conducting of environmental impact studies particularly before undertaking major large scale development projects. Again, governments should employ economic incentives like that of tax holidays or reduced import duties in order to stimulate the use of biodegradable materials, and compounds in routine endeavours. Thirdly, animal grazing should be restricted in highly developed areas while zoning and setting up facilities specifically for animal rearing. Finally, territorial marine parameters should be set up and policed thereby ensuring that all fishing occurs at a safe distance from possibly polluted waters.

In like manner, another major environmental challenge brought by the tourism industry is that of upsetting the order of natural ecological systems. As many environmentalists will argue every creature and organism has a role to play in nature’s life cycle, as such, when men intrude in this natural balance in the quest for development, devastating side effects can occur. According to the St. Kitts & Nevis Strategic Plan for Tourism Development, “The fact remains that cruise tourism is currently the only sector of the tourism industry that is growing.” Therefore, if SIDS are to capitalize on this phenomenon deep-water harbours and berthing facilities must be developed. In order to achieve this, states quite commonly dredge the sea floor, which in turn interferes with the natural defined boundaries of the sea.  When this is done, the sea is displaced and often responds to this unexpected change by reclaiming the land that formed beaches, and forging steeper cliffs around the islands.

Also, given that the boundaries of the sea (or ocean) have been affected, the intrusion of salt water is now a possibility that results in the pollution and or displacement of fresh ground water resources. Once again, sea dredging and the common water based tourist recreation can serve to destroy majestic yet well needed coral reefs that help to protect the coast from violent sea activity. Hence, when these reefs are destroyed SIDS become more susceptible to the devastating erosion force of waves particularly during tropical storms and hurricanes. Furthermore, as one would realize, the pursuance of tourism demands the rapid development of vast amounts of land, and as a result the issue of deforestation becomes a stark reality. In this scenario, the ecological order of natural vegetation is disrupted, exposing large quantities of rich but loose topsoil, thereby amplifying the risk of massive flooding and soil erosion.

Contrastingly, it is my belief that adversity has brought about some of man’s greatest triumphs and ingenious initiatives and it is from this belief I make the following proposals. Firstly, in relation to the issue of flooding and soil erosion, governments should look to implement systematic deforestation and redevelopment policies where specific areas are fully developed before the clearing of lands in other areas. Also, there should be the creation and clear definition of developmental zones (for example, housing, industrial, and tourist based), while wild life sanctuaries would occupy relatively undeveloped areas. In addition, governments should seek to implement what I call a minimum reforestation scheme for developers. Here, governments would determine the minimum amount of plants and trees suitable for the premises of various development projects, and prize incentives would be offered to those developers who exceed and efficiently maintain their minimum plant requirement. In like manner, artificial reefs should be created to replace the previously destroyed corals and breeding ground for the displaced underwater organisms. Currently existing natural reefs should be clearly identified and marked so as to ensure their growth, while regulations should be formulated to enhance and enforce their survival.

Furthermore, when evaluating environmental challenges brought by the tourism industry, another significant concern is that of resource depletion and pollution.  According to the Lipsey, Courant, & Ragan, economics involves the use of scarce resources to satisfy unlimited human wants. Thus, in the pursuit of sustainability via tourism, small states are aggressively confronted with the issues of scarcity and choice. Under the umbrella, when already scarce resources begin to be depleted it will unavoidably result in stagnated and declining economic growth. Here, the exhaustion of resources like fresh water, and agricultural products that drive tourism, would lead to immense contractions in the economic spin offs of this dwindling industry. In like manner resource depletion and pollution has the potential to exacerbate the spread of poverty within these states. This threat of impoverishment only serves to unravel the socio-economic status of residents in these states by lowering the customary standards of living. Also, another implication of depleted and polluted resources is that of increased criminal activity where residents try to maintain their standard of living via illegal mediums.

However, as the saying goes, ‘every dark cloud has a silver lining,’ therefore no challenge is without workable solutions. As such, to combat this threat it is my contention that states should first of all be vigilant and manage the influx of tourists and investors into their countries (e.g. Environmental Management Bureaus). In this sense developing islands should not allow a situation of overcrowding to take place as this places unnecessary strains on their fragile and miniscule resource base. Again SIDS should pursue the construction of timely and accommodating reservoirs in order to safeguard and ensure adequate sources of clean fresh water.  In addition to combat the reality of soil exhausting I suggest a collaborative crop rotation system. Here, SIDS within the same region would liaise and periodically rotate the cultivation of predetermined crops among themselves, in order to allow the soils in the various states to replenish missing nutrients.

Furthermore as it concerns resource pollution I recommend a progressive tax approach where those entities found to be maliciously polluting the environment are not only charged penalty fees, but also graduate to higher tax brackets. Like wise those firms who invest in environment protection initiatives would be receive tax holidays as an incentive for their commitment to a healthy environment. Also, proper drainage, sewage and garbage disposal systems must be put in place, to ensure that waste materials are systematically filtered out of the physical environment.

Finally, in the quest for sustainability via the tourism industry, another trial that must be mentioned is economic restructuring or transitioning. Under this scenario, the current economic focus of many SIDS may be deemed archaic, and the capacity for productive long-term development would be destined for failure. This transition process therefore affects the social environment of small island states because modern methodologies make previously acquired skills redundant. Hence, economic restructuring can result in large numbers of displaced workers given that their talents would no longer be required. Also, with this surge of displaced workers, increased criminal activity is also likely to occur thereby creating even more social tension.

Nonetheless, I believe that through adversity comes triumph and I propose a social rehabilitation program focused at training and retraining these dispersed workers, while stimulating employment opportunities. Also, a land redistribution scheme should be undertaken to zone and tag land for specific development issues.

In conclusion, I reiterate that growth is a necessary and sufficient condition for economic development.  This I contend can be accomplished through the deployment of a well-orchestrated plan that ensures a viable tourist industry and such an industry cannot afford to be overshadowed or plagued by a narrow-minded “Triple S” Principle.  New initiatives must continuously be sought and developed, ensure never to neglect the fact that “there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch”.  Consequently, for SIDS to enjoy a thriving, yet sustainable future through tourism, there must be a BALANCE between economic growth, and ecological deterioration.

Bibliography & Referencing