in a Blue World

SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES (SIDS)

The biologically and culturally diverse nations that constitute our world’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS) share several unique characteristics. Their small economies, geographic location and size, vulnerability to natural disasters, fragile and limited ecosystems, and limited human and financial resources, make them prone to sudden environmental, social or economic changes. Given their reliance on their natural resources and the inextricable

linkage of economic

sectors, the continued use and reliance on these resources pose certain challenges as they often struggle to align competing national priorities with sustainable practises,

environmental

protection and social equity. The thrust towards a green economy provides a critical pathway to socio-economic development and inclusion, harmonising conflicting demands, maintaining macro-economic stability, facilitating job creation and protecting natural resources.

With most SIDS populations and economic activities located in the narrow coastal belt, one of the closest connections between humanity and the blue world is found among those who harvest the seas for a living. This

connection to the oceans, primarily through fisheries, is strongest in SIDS. Fisheries account for 10% of GDP and over 50% of exports in some islands. Main mechanisms for a transition to green growth in fisheries, as well as aquaculture, include fair and responsible tenure systems to turn resource users into resource stewards, an ecosystem approach accounting for cross-sectoral linkages and integrative with watershed and coastal zone management as well as wider (spatial management) frameworks, development and investment in ‘green’

of technology, and

industry and consumer awareness-building to support products from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture that provide fair and equitable benefits to fishers, fish farmers, fish workers and their communities.

Tourism, another dominant economic activity in SIDS is the largest source of foreign exchange for more than half of all the countries. It represents more than 30% of their total exports and focuses primarily on fragile biotic systems like beaches and reefs and other coastal resources that are often over-exploited as tourism products.

Continued reliance on

tourism to drive economic growth will require a discrete integration of all components of the tourism sector into upstream and downstream related sectors and vice versa, to bolster the creation of sustainable jobs, while conserving natural resources, which in most cases are the main “natural capital” and attractiveness to tourism that countries have. Public investment should conserve critical natural assets of tourism such as iconic species and ecosystems. Support such as favorable loans, direct subsidies and tax exemption should be provided to enterprises willing to green, but lacking financial means. Partnerships with major tourism enterprises in greening practices within the industry and its suppliers can bring new expertise to SIDS and support the necessary capacity building for greener technologies and approaches. Regional alliances can provide level playing fields for States and private sector actors, and can further be used to share successful examples.

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