Wise coastal practices : towards sustainable small-island living, results of a workshop on `Wise coastal practices for sustainable human development in small island developing states', Apia, Samoa, 3-8 December 2000

Abstract

As the world’s small islands grapple with the search for ways to balance economic development and environmental protection, an inter sectoral and interdisciplinary platform for ‘Environment and Development in Coastal Regions and in Small Islands’ (CSI) has been established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to assist in that process.Through three main modalities: pilot projects, university chairs/twinning networks and a global internet-based discussion forum on‘Wise coastal practices for sustainable human development’ (WiCoP forum), the CSI plat-form seeks to develop wise practices, guide-lines and principles which will provide for the prevention and resolution of conflicts over resources and values in small islands and coastal regions. In the long term, it is envisaged that ethical codes of practice, tailored for specific wise practices, will be prepared which will provide a policy framework for equitable resource sharing.