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E/CN.17/1998/7/Add.5 |
Economic and Social Council
Distr. GENERAL
20 April-1 May 1998
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
Economic and Social Council
Commission on Sustainable Development
Sixth session
20 April-1 May 1998
Progress in the implementation of the programme of action for the
sustainable development of small island developing States
Report of the Secretary-General
Addendum
Biodiversity resources in small island developing States *
(* The present report has been prepared by the United Nations Environment
Programme in accordance with arrangements agreed to by the Inter-Agency
Committee on Sustainable Development; it is the result of consultation and
information exchange between United Nations agencies, interested government
agencies and a range of other institutions and individuals.)
Contents
Paragraphs Page
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2
II. Current situation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10 2
III. Efforts of small island developing States at the
national and regional levels . . . . . . . . . . 11-12 5
IV. International efforts aimed at assisting small
island developing States in the area of biodiversity 13-29 5
V. Conclusions and recommendations for future action
at the national, regional and international levels 30-33 8
A. Conclusions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-32 8
B. Recommendations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 8
I. Introduction
1. The biological diversity and the high degree of
endemism of many species on small island developing
States is well known. Over 4,00 species of plants and
animals are endemic to small island developing States (see
table). Because of their small size and the endemic nature
of many species, the biological diversity of small island
developing States is extremely fragile. One consequence
of the relative isolation of small island developing States
is the large incidence of unique biological adaptations
flightlessness in birds, gigantism and dwarfism in other
groups, and many modifications of form, diet and
behaviour. Restrictive habitats and small populations often
generate unique features and adaptations to prevailing
environmental and climatic conditions, but under such
circumstances species often lack the ability to adapt to rapid
changes (see table). Small island developing States are not
a homogeneous group, although many of them face similar
problems with respect to the conservation and management
of their natural resources.
II. Current situation
2. The current situation on aspects of biodiversity in
small island developing States is described below. The
focus is on (a) deforestation and forest degradation, (b)
traditional subsistence farming systems, (c) in situ and ex
situ conservation facilities, (d) coastal and marine
biodiversity, (e) freshwater biodiversity, and (f)
aquaculture.
Deforestation and forest degradation
3. Deforestation and forest degradation in small island
developing States have led to extinction of many animal
and plants species, resulting in irreversible losses of genetic
resources and ecosystems. Considering their limited land
area and their relative fragility, strong winds (e.g.,
hurricanes, cyclones, typhoons) can cause serious and
frequently recurring damage to natural and planted forests.
The impacts of human activities are usually even more
severe. Deforestation and forest degradation have affected
the dynamic interactions of ocean, coral reefs, land
formations and vegetation.
Traditional subsistence agriculture
4. This practice, using family labour and a few
purchased inputs, remains predominant in over half of all
small farms in small island developing States. It has the
advantage of being generally environmentally friendly but
has the disadvantage of low productivity. Growing
population and economic pressures are disrupting
ecologically sound farming practices, such as fallow
rotation systems. Thus, moderate input systems are
becoming more common in small island developing States.
Because of inadequate farm and production management,
these inputs are often not used effectively, leading to
economic losses and environmental damage, including loss
of biodiversity. With the encroachment of agriculture on
natural or quasi-natural ecosystems, plant and animal
genetic resources are being lost, modern cultivars are
replacing local ones and intensive livestock production
systems are developing. As a consequence, diseases and
pests are increasing in small island developing States,
particularly crop pests that are resistant to common
pesticides.
Plant and animal genetic resources
5. These resources are the basis for sustainable
agricultural production. It is particularly important for
small island developing States to have access to plant
genetic resources from countries in the same agro-chemical
zone for the diversification of their main crops. The
establishment of protected areas -- forest reserves, national
parks and wildlife sanctuaries, supported by botanical
gardens, herbaria etc. -- is essential for conserving small
island developing States' biological diversity. Such areas
also have the potential to become the basis for ecotourism.
However, establishment of in situ and ex situ conservation
systems require both financial and human resources, often
not adequately available in small island developing States.
Therefore, cooperation among small island developing
States is proving desirable as a means of evaluating and
conserving small island developing States' genetic
resources and safeguarding them for future use.
Fortunately, there appears to be a growing recognition of
the dangers posed by the introduction of exotic genetic
resources and the need for environmental impact
assessments before such introductions take place.
Practitioners of sustainable food production need access to
reservoirs of crop cultivars, livestock breeds and
aquaculture seeds with high productivity potential, good
resistance and quality characteristics, and adaptability to
local environments.
Marine ecosystems
6. Small island developing States' marine ecosystems
and biodiversity are especially susceptible to damage,
including destruction of coral reefs by fishermen or tourists;
pollution, sedimentation and land reclamation; natural
disasters; conversion of mangroves and wetlands that result
in loss of important nursery areas; use of large-scale pelagic
driftnets which impact marine mammals, turtles, birds and
non-targeted fish; and overfishing in general. Coastal
fisheries in small island developing States, once abundant,
have become scarce owing to overfishing by both artisanal
and small-scale commercial fishing. Inadequate monitoring
makes it difficult to quantify the overall damage to marine
life from such activities.
Summary of the status of animal and plant species (threatened, extinct
and endemic) in small island developing States and territories,
and their conservation status, as measured by the number and size of
legally protected areas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Animals Plants
------------------------------------------------------
Country or area Threat Extinct Endemic Threat Extinct Endemic
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antigua and Barbuda 6 4 3 1
Aruba 5 2
Bahamas 14 2 22 26 71
Barbados 3 1 3 3 2
Cuba 38 6 150 837 25 952
Dominica 6 4 59 97
Dominican Republic 33 7 37 71 54
Grenada 5 2 5 4
Haiti 28 8 46 27 1 26
Jamaica 29 2 72 376 2 382
Netherlands Antilles 8 4 3
St. Kitts and Nevis 5 3
St. Lucia 9 1 9 9 3
St. Vincent and the
Grenadines 5 1 6 8 4
Trinidad and Tobago 10 6 16 27
US Virgin Islands 6 1 4 6 1 4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caribbean subtotal 210 29 371 1 449 29 1 630
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cape Verde 7 1 13 1 114
Sao Tome and Principe 15 42 1 123
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic subtotal 22 1 55 2 237
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bahrain 6
Comoros 16 21 3 4
Maldives 5
Mauritius and Rodriguez 37 46 19 255 43 289
Seychelles 22 2 38 80 2 78
Singapore 21 1 14 1 16
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indian Ocean
subtotal 107 48 79 352 46 387
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cyprus 10 4 49 131
Malta 10 15 1 24
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mediterranean
subtotal 20 4 64 1 155
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Samoa 13 1 8 8
Cook Islands 8 14 7 10 12
Federated States of
Micronesia 70 3 22 3 90
Fiji 22 40 30 1 277
Kiribati 7 1
Marshall Islands 9
Nauru 1 1
Niue 1
Northern Marianas 24 2 7 12
Palau (Belau) 70 1 12 3
Papua New Guinea 94 2 323 93 419
Samoa 10 1 9 20 67
Solomon Islands 39 3 81 43 37
Tokelau 4 1
Tonga 10 1 3 3
Tuvalu 8
Vanuatu 15 15 25 24
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific subtotal 405 26 516 239 1 953
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 764 104 1 025 2 106 77 3 362
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Protected areas
------------------------------------------------------
Country or area Number Area (hectares)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antigua and Barbuda 13 6 628
Aruba 1 30
Bahamas 37 125 338
Barbados 6 290
Cuba 84 1 853 765
Dominica 7 17 028
Dominican Republic 24 1 049 599
Grenada 1 618
Haiti 9 9 975
Jamaica 165 176 914
Netherlands Antilles 6 12 271
St. Kitts and Nevis 2 2 625
St. Lucia 46 9 649
St. Vincent and the
Grenadines 31 8 284
Trinidad and Tobago 16 20 887
US Virgin Islands 6 5 828
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caribbean subtotal 454 3 299 729
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cape Verde 5 1 415
Sao Tome and Principe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic subtotal 5 1 415
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bahrain 4 1 325
Comoros
Maldives
Mauritius and Rodriguez 26 13 054
Seychelles 20 41 975
Singapore 9 3 173
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indian Ocean
subtotal 59 59 527
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cyprus 27 101 227
Malta 8 311
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mediterranean
subtotal 35 101 538
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Samoa 11 5 127
Cook Islands 1 160
Federated States of
Micronesia
Fiji 32 29 589
Kiribati 11 58 841
Marshall Islands
Nauru
Niue 3
Northern Marianas 9 2 796
Palau (Belau) 3 1 459
Papua New Guinea 36 1 039 856
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tokelau
Tonga 10 3 727
Tuvalu
Vanuatu 5 207
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific subtotal 121 1 141 762
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 674 4 603 971
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
Freshwater biodiversity
7. Although it has not been studied as much as marine
and coastal biodiversity, some small island developing
States have important freshwater biological diversity. They
include plants and animals that are rare, endemic,
introduced species, including many that are threatened by
habitat degradation. Unlike their marine counterparts,
which may be dispersed over great distances by ocean
currents, inland freshwater aquatic species have more
restricted access to dispersion routes. Many native
freshwater species are not currently utilized commercially
and their status is not well documented.
Aquaculture
8. Although this industry is becoming more important
for some small island developing States, the sector is faced
with constraints and sustainability problems. Because of
little previous experience in fish farming in many small
island developing States, often there are few domesticated
native species. Thus, new and/or genetically improved
species have been proposed, which may play an important
role in future aquaculture development. However, the
introduction of non-native species may have environmental
impacts and alter traditional ownership rights to land and
water resources.
9. In view of the many factors affecting the biological
diversity of small island developing States, the
responsibility for conserving this biodiversity is
disproportionate to their capabilities. With regard to nature
conservation through designation of protected areas, there
is considerable variation among small island developing
States; many small island developing States have no
protected areas, while others, such as Fiji, the Bahamas and
Cape Verde, have considerable networks, often
incorporating over 10 per cent of their land area (see table).
10. Upon submission of the first national reports to the
fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, more
information on the current state of biological diversity of
small island developing States and the status of
implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity
will become available.
III. Efforts of small island developing
States at the national and regional
levels
11. Among the 41 States and self-governing territories
classified as small island developing States by the United
Nations, 32 have ratified the Convention on Biological
Diversity; three others have become signatories as of 12
November 1997. Several small island developing States and
archipelagoes in developing countries contribute to the
international network of biosphere reserves and the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) World Heritage List. Conservation in such areas
is promoted through the exchange of information and
experience among insular protected areas, the provision of
technical assistance and training opportunities, and the
development of comparative studies among groups of
islands.
12. A pilot regional Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded
project in the South Pacific is being coordinated by
the South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme
(SPREP). It covers 15 island countries in the region, with
the goal of protecting their biological diversity by
facilitating establishment of conservation areas, with agreed
development criteria based on long-term ecological
sustainability. At the time of the mid-term review of the
project in August 1996, 17 conservation areas were at
various stages of planning and establishment.
IV. International efforts aimed at
assisting small island developing
States in the area of biodiversity
13. According to the GEF quarterly operational report of
June 1997, GEF approved regular projects for the Comoros
and Mauritius. It also endorsed enabling activities for 14
small island developing States, including Antigua and
Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Cape Verde, the
Comoros, Cuba, Fiji, Maldives, the Marshall Islands,
Mauritius, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines, and Vanuatu.
14. In its preamble, the contracting parties to the
Convention acknowledged the special conditions of the
least developed countries and small island developing
States. In its medium-term work programme, the
Conference of Parties to the Convention, at its first meeting,
agreed that the biological diversity of marine and coastal
ecosystems would be the first thematic focus to be
addressed at its second meeting. Subsequently, at its second
meeting, the Conference of Parties, in its decision II/10,
gave specific guidance to the Executive Secretary regarding
the conduct of work in this programme area, and also
suggested that the United Nations Secretariat support the
work of its Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and
Technological Advice in regard to the special conditions
of least developed countries and small island developing
States. Subsequently, at its third meeting, in its
recommendation III/2, the Subsidiary Body recognized the
special significance of small island developing States in the
global conservation of marine and coastal biological
diversity.
15. In its operational strategy for coastal, marine, and
freshwater ecosystems, GEF has agreed that the needs of
tropical island ecosystems will receive particular attention.
With regard to mountainous ecosystems, it has also
indicated that activities in this operational programme will
initially address the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity areas under increasing human pressure and
imminent threat of degradation, including tropical islands.
16. In March 1997, the governing body of the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
approved a programme of fisheries assistance for small
island developing States, which includes (a) institutional
strengthening and national capacity-building; (b) enhanced
conservation and management of exclusive economic zone
fisheries; (c) improved post-harvest fish management and
marketing; (d) a safety-at-sea component; (e) strengthening
the economic role of national fisheries industries and
privatization of fisheries investments; and (f) aquaculture
and inland fisheries conservation, management and
development.
17. During the period under review, FAO prepared a
review of the uses and status of trees and forests in land-use
systems in Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati and Tuvalu, including
an annotated checklist of tree species of agro-forestry. The
review contains recommendations for the development of
agro-forestry strategies and the conservation of the
diversity of species used in traditional agro-forestry
systems. FAO previously assisted South Pacific countries
in collecting, conserving, characterizing and documenting
root and tuber crop genetic resources. It plans to evaluate
the status of existing ex situ collections of plant and animal
genetic resources for the South Pacific region, and to
propose actions to address related problems. It is also
attempting to strengthen national capabilities for the
conservation and sustainable utilization of existing genetic
resource collections. In the period 1992-1994, it supported
an improved seed production project covering 14 countries
in the Caribbean region. The objective was to strengthen
national capacities to conserve and document existing
varieties of crops. Field and laboratory standards were
established for seed quality control for sexual seed and
vegetative planting materials to facilitate exchange, seed
production and further development of seed technology.
18. The Caribbean Amblyomma Programme, which is
supported by the Caribbean Community, is jointly executed
by FAO and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation
on Agriculture. It became active in Anguilla and Saint Kitts
and Nevis in 1995, and in Montserrat and Saint Lucia in
1996. Dominica, which is surrounded by heavily infested
islands, launched its national programme in February 1997,
and Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados were expected to
join in 1997. The Programme has made notable progress
in strengthening veterinary services and helping
Governments improve their legislation and quarantine
procedures. With funds from Japan, FAO operates the Fiji-based
South Pacific Aquaculture Development. Fifteen
countries from the region participate in addressing
problems of sustainable aquaculture development,
including the responsible use of alien species, human
resource development in aquaculture, economic viability,
and stock enhancement aimed at rehabilitating fisheries and
habitats, especially in coral reef areas. FAO and the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have
implemented a field project on stock enhancement of inland
waters of Papua New Guinea. The project has facilitated the
introduction of international codes of practice on the
responsible use of introduced (alien) species intended to
increase productivity of inland river systems. FAO's
Special Programme on Food Security has also developed
a multidisciplinary project in Papua New Guinea, involving
water control, the intensification of production systems,
diversification, the establishment of demonstration
aquaculture farms and the analysis of socio-economic
constraints.
19. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
(IOC) of UNESCO provides a good scientific focus for
regional activities in the field of biodiversity, as well as for
inputs directly to the Convention secretariat, through the
IOC Programme on Ocean Science in Relation to Living
Resources (OSLR), the Global Coral Reef Monitoring
Network and the IOC Marine Biodiversity Strategy. Over
the longer term, the establishment of a Global Ocean
Observing System will provide a basis for systematic
monitoring of factors relevant to assessments of marine
biodiversity. OSLR represents a framework programme for
IOC member States to share knowledge, develop
cooperative actions and address uncertainties about marine
living resources and their biodiversity, through joint
scientific research, in conjunction with international and
intergovernmental initiatives and programmes. The IOC
marine biodiversity strategy includes components on
monitoring, training and capacity-building.
20. UNESCO activities relating to biodiversity in small
island developing States under the Heritage Convention
include promotion of international instruments for
protecting biological diversity and the natural heritage;
conservation as part of sustainable development; integrated
coastal management; and traditional ecological knowledge
about small island developing States biodiversity. As part
of its medium-term strategy, the Twenty-Eighth UNESCO
General Conference adopted a six-year multidisciplinary
project, entitled "Environment and development in coastal
regions and small islands". In January 1996, the
organization launched an interregional project, entitled
"Integrated biodiversity strategies for islands and coastal
areas", with the goal of assisting integrated biodiversity
strategies for interregional cooperation between coastal
States and islands, and promoting implementation of the
Convention on Biological Diversity.
21. There has been heightened interest in traditional
approaches to the use and management of natural resources.
UNESCO work in this area includes promoting ethnobotany
and sustainable use of plant resources within the World
Wildlife Foundation (WWF)/UNESCO/Royal Botanic
Gardens Kew Initiative on People and Plants; support to the
regional non-governmental organization TRAMIL for work
on popular use of Caribbean medicinal plants; and regional
collaborative research on Caribbean coral reefs and beach
stability.
22. UNEP extended assistance to small island developing
States within the framework of the climate change,
biological diversity, and desertification conventions. Small
island developing States-related work within the UNEP
sub-programme "Caring for freshwater, coastal and marine
resources (1998-1999)", includes facilitation of policy-relevant
assessments of the state of small island developing
States fresh and marine waters, and their living resources,
and development of tools and guidelines for sustainable
management and use of small island developing States'
fresh and coastal waters and living resources. Further, the
recently adopted Global Programme of Action for the
Protection of Marine Environment from Land-based
Activities envisions a number of regional workshops, some
in small island developing States, to address land-based
environmental pollution, including its impacts on
biodiversity. Under its sub-programme, "Caring for
biological resources", and within the context of the
Convention, UNEP is providing assistance to developing
countries, including small island developing States, in the
formulation of policy instruments for the integrated
management of biological resources. Small island
developing States also benefit from UNEP scientific
support and technical advisory services in preparation of
(a) biodiversity country studies; (b) biodiversity data
management projects; (c) the formulation and
implementation of national biodiversity strategies and
action plans; and (d) the preparation of national biosafety
frameworks, which also review the biodiversity of small
island developing States.
23. An international coral reef initiative workshop was
held in Seychelles in 1996 for the Western Indian Ocean
and the East African region, to establish the basis for a
strategy and action plan for conserving and managing coral
reefs in the region. UNEP continues to assist small island
developing States in enhancing their technical and
managerial capacities for environmental management,
including biodiversity, through its regional advisory
services programme, which facilitates the continuous
training of national experts.
24. The organization has secured GEF funds for
biodiversity country studies, biodiversity data management,
national biodiversity strategy and action plans and/or
national biosafety frameworks for a number of small island
developing States, including the Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba,
Mauritius, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Saint Lucia and
Vanuatu. It has also produced technical documents on the
features of biodiversity in small island developing States,
using geographic information systems databases, and is
currently assisting the Bahamas, Barbados, Seychelles,
Solomon Islands and Vanuatu in developing national
biodiversity action plans, funded by GEF. Other activities
undertaken by UNEP in support of small island developing
States include (a) a workshop on implementation of
international conventions related to biological diversity,
held in Mozambique in 1997; (b) assistance in developing
a draft law on marine conservation areas for Tuvalu; and
(c) assistance in preparing a draft framework on
environmental law for Kiribati, which contains provisions
on conservation of biodiversity.
25. In 1996, the General Assembly of the World
Conservation Union (IUCN) requested its members,
commissions and the Director-General to assist small island
developing States in the implementation of the Programme
of Action for the Sustainable Development of small island
developing States. Through its Biodiversity Policy
Coordination Division, IUCN convened a workshop on
additional funding sources for small island developing
States for Convention implementation. Further, it organized
a workshop on marine biodiversity jointly with the first
meeting of the Conference of parties to the Convention. In
collaboration with UNEP, IUCN is developing a global
strategy and action plan for alien invasive species, which
are a major problem for small island developing States'
biodiversity.
26. IUCN has also engaged in work on management and
sustainable use of marine and coastal resources through its
regional and country offices. In the context of the
Convention on Biological Diversity, IUCN is working to
facilitate implementation of the Jakarta Mandate, including
key small island developing States issues, such as protected
areas, alien species, integrated marine and coastal area
management, marine and coastal living resources and
mariculture. In collaboration with the Centre for
International Environmental Law and WWF, it has
published a document, entitled "Biodiversity in the seas".
In collaboration with UNEP and World Resources Institute,
it has co-published a document, entitled "National
biodiversity planning: guidelines based on early
experiences around the world."
27. The World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC)
has developed large databases on small island developing
States biodiversity, which contain much information on
small island developing States threatened species, habitats
and protected areas (see table). These databases have been
the foundation for a series of recent WCMC reports on the
status of small island developing States biodiversity. It also
has undertaken a global review of small island developing
States' biodiversity, identifying a number of global threats,
including demographic and developmental pressures and
natural disasters.
28. Issues relevant to small island developing States'
biodiversity have been addressed in two global WWF
publications, World Conservation Strategy, and Caring for
the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living. These
publications give a comprehensive account of major small
island developing States concerns, and provide a solid basis
for the consideration of issues covered in the Programme
of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island
Developing States.
29. Specific actions to be taken by the secretariat of the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) include designation of
a small island developing States coordinator for CITES
activities; preparation of information packets for non-Party
small island developing States; provision of technical
assistance to parties and non-parties; and conveyance of
specific recommendations to non-party small island
developing States encouraging actions to promote
compliance with CITES requirements.
V. Conclusions and recommendations
for future action at the national,
regional and international levels
A. Conclusions
30. The biodiversity of small island developing States is
seriously threatened by a combination of natural and
anthropogenic factors. Effective conservation and
sustainable use of small island developing States
biodiversity entails the sustainable management of genetic
resources for food and agriculture -- forestry, fisheries and
aquaculture -- which may call for a "farming systems"
approach. For forestry and capture fisheries, it implies
adopting an environmentally sound and socially beneficial
management approach, integrated with other land and water
management. Community-based management systems and
related land and fishing rights in supporting food systems
are important as a basis for applying this approach.
Implementation of relevant, regional and international
agreements are particularly important for fishery resources
that migrate through or straddle areas of the natural
jurisdiction of small island developing States.
31. In order to curb rapid loss of biodiversity, the
deforestation caused by agricultural expansion and
overharvesting of forests must be controlled so as to reverse
the serious environmental consequences of lost tree cover
and downstream impacts on marine areas. For sustainable
forest use, the remaining forest areas of most small island
developing States require urgent attention, including
possible reorganization of the entire logging industry
sector. Deforestation must be monitored and minimized
through a coordinated policy for effective use and
conservation. In erosion-prone areas, farmers must be
encouraged to adopt appropriate agro-forestry practices,
which also should become an established component of
integrated rural development.
32. Further research into the "greening" of small island
developing States is necessary to improve knowledge of the
original indigenous plant species and formations; select and
use local species suitable for incorporation in soil and water
conservation, range regeneration and fodder production,
and fuelwood supply; and screen and eventually introduce
suitable non-indigenous species from similar habitats.
B. Recommendations
33. Further efforts are needed at all levels to implement
the actions, policies and measures identified in the
Programme of Action. Moreover, additional measures are
also needed to:
(a) At the national level:
(i) Build national technological and human
capacity for managing natural resources, and upgrade
national capabilities for marine and terrestrial
resource surveys, by training key personnel and
implementing measures to retain their services within
the public sector;
(ii) Introduce charges for using sea lanes and straits
to internalize part of the costs of small island
developing States biodiversity losses arising from
inappropriate practices, such as waste discharges,
incineration or accidental spills in proximate national
or international waters. Charges and taxes on
enterprises for discharges of inadequately treated
wastes should also be considered, taking into account
the potential biodiversity losses resulting from such
practices;
(iii) Strengthen national capabilities to maintain
agro-biodiversity, including animal and plant
protection and quarantine services, through
assessment and strengthening of national legislation,
facilities and services, including surveillance;
(iv) Enhance farming systems and improve
management of natural resources, as applicable;
rehabilitate degraded habitats, where appropriate; and
monitor the impact of development programmes,
including the impact of introduced species on native
ecosystems, and the success of rehabilitation efforts;
(v) Evaluate and modify, if necessary, and
implement existing guidelines and codes of practice
on best practices in farming systems and species
introduction;
(b) At the regional level:
(i) Strengthen regional activities for harmonizing
legislation and promoting the exchange of
technologies and expertise;
(ii) Strengthen the capacity of regional bodies to
undertake surveys on reef, estuary, wetland and
lagoon resources; monitor and promote innovative
coral reef and mangrove programmes.
(c) At the international level:
(i) Assist small island developing States in
developing inventories of marine biodiversity
resources and in strengthening regional and marine
research centres;
(ii) Support participation of small island developing
States representatives in relevant global negotiation
processes, including in meetings of the Convention
on Biological Diversity, especially the Conference of
parties to the Convention and its Subsidiary Body on
Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, and
in expert and liaison groups, to ensure appropriate
consideration of small island developing States
priorities;
(iii) Supports small island developing States in
strengthening national and regional capabilities for
the conservation and sustainable use of genetic
resource for food and agriculture, including
implementation of priorities identified in the Global
Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources;
(iv) Provide technical assistance to assess and
revise, where needed, national legislation, implement
appropriate training, and enhance database
development and technology transfer. Countries
which import small island developing States animal
and plant resources should be encouraged to assist
small island developing States in upgrading their
facilities and strengthening animal and plant
protection and quarantine services to ensure
achievement of international standards.
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