The environmental needs of small island developing countries were given special attention at the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 as was the need to determine "how the new global framework for sustainable development can be put into action in island countries" (Miles, 1993, p. 34). The environment is a vital resource for all island developing states. Its special
Human needs and desires demand economic development.
Natural resources provide the physical basis for that
development. But ever more evidence accumulates to show that
human actions, whether through carelessness or through the
necessity for development, are causing environmental
degradation and resource depletion. This deterioration makes
continued economic development more difficult both because
damage to resources makes them less productive of economic
goods and because funding and human effort must be diverted
The main objective of the expedition was to compare as large a series of islands of different climatic conditions, ages and geological origins as possible. This necessitated short visits to each selected island. The structure and components of the ecosystem under study were the focus of attention, while their functioning was considered to be of secondary importance.
3 copies
Call Number: ECO [EL],PC 577.52 ECO
Physical Description: x, 220 p. : ill. ; 30 cm
Economic development activities in the South Pacific island countries have increased in momentum in recent years, often with
significant environmental effects on the limited resource base of island ecosystems.
Available in e-copy
Call Number: 363.707155 ONO [EL]
ISBN/ISSN: 982-04-0081-3
Physical Description: iv, p.10 . ; 29 cm