Ministerial Conference on
Environment and Development
in Asia and the Pacific 2000
Kitakyushu, Japan 31 August - 5 September 2000
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Indicators for Sustainable Development in the Pacific Islands The following are some projects currently underway to develop indicators for sustainable development in the Pacific Islands. Project: Developing an Evaluation Framework for Environmental Management of Small Islands in the South Pacific Name of Organization: University of Waterloo (UW) Project Objectives: The research program aims to develop an evaluation framework in managing the environments of small islands in the South Pacific. By focusing on environmental performance, the framework will provide a process for the assessment of results in implementing the National Environmental Management Strategies (NEMS) toward sustainable development. A key design component is the application of indicator approach in Kiribati and Samoa. Geographic Scope: Regional Framework for Indicator Set: The menu of indicators for environmental management and sustainable development will be selected to strengthen evaluation capacities in the study sites (Samoa and Kiribati). Through the use of Environmental State and Response Indicator system (ESRI)as measurement method, environmental performance indicators will be established for the study sites. Partnerships and Stakeholder Consultations: The research program adopts a stakeholder-based, participatory approach in the design of a results-focused evaluation and national testing of indicators for environmental management and sustainable development. Consultations through partnerships and institutional affiliation are done in cooperation with Department of Lands, Survey and Environment (Samoa), Ministry of Environment and Social Development (Kiribati), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), University of South Pacific. Progress to date/future areas of work: National Consultation Workshops on Evaluation for Environmental Management were held in Samoa and Kiribati between July-August 1999. National testing of indicators for environmental management and sustainable development will be held from January-May 2000 to continue with stakeholder consultations at regional and national levels. Working groups and committees will be set up by the respective national governments during the period of national testing of indicators. A final list of indicators for measuring environmental performance will be drawn from the UN ESCAP menu of indicators, from the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, and from the OECD set of core indicators for environmental performance reviews. Timeframe: The research programme is currently in the second phase of stakeholder consultations and development and is expected to be complete by August 2000. National testing of indicators in Samoa and Kiribati is programmed from January-May, 2000. Presentation of the information and indicators Forthcoming in the form of guidelines in the operation of a 'Results-based Evaluation Strategy' to determine environmental performance based on a menu of indicators, available towards the last quarter of 2000.
Publications Programmed for 2000 In progress - Working Paper on Indicator Approaches to Results-based Evaluation for Environmental Management, UNU/Institute of Advanced Studies, United Nations University. Initiative Location(s) North America Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands Contact Person Rosario A. Turvey Title Ph. D. Researcher, UW and currently Ph.D. Fellow, UNU/IAS Address Department of Geography, Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Waterloo, 200 University W. Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1 Facsimile Number 81-3-5467-2324 Telephone Number 81-3-5467-2875 Email turvey@ias.unu.edu Indicators of Sustainable Tourism Development in Samoa Name of Organization Samoa Visitors Bureau Project Objectives This project sets out to establish a practical and user-friendly set of indicators that will enable the Samoa Visitors Bureau (SVB) to monitor the sustainability of tourism development in Samoa. Geographic Scope National Framework for Indicator Set The indicators are designed to measure progress toward the country's objectives for sustainable tourism development. They are divided into three groups: indicators of tourism resources, tourism pressures and tourism success or contribution to sustainable development. Partnerships and Stakeholder Consultations The project has developed an innovative approach to indicator development which puts emphasis on stakeholder consultation, participation and project ownership. The project is managed by a 12-member project advisory committee (PAC) made of key stakeholders including representatives from the Samoa Visitors Bureau; South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP); Government of Samoa, Department of Treasury and Department of Lands, Survey and Environment; National University of Samoa; University of the South Pacific; UNDP; Sinalei Reef Resort; Vaisala Hotel. Stakeholder Consultations Other stakeholders have been consulted during the setting of objectives and the screening of indicators for user-friendliness. Samoa Tourism Industry: Eco-tour Samoa Ltd, Safua Hotel, Magrey-Ta'a, Island Hopper Vacations, South Sea Star Hotel Tanu Beach Fales, Le lagoto Beach Bungalows, Elderhostel, Coconuts Beach Resort, Polynesian Airlines, Air New Zealand Related stakeholders: Government of Samoa, Prime Ministers Department; Government of Samoa, Ministry of Internal Affairs; Government of Samoa, Ministry of Womens Affairs; Government of Samoa, Department of Trade Commerce and Industry; Government of Samoa, Public Works Department; Government of Samoa, Department of Education; Komiti Tumama; ANZ Bank. Village consultations: Village of Saoluafata Village of Maninoa Village of Fatuvalu Village of Matautu-tai Progress to date/future areas of work The first half of the project, to develop the country's objectives for sustainable tourism development, was completed in May 1999. Potential indicators are now being screened for relevance, technical feasibility and user-friendliness. The final short list of 10-20 indicators will then be piloted, baselines monitored and thresholds calculated. The final stage of the project is to develop the monitoring and response framework within which the indicators will be implemented and adapted as new information becomes available. Timeframe The project, currently in the final stages of development, is to be completed for implementation starting 1st December 1999 after which the indicators will be implemented and monitored on a regular basis by SVB. Presentation of the information and indicators Forthcoming in the form of a "how to do manual" for monitoring each of the selected indicators, available January 2000 from Samoa Visitors Bureau. Initiative Location(s) Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands Contact Person Louise Twining-Ward Title PhD Researcher, University of Surrey Tourism Advisor to Samoa Visitors Bureau Address C/-UNDP Private Mail Bag Apia, Samoa. Facsimile Number 685 23555 Telephone Number 685 25755 Email walkabout@samoa.net Sustainable Development Indicators: Formulation and Application of a Minimalist Monitoring Set to Four South Pacific Island States. Name of Organization Otago University Geography Department Project Objectives To provide a basic indicator monitoring package to allow assessment of national progress towards sustainable development using existing and available development measures. Geographic Scope Regional Framework for Indicator Set Extension of the basic needs and welfare measures of development to assess improvement/decline in the three key areas of sustainability; social, economic and environmental. Partnerships and Stakeholder Consultations Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Western Samoa, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), SPREP, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), The Scientific Committe on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE), World Bank. Progress to date/future areas of work Completed September 1996. Timeframe Presentation of the information and indicators 9 Indicators presented by country to allow for intra-country comparison of important social, economic and environmental trends. Thesis also includes tables of recent Pacific island data in a discussion of development information availability and reliability. The development data is presented on Excel format. Publications Race, Garry Leonard. Does Sand + Sun + Surf = Sustainability? or Sustainable Development Indicators: Formulation and Application of a Minimalist Set to Four South Pacific Island States. University of Otago, 1996. _____. Application of Sustainable Development Indicators in the South Pacific Region. Forthcoming from the 1994 Eco-Politics Conference. _____. The Need for Quantifiable Indicators of Sustainable Development. Environmental Perspectives (November 1993). Initiative Location(s) Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands Contact Person Garry Race Title Part-time Academic Address Otago University Geography Department, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. Telephone Number +64-3 479-8788 Email garry.race@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
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