COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT HEARS NATIONAL PRESENTATIONS FROM ICELAND, BALTIC SEA STATES, KENYA
Press Release
ENV/DEV/510
COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT HEARS NATIONAL PRESENTATIONS FROM ICELAND, BALTIC SEA STATES, KENYA
19990426 Fisheries Management, Ocean Dumping, Destructive Use of Subsidies, Sustainable Tourism among Issues RaisedHearing from countries in the Arctic, the Baltic Sea region and in Africa, the Commission for Sustainable Development was told this morning of national efforts to promote sustainable development that ranged from eco- friendly tourism to sustainable fishing.
The national presentations were part of the Commission's seventh session, which will continue through 30 April and is focusing on oceans and seas, small island developing States, consumption and production patterns and sustainable tourism. The 53-member Commission monitors implementation of Agenda 21, the action plan adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) (Rio de Janeiro, 1992).
There was no need to frighten the general public with inflated warnings about depleted fish stocks, the Director General of Iceland's Marine Research Institute told the Commission. Such alarms could bring down the livelihood of nations that had for centuries lived through prudent ocean harvesting, such as his own. Iceland was the only European country whose economy was based on natural resource exploitation, he said.
At the same time, he added, there was a need to address unresolved fisheries management matters, including ocean pollution and the destructive use of subsidies, in order to continue the sustainable harvesting of living ocean resources. But, science-based management had enabled his country to harvest the sea without necessarily threatening stocks.
Poland's Minister of the Environment, in a presentation on Baltic Sea region cooperation, said that sustainable development was not only a nice theory, but a theory that could be put into practice. The region enjoyed favourable natural and human resources, together with a rich common cultural heritage and history. It was also a highly industrialized area, characterized by widely differing economic and social preconditions. Despite those differences, developmental cooperation had begun before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
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He said such cooperative initiatives included: the Helsinki Convention; Vision and Strategies Around the Baltic 2010; and Baltic 21. All provided cooperation for sustainable development between the 11 nations around the Baltic Sea. Regional agreements prohibited dumping and incineration around the Sea, as well as preventing pollution from ships and the oil and chemical industries.
The Minister of Tourism and Wildlife of Kenya said that taking into consideration the changing patterns in tourism, Kenya was introducing new products, while preserving the authenticity of popular attractions. The new tourism policy was focused on low-volume, high-yield tourism. Its objective was to maximize the benefits of tourism while ensuring its sustainability. The policy would also encourage limited investments in eco-friendly lodging and popularize some underutilized national parks and game reserves.
He added that his country's tourism policy focused on: improving the quality of people's lives; ensuring equitable distribution of benefits to local communities; promoting respect for customs; and initiating active partnership with stakeholders. However, the shift in policy focus had proven costly, requiring huge financial outlays, as well as the mass mobilization and education of communities. Further technical and financial assistance was required for full implementation of the policies.
The Iceland delegation also included the Secretary-General of Iceland's Ministry for the Environment, the Ambassador for Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs and a representative of the Icelandic Freezing Plants Corporation.
Also taking part in the presentation for the Baltic Region was the Senior Adviser at the Ministry of the Environment of Finland; the Chairman of the Vision and Strategies Around the Baltic 2010; and the Chairman of Senior Officials Group.
The Commission will meet again at 3 p.m. today to hear national presentation on sustainable development efforts from Panama and Mexico.
Commission Work Programme
The Commission on Sustainable Development met this morning to hear presentations by three countries on efforts to foster and promote sustainable development: Poland, on the Baltic regional cooperation for sustainable development; Iceland, on Icelandic fisheries, science-based management and sustainable business; and Kenya, on tourism and sustainable development.
The presentations are part of the Commission's diverse agenda for its seventh session, being held from 19 to 30 April. Last week, the Commission held a three-day high-level segment and several interactive dialogues with major groups, focusing on its four substantive themes for the session: oceans and seas; small island developing States; consumption and production patterns; and sustainable tourism.
The 53-member Commission monitors implementation of Agenda 21, the action plan adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) (Rio de Janeiro, 1992). Agenda 21 aims to enlist all major groups -- including women, youth, industry and governments -- in changing human behaviour to minimize environmental damage and ensure sustainability in the development process. In 1997, the General Assembly held its nineteenth special session to review UNCED, and adopted the Programme for Further Implementation of Agenda 21.
(For further information on the Commission's seventh session, see Press Release ENV/DEV/498 of 16 April.)
Statements
At the beginning of the meeting, VASSILY NEBENZIA (Russian Federation) said that, at the high-level meeting his delegation had spoken of the difficult ecological situation occurring in the Balkans, due to the fighting in Yugoslavia. The Commission on Sustainable Development could not remain silent when events were taking place that threatened development. His delegation intended to submit a draft decision to the Commission on ways to assess the situation in the Balkans and on ways to overcome the situation. It would not be a politicized resolution. It was not aimed at confrontation. He would submit the draft to the Secretariat and sufficient time should be devoted to considering it.
The Commission Chairman, SIMON UPTON (New Zealand), welcomed the statement. He had stated in the beginning of the Commission's session that, on issues where it was obvious that consensus could not be reached, the Commission would not spend lots of time debating it. It was better in those situations to say that consensus was not possible and reflect the views of the different delegations. The topic raised by the Russian Federation was likely
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to be contentious. The Commission already had an enormous agenda and it would be working overtime to bring it to a conclusion.
Presentation on Baltic Sea Region
JAN SZYSZKO, Minister of the Environment of Poland, said the Baltic Sea region included the countries of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russian Federation, Sweden, Iceland and Norway. The region enjoyed a unique combination of favourable natural and human resources, together with a rich common cultural heritage and history. Considering the region's great potential for economic and social development, it was better equipped than most for sustainable development efforts. It was a highly industrialized region and was characterized by widely differing economic and social preconditions.
He added that, despite those differences, developmental cooperation had begun before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The political forces dividing the region into East and West were overcome to form agreements in such areas as fishing in the Baltic Sea. In 1974, the Baltic States formed the Helsinki Convention for sustainable use of the Baltic Sea resources. It was important to remember that sustainable development was not only a nice theory, but a theory that could be put into practice.
TERTTU MELVASALO, Senior Adviser at the Ministry of the Environment of Finland, said that the Helsinki Convention, signed in 1974 and revised in 1992, was intended to protect the environment from pollution from land and sea. It contained provisions to prohibit dumping and incineration and it implemented a "polluter pays" principal. The Convention also allowed for a system of impact assessment for activities, as well as prevention of pollution from ships and the oil and chemical industries. Nature and biodiversity preservation was also a priority. In 1990, an ad hoc task force was created by regional governments to take further measures to restore the Baltic Sea to ecological balance and address "hot spots" where the hazards of pollution were great. Several international financial institutions participated in the effort, including the World Bank. It was crucial that the countries in transition commit themselves to cleaning up hot spots of pollution.
ALEKSANDER GORDEVICIUS (Lithuania), Chairman of Vision and Strategies Around the Baltic, an intergovernmental programme of the Baltic States, said cooperation and special planning in the Baltic Sea region was important to the conservation of natural resources. Public planning dealt with problems and various interests in order to settle differences in a sustainable way. The goals of special planning efforts focused on conserving natural and cultural resources and using those resources in a sustainable way.
Efforts had also focused on reducing economic and social inequalities, he said. Vision and Strategies Around the Baltic -- or VASAB-2010 -- was
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started in 1992. It was intended to address the needs of cities in the region, while taking into account the priorities of sustainable development, freedom and solidarity. VASAB created common, active cooperation between all actors, with a view toward sustainable development goals for 2010.
SVEN BODIN (Sweden), Chairman of the Senior Officials Group, said that there had been a long history of cooperation in the Baltic region and that created an excellent groundwork for taking steps for overall sustainable development. In 1996, ministers met to discuss economic development, democracy and other issues and out of that meeting came the Baltic 21 initiative. Its overall goal was to ensure cooperative efforts and progress in social, economic and environmental development. It includes the participation of such sectors as: agriculture; energy; industry; tourism; transport; and forests.
Those groups were primarily responsible the implementation of Baltic 21, he continued. Each sector also drew up its own action plans and goals for sustainable development. The programme also included the participation of non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations based on the principles of democracy, transparency and openness. He stressed that other regions of the world could adopt a similar model for sustainable development.
National Presentation by Iceland
JOHANN SIGURJONSSON, Director General, Marine Research Institute of Iceland, said highly technological industry was replacing traditional farming and fishing as the main vehicle of economic growth. In Europe, his country was the exception to that trend. Iceland was the only European country with an economy based on exploiting natural resources. Sea products amounted to about 75 per cent of its export merchandise value.
Inaccurate and misleading discussion on oceans and fisheries was a source of great concern, he continued. Problems might arise from bad practices in certain areas, but in others, such as off Iceland, the management of living marine resources was being practised successfully, and had allowed for the creation of a prosperous society with modern standards, despite a harsh and hostile natural environment.
Iceland's success story related primarily to three factors, he continued. The country's natural surroundings provided a wealth of animal life and large fish stocks. Also, for several decades, science-based management of fisheries had been exercised carefully, with increasing degrees of success. Further, Iceland had developed a stringent and relatively well- performing management framework for all aspects of fishing, including fishing permits and modern surveillance and enforcement.
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After reviewing some of Iceland's geographical and resource specificities, he said that fish stocks had generally been able to sustain the intense rates of harvest and marine production, which were the backbone of the national economy. A fundamental aspect of his country's approach to management was its infrastructure. The research component, primarily directed by his institute, addressed the impact of environmental factors on fish stocks, and monitored stock structure and productivity. Its research led to recommendations on total allowable catch. With increasing recognition by all sectors of the need for science-based management strategies, the Institute's recommendations were generally quite similar to those of the authorities.
Over the last 20 years, a system of individually transferable quotas had been developed, which led to the rationalization of all aspects of the country's fisheries, he said. That was the main reason the Icelandic fleet was regarded as the most efficient in the world.
He then described the methods involved in determining total allowable catch and developing a science-based management strategy. Scientific research carried out by marine scientists -- in cooperation with fishermen and operators -- was complemented by review by members of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), he said.
The herring stock had collapsed in the late 1960s, but after serious efforts to revive it, herring had been rebuilt to its optimal size, he said, in part because the country had adjusted its annual catch to less than 20 per cent of fishable stock. Efforts were also being made to revive cod stocks. Iceland's story was not entirely successful, but he would not dwell on the ups and downs, he said.
Turning to international elements of fisheries management, he said that while the United Nations Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks had been in place since 1995, there was still work to be done in fisheries management outside the 200 mile exclusive economic zones. Implementation of the Agreement was important and required coordination and cooperation from States concerned.
A subsidized fishing industry represented another threat to sustainable fishing, he said. Subsidies could be an incentive for harmful harvesting of threatened stocks in one country, thus undermining sustainable fishing practices in another country by making it non-competitive. Pollution, too, was a real threat to all marine food production, for reasons that included the concern of consumers, the potential harmful effects of polluted products on human health, and the direct effects on marine ecosystems.
Misleading information on fisheries, which every now and then appeared in the international environmental debate, could be extremely harmful, he said. Such voices could destroy the healthy image of sea products and bring
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down the livelihood of nations that had for centuries lived through prudent ocean harvesting and were still doing so.
Science-based management had provided Iceland with tools to harvest the sea "without necessarily threatening stocks", he said. It was needless and misleading to frighten the general public with inflated warnings; reliable information must be distributed. Still, internationally, there was need for addressing unresolved fisheries management matters. All States must tackle the problems of subsidies and pollution to avoid serious consequences and to continue sustainable harvesting of living ocean resources.
ALDA MOLLER, of the Icelandic Freezing Plants Corporation, spoke on the seafood industry as a sustainable business. In the 1960s, herring had disappeared from Iceland's waters and subsequently, a fishing moratorium had been followed for many years. That collapse had been due to changes in the Arctic environment and overfishing. It was Iceland's first experience of a stock collapse and, fortunately, its only one. The crash became a learning experience, resulting in the shift from maximum possible catch to maximum sustainable yield of all major stocks. Managing fisheries properly was a continuous learning process and a balancing act for a nation so dependent on its fisheries.
Iceland's fisheries received no support in the way of subsidies, she said. Fishing was a backbone of the economy, and the backbone was not meant to be supported.
Working for the largest seafood marketing company in Iceland, she had noted the complex relationship between marketing and environmental issues, she said. Issues were both local and international and involved both direct and indirect effects on business. Recently, her company had decided to approach the issue from a more environmental angle, and to take consumer concerns into account.
Consumers were concerned about a number of issues, she continued. The international debate on global overfishing was growing. Many fisheries were under heavy pressure. There were frequent reports of catches in excess of recommendations, while fishing capacity continued to increase. Other concerns included large-scale subsidies in some fisheries, which led to distortions in market price, but also threatened proper resource management in many areas of the world. Subsidies applied to the harvesting sector promoted excessive levels of effort and capacity. In general, seafood was not "enjoying good press" and consumers were likely to get an unfavourable impression of the fishing industry.
Her company had focused on responding to those concerns last year, which was the International Year of the Oceans, she continued. Its Environmental Principles, first drafted in 1993, were extended and formally adopted in 1998.
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The Principles, now an inherent part of the company's policy, stated its interests and obligations regarding sustainable fishery management systems, quality assurance and appropriate use of packaging material. The commitments were driven by the belief that information on environmental matters was part of an overall service to customers and part of the foundation of any responsible company.
Certain issues must be addressed by individual States, the international community and by the seafood industry, if there was to be sustainable development in fisheries, she said. Those were: improved fisheries management in many areas; responsible use of ocean catch through less discards; and active cooperation against ocean pollution. The seafood industry worldwide must recognize that the sustainable and responsible use of marine resources was closely linked to sustainable business.
Discussion
EIDUR GUDNASON, Ambassador for Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs of Iceland, stressed that for his country, there was no alternative to sustainable fishing. The country had sought to diversify, but sustainable fishing would remain its main livelihood in the foreseeable future.
MAGNUS JOHANNESSON, Secretary-General of the Ministry for the Environment of Iceland, said that while Icelandic water was largely free from man-made pollution, it was striking that most of the pollution that was identified there originated in distant parts of the world. For that reason, his country had long been active in international efforts to reduce pollution.
Hazardous chemicals represented 4 per cent of the waste produced in Iceland, he said. It was also the single biggest threat to oceans. A few years ago, Iceland had introduced economic instruments to control the production of hazardous waste, placing a levy on all systems that would result in such wastes. The system had been successful, and he would happily share the experience with interested parties.
A representative from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) then asked whether Iceland belonged to global monitoring systems that sought to keep tabs on global trends in marine pollution. What would happen if natural or man-made occurrences beyond the country's capabilities, such as climate change, resulted in severe changes in the ecosystems of the local waters? Also, if a part of the ecosystem, like seals, grew to threaten commercial parts of the system, how would that be addressed?
Mr. JOHANNESSON said Iceland did participate in global observation systems. It was party to international mechanisms dealing with oil pollution
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at Nordic and global levels, based in the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Mr. GUDNASON said that climate change could have dire consequences for his country, if it changed the ocean currents that made Iceland's fishing grounds so rich. He hoped that would not happen.
Mr. SIGURJONSSON, addressing the interactions between species, said that if whale stocks increased to pre-exploitation levels -- from the 70 per cent they were at today to 100 per cent -- there would be risk of cod stock being reduced by 10 to 20 per cent. It was a serious matter. At some stage, whales would be harvested to avoid that and, likewise, seals were a major component in the system. "We would never like to wipe out the population of seals and whales" he said, "but to moderately harvest them to avoid serious consequences was necessary in the long term".
New Zealand's representative asked how fishing efforts had been reduced.
Fishing had decreased by about 30 to 40 per cent with introduction of national legislation on harvests, a representative said. Yet, yield had increased, as well. It was economical to stick to such a rule.
The representative of Mexico said the presentations had been brief, and did not focus on ocean environmental issues, such as protected areas, management of coastal regions and environmental impact. Did Iceland have problems in that area? he asked. Had that been the reason such issues had been omitted from the presentation?
Mr. SIGURJONSSON said he could not properly answer the question here, but Iceland had a wide scheme of semi-protected areas.
A representative of non-governmental organizations asked a series of questions regarding Iceland's support for the non-nuclear zones put forth by the Assembly in recent years, and about efforts to participate in windmill rather than nuclear energy.
Mr. GUDNASON said the questions were political, and the delegation was not competent to answer them.
Presentation of Kenya
HENRY KOSGEI, Minister of Tourism and Wildlife of Kenya, said that his country's tourism was mainly based on natural attractions, which include wildlife in its natural habitat, as well as exotic beaches and hospitable people. Approximately 10 per cent of the country's surface area had been set aside for conservation of wildlife and biodiversity. Taking into consideration the changing patterns in tourism, Kenya was introducing new
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product ranges, while preserving the authenticity of popular attractions, thus ensuring that they were used responsibly and in a sustainable manner.
The new tourism policy was focused on low volume, high yield tourism, which was in harmony with Agenda 21, he continued. Its objective was to maximize the benefits of tourism, while ensuring the sustainability. The policy would also encourage limited investments in eco-friendly lodging and popularize some underutilized national parks and game reserves.
He added that Kenya's current tourism policy focused on: improvement of the quality of life of the people; ensuring equitable distribution of benefits from tourism to local communities; promoting respect for local customs; and initiating an active partnership with all stakeholders. However, the shift in policy focus to ecotourism had proven to be a relatively costly undertaking in the short-term, as it required huge financial outlays, not to mention the requisite mass mobilization and education of communities before the concepts could be fully embraced. While Kenya appreciated the support of donor agencies and non-governmental organizations, so far, further technical and financial assistance was required for full implementation of the policies.
The tourism policy also entailed the development and operation of health clinics and the establishment of community trusts and projects aimed at improving the standard of living of communities that bordered tourist resorts, he continued. One of the projects was a lodge called IL Ngwesi Tourist Lodge, which had been operational since December 1996. The proceeds from the lodge were reinvested in community-based development projects, such as schools and water management. It illustrated the benefits of direct linkages between conservation of the community and tourism-related wildlife projects.
Despite such efforts, the challenges faced in Kenya far out-weighed its means, he said. He called for concerted global action to preserve the gift of wildlife for posterity. In that regard, the exchange of information and the harmonization of legislation should be encouraged among African countries.
Discussion
The representative of Germany asked how local people had benefited from the change in Kenya's tourism policy.
Mr. KOSGEI said that most of the investment in tourism was done by private stakeholders and large tourism operators. The Government was involved mostly in enforcing regulations. The tourism policy change came from a conflict between the people and wildlife. The people said the wildlife was invading their land, which they wanted for grazing and cultivation. The new policy allowed the communities that lived near the game parks to get a share of the revenue of the park, as well as have better access to schools and health care.
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The representative of Egypt asked a question regarding the relationship between new, ecotourism facilities and the local people.
Mr. KOSGEI said there had been a conflict between humans and animals, with people saying the Government was protecting animals more than them. For that reason, the Government needed to convince people that they would benefit from tourism. In some areas, the people were already appreciating revenues from preserving wildlife, because that saw that when tourists came, they benefited.
The representative of Senegal asked if there were efforts to make the population more accountable for the management of tourism facilities. In her country, there were parks where the people were responsible for most of the operations.
Mr. KOSGEI said there were two parks in Kenya that were owned by the local community. Most of the revenue from that park went to the community, which used it for local infrastructure, such as schools and roads. Those two communities were very happy with that system.
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