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The World Heritage Convention is one of the five global multilateral environmental agreements (the others being the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ramsar, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, and the Convention on Migratory Species). The World Heritage Convention focuses on conservation of outstanding natural and cultural heritage by recognizing the world's best heritage areas on the World Heritage List, as well as by encouraging heritage conservation at the national level. Only States Parties on the Convention can nominate sites to the World Heritage List. Natural sites normally need to be National Parks or otherwise legally- protected and managed areas. The concept of customary or traditional management is also starting to gain acceptance with the Convention as a recognized protection mechanism.

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.