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The concept of “sustainable development” dates back a long time, but it was at the United Nations (UN) Conference on Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972) that the international community met for the first time to consider global environment and development needs, to define principles for the preservation and enhancement of the natural environment and to highlight the need to support people in this process. Later, in 1992, at the UN Conference on Environment and Development, 178 heads of state adopted three important documents: a comprehensive plan of action entitled Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the Statement of Principles for the Sustainable Management of Forests.

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.