Preparatory committee tackles problems of small island States; world conference to begin in April 1994.

• Position: Preparatory Committee for the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, know as SIDS, plans April 25 to May 6, 1994 conference in Barbados

A palm-fringed tropical island may be a tourist's idea of 9 trouble-free paradise, but those who live in small island developing States - known as SIDS - face some unique problems, from remoteness from world markets to possible inundation due to global warming.

Those and other concerns were discussed by the Preparatory Committee for the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small island Developing States, at its first session (New York, 30 August-10 September). The global meeting, to be held in Barbados from 25 April to 6 May 1994, is an offspring of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992.

Wide divergence

There was a wide divergence of views on the outstanding work of the Committee, Chairman Penelope Anne Wensley of Australia reported. It considered, but did not approve, a draft for a programme of action for the sustainable development of SIDS.

Ms. Wensley said the Committee would work to provide a model for actions to be implemented at the regional, national, and international levels.

The problems and vulnerabilities of small island States should be addressed within the context o broader international efforts to achieve sustainable, development, she said.

Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development, said that the Conference would likely be among the first follow-up efforts to the "Earth Summit" to reach fruition. As such, it would represent the first full-fledged test of the international community's commitment to implement "Agenda 21", the blueprint of action adopted by UNCED.

In a 12 August report (A/CONF]67/ PC/1O), the Secretary-General said some SIDS were considered high-income countries, while others were classified as least developed. Still, many or most faced similar problems, including lack of economic diversity, vulnerability to natural disasters and fragile ecosystems.

Many SIDS depend on a single industry, often tourism, making them particularly vulnerable to...