GIS for Sustainable Coastal Zone Management in the Pacific - A Strategy

The Pacific islands region has more than 22 island countries in an area of approximately 30 million square kilometres. It is home to nearly 6 million people and has a complex of islands and habitats. Pacific Island countries are largely coastal in nature. These areas play a major role in the daily existence of Pacific Islanders. SPREP, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme - East Asia Program for Asia Pacific (UNEP EAP-AP), have initiated a program to provide the Pacific community with improved access to meaningful environmental data and information through establishment of GIS in several of the countries. GIS is still new in the Pacific and is only rarely used as a tool for coastal zone management. This chapter outlines a strategy to assist SPREP member governments use GIS and environmental information for the planning and management of coastal areas.