Island Territories Research Articles

Elite settlements in island territories: The road to a binding political status referendum in New Caledonia and Puerto Rico

New Caledonia and Puerto Rico are two non-sovereign island territories of France and the United States respectively. Both territories have historically centered their political debate on the definition of their political status and have done so by implementing numerous referendums. Of the two territories, however, only New Caledonia has managed to establish a binding referendum on political status. This raises the following question: How has New Caledonia managed to obtain a binding referendum on its political status while Puerto Rico has failed to do so? One variable present in New Caledonia, but not in Puerto Rico, was the convening of both the metropolitan and territorial political elite with regards to the territory’s change in political status as well as the definition of each status option. While elite theory has been used as a theoretical framework to explain democratization, this article discusses the role of elite settlements with regards to changes in political status among non-sovereign island jurisdictions. I focus on two key events in both case studies. In New Caledonia, I focus on the signing of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords, 1988 and 1998 respectively, while in Puerto Rico I focus on the Plebiscitary Process of 1989-1991.

Scalar politics in transboundary fisheries management: The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission as an eco-scalar fix for South Pacific albacore tuna management

Scholars and policymakers have debated the correct scales for managing and conserving ocean resources for decades. To address the conservation and management of highly migratory fish species, like tuna, countries have established regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) to regulate transboundary fisheries at the scale of oceanic regions. However, in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean region, countries have expanded their tuna management efforts to encompass multiple and overlapping intergovernmental institutions operating at regional and subregional scales. Scholars have argued that this proliferation of institutions across scales—including the development of the region’s RFMO, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)—has strengthened transboundary tuna management. However, while scholars focus on the successes of scalar dynamics in the tropical purse seine fishery, less attention has been devoted to the smaller and less valuable southern longline fishery, where management progress has stalled. Management inaction at multiple scales has impacted the status of the fishery’s target stock, South Pacific albacore, and domestic fishing and processing industries in Pacific Island countries and territories. This article employs a scalar politics lens to consider why multi-scalar efforts to improve southern longline fishery management have produced no decisive change in management outcomes. Analysing over a decade of management debate and subregional institutional development, the article argues that the WCPFC has operated as an ‘eco-scalar fix’ in managing the southern longline fishery. Through a combination of ecological and political factors unique to the fishery, this eco-scalar fix has enabled distant water fishing countries to locate political authority with the WCPFC while shifting the responsibility for management reform onto the subregional efforts of Pacific Island countries. This case complicates and contributes to debates concerning scale in transboundary fisheries management by concluding that the effects of scalar politics on management outcomes are uneven and the product of asymmetrical, interest-driven dynamics among countries seeking to advance their interests in industrial fisheries.

Causes and contexts of childhood overweight and obesity in the Pacific region: a scoping review

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major threat to health and development and account for 75% of deaths in the Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (PICTs). Childhood obesity has been identified as a main risk factor for NCDs later in life. This review compiled overweight and obesity (OWOB) prevalence (anthropometric data) for children aged six to 12 years old living in the Pacific region and identified possible related causes. Methods: We conducted a systematic search using PubMed, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect for articles published between January 1980 and August 2022. We also searched for technical reports from Ministries of Health. Guided by the eligibility criteria, two authors independently read the selected articles and reports to extract and summarise relevant information related to overweight and obesity. Results: We selected 25 articles, two worldwide analyses of population-based studies and four national reports. Information revealed that childhood OWOB prevalence reached 55% in some PICTs. This review also indicated that age, gender and ethnicity were linked to children’s weight status, while dietary practices, sleep time and level of physical activity played a role in OWOB development, as well as the living environment (socio-economic status and food availability), parenting practices and education level. Conclusion: This review highlighted that anthropometric data are limited and that comparisons are difficult due to the paucity of surveys and non-standardized methodology. Main causes of overweight and obesity are attributed to individual characteristics of children and behavioural patterns, children’s socio-economic environment, parenting practices and educational level. Reinforcement of surveillance with standardised tools and metrics adapted to the Pacific region is crucial and further research is warranted to better understand root causes of childhood OWOB in the Pacific islands. More robust and standardized anthropometric data would enable improvements in national strategies, multisectoral responses and innovative interventions to prevent and control NCDs.

A Systematic Review of UAVs for Island Coastal Environment and Risk Monitoring: Towards a Resilience Assessment

Island territories and their coastal regions are subject to a wide variety of stresses, both natural and anthropogenic. With increasing pressures on these vulnerable environments, the need to improve our knowledge of these ecosystems increases as well. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have recently shown their worth as a tool for data acquisition in coastal zones. This literature review explores the field of UAVs in the context of coastal monitoring on island territories by highlighting the types of platforms, sensors, software, and validation methods available for this relatively new data acquisition method. Reviewing the existing literature will assist data collectors, researchers, and risk managers in more efficiently monitoring their coastal zones on vulnerable island territories. The scientific literature reviewed was strictly analyzed in peer-reviewed articles ranging from 2016 to 2022. This review then focuses on the operationalization of the concept of resilience as a risk management technique. The aim is to identify a procedure from raw data acquisition to quantifying indicators for the evaluation of the resilience of a territory and finally linking the analyzed data to a spatial decision support system. This system could aid the decision-making process and uses the islands of French Polynesia and its Resilience Observatory as a case study.

COVID-19 Vaccination and Border Restrictions; Evaluation and Outlook on Health and Socio-economic Systems in Pacific Island Countries and Territories

COVID-19 Vaccination and Border Restrictions; Evaluation and Outlook on Health and Socio-economic Systems in Pacific Island Countries and Territories

Creative and Rural Tourism, Public Policies and Land Use Changes: A Multi-Method Approach towards Regional Sustainable Development in Azores Islands

This research work aims to give an answer to three preliminary research questions: (RQ1) Are the land-use changes the footprint of the regional public policies conducted over a territory? (RQ2) Could rural and creative tourism be the catalyst for the regional sustainable development of island territories? (RQ3) Assessing the land-use changes dynamics and trends, is it possible to use new forms of tourism business to develop regional public policies? Through a multi-method approach, this paper examines the possible relationship between land-use changes and new tourism typologies as a potential catalyst for sustainable regional development in island territories, using the Azores Islands and some creative tourism projects as case studies. As some of the results show, a footprint of the regional public policies conducted over a territory can be observed through the land-use changes analysis. In addition rural and creative tourism could catalyze the regional sustainable development of island territories.

Aquaculture sustainability: Global challenges need local actions

Aquaculture sustainability: Global challenges need local actions

A geoheritage valuation to prevent environmental degradation of a new volcanic landscape in the Canary Islands

AbstractOn 19 September 2021, a new monogenetic volcano (Tajogaite) erupted on the Island of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain). After 85 days of Strombolian style eruption, with emissions of volcanic material, a pyroclastic cone 200 m high and 800 m in its basal diameter was formed. Successive lava flows descended the western slopes and reached the Atlantic Ocean on 29 September. On descending the coastal cliffs and entering the sea, the lava flows formed two lava deltas on the submarine island shelf, backed by fossilized coastal cliffs. This geological event has raised a new challenge: the environmental conservation of new volcanic landscapes in island territories with high anthropogenic pressure on land uses. This work uses comparative and numerical methods in geoheritage to support their conservation from a scientific basis. In a first phase, a cartographic inventory was made of all the volcanic formations similar to the new volcano in the geological framework of the Canary Islands. In a second phase, their representativeness (A), rarity (R), diversity (D), integrity (I), and observability (O) were quantitatively measured by means of dimensional estimators. The results obtained show that the new volcano presents a geological value of the first order in the context of the Canary Islands, which is one of the most prominent oceanic archipelago worldwide. Its value is based above all on its high conservation state with respect to the similar volcanoes in the Canary Islands. The high mismatch found between the intrinsic geological value and the environmental protection of this area, justifies the development and application of urgent basic guidelines for its protection, as well as the promotion of geotourism as opposed to alternative land uses.

Did Covid-19 Pandemic Impact the Employability of Student-Apprentices? A Study via the Results of the University CFA in Corsica

The lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with the negative consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, have slowed growth in G20 economies while generating high price pressures (OCDE, 2022). While global GDP stagnated in the second quarter of 2022, global economic trends are darkening. Transposed to a local context like that of Corsica, a small island territory, is the picture also bleak? After an analysis of the trends of the Corsican economy in 2022, the present contribution will focus more specifically on analysing the impact of the health crisis on the employability of graduate University CFA students in the Corsican region.

Barriers and enablers to young people accessing sexual and reproductive health services in Pacific Island Countries and Territories: A scoping review.

The number of young people utilising sexual and reproductive health services in Pacific Island Countries and Territories remains poor despite the availability and the existence of the fundamental rights to access these services. Adolescents and youth need accurate information and timely access to contraceptives to prevent adverse consequences associated with unintended pregnancies, abortion, childbirth and untreated sexually transmitted infections. This scoping review identifies and analyses factors contributing to young people's low access to sexual and reproductive health information and services in this region. Guided by the PRISMA Scoping review guidelines, we searched three databases (Medline Ovid, Scopus and CINAHL Complete) for peer-reviewed articles published between 1st January 2000 and 31st August 2020 that reported on factors, including barriers and enablers, affecting access to sexual and reproductive health information and services by young people living in Pacific Island Countries and Territories. We assessed the quality of each study according to the study designs, methods of data collection, data analysis and ethical considerations. All information was sorted and organised using an Excel Spreadsheet. Text data from published articles were charted inductively using thematic analysis with no predetermined codes and themes. Five hundred eighty-nine articles were screened, and only eight met the inclusion criteria outlined in this scoping review protocol. These eight articles reported studies conducted in four Pacific Island Countries and Territories: Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu. Factors such as lack of accurate sexual and reproductive health knowledge and social stigma were the leading causes of young people's limited access to sexual and reproductive health services. Cultural and religious beliefs also invoked stigmatising behaviours in some family and community members. This scoping review revealed that social stigma and judgemental attitudes imposed by family and community members, including healthcare providers, hinder young unmarried individuals in Pacific Island Countries and Territories from accessing sexual and reproductive health information and contraceptives. Alternatively, a non-judgmental healthcare provider is perceived as an enabler in accessing sexual and reproductive health information and services. Moreover, given that only a few studies have actually focused on young people's sexual and reproductive health needs in the region, more research is required to fully understand the health-seeking behaviours of young people in their specific contexts.

How the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands stalled COVID-19 for 22 months and managed its first significant community transmission.

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is a remote Pacific island territory with a population of 47 329 that successfully prevented the significant introduction of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) until late 2021. This study documents how the response to the introduction of COVID-19 in CNMI in 2021 was conducted with limited resources without overwhelming local clinical capacity or compromising health service delivery for the population. Data from COVID-19 case investigations, contact tracing, the Commonwealth's immunization registry and whole genome sequencing were collated and analysed as part of this study. Between 26 March 2020 and 31 December 2021, 3281 cases and 14 deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in CNMI (case fatality rate, 0.4%). While notification rates were highest among younger age groups, hospitalization and mortality rates were disproportionately greater among those aged >50 years and among the unvaccinated. The first widespread community transmission in CNMI was detected in October 2021, with genomic epidemiology and contact tracing data indicating a single introduction event involving the AY.25 lineage and subsequent rapid community spread. Vaccination coverage was high before widespread transmission occurred in October 2021 and increased further over the study period. Robust preparedness and strong leadership generated resilience within the public health sector such that COVID-19 did not overwhelm CNMI's health system as it did in other jurisdictions and countries around the world. At no point was hospital capacity exceeded, and all patients received adequate care without the need for health-care rationing.

Between tinkering and transformation: A contemporary appraisal of climate change adaptation research on the world's islands

Islands are at the center of discourses on climate change. Yet despite extensive work on diverse island systems in a changing climate, we still lack an understanding of climate change-related responses amongst islands and what shifting from what might be called “tinkering” (perhaps heat warnings) to “transformational” adaptation (perhaps relocation) means for these vastly different landmasses which are often grouped together by default. Through a systematic review of the climate change adaptation scientific literature, this paper critically reflects on how considering islands as a homogenous ensemble and the use of buzzwords such as “transformational adaptation” may be problematic for diverse island realities under climate change. Our findings show that the adaptation evidence base actually provides literature on contrasting island types and cultural and political contexts, including Small Island Developing States as well as other island territories. This study finds research gaps with respect to regions (e.g., South America, Africa, and Mediterranean) and that there is overall both little evidence of and a lack of context-specific definitions of transformational adaptation in island contexts. The adaptation literature does not yet fully reflect the experiences or needs of islands regarding transitions and transformations throughout history.

The role of trade in pacific food security and nutrition

The Pacific region is experiencing a non-communicable disease epidemic largely driven by an ongoing nutrition transition from nutrient rich whole foods to imported staples and highly processed foods. Food trade is a major driver of this transition. We characterize regional and sub-regional trade from 1995 to 2018 for 18 Pacific Island Countries and Territories using the Pacific Food Trade Database. The analysis shows the growing dependence on imports of rice from South-East Asia and wheat from Australia, and recent growth in imports of meat from Australia, New Zealand and USA, and highly processed foods from South-East Asia. Findings are discussed in terms of policy and trade agreements, and global shocks including COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine.

Future of Joint Amphibious Operations for Furtherance of National Security Objectives in Indian Context

India's two island territories; Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea are at considerable distances from mainland and straddling some of the most critical international sea lanes of communication (ISLs) of the world. Their location and distance from India reinforce their criticality to India's security. Further, along with protecting India's territories, diaspora, and interests, India's defense forces may need to render assistance to countries that are crucial to India's strategic and economic wellbeing and also to further India's diplomatic foot print as directed by the government. There is thus a requirement to study the future of amphibious operations in the Indian context for furtherance of its national security objective. The article looks at the historical background of amphibious operations and future of joint amphibious operations in the Indian context to determine if the creation of an amphibious task force for India is an imperative given India’s centrality in the IOR. It argues that an amphibious capability that is maintained at a high state of operational readiness will provide India a high degree of strategic deterrence. This capability would also have the inherent ability to graduate from a threat in being to intervention, should the situation so require at short notice. Further, jointness is in the very nature of amphibious operations and hence the three Services need to synergize their actions and achieve results in the true spirit of jointness.

Current Status of Breeding Population of Western Osprey in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate

Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a resident breeding species in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Osprey breed from December to March on offshore and nearshore islands and coastal sites across the country. Approximately 90% of the breeding population is found in Abu Dhabi Emirate, making it a critical area for conservation efforts. Due to its significance, Western Osprey has been listed as an Endangered (EN) species in the Abu Dhabi Redlist of Species. In 2023, an Emiratewide comprehensive survey was conducted, covering all coastal sites, as well as nearshore and offshore islands in Abu Dhabi. This was the first such comprehensive census of breeding Ospreys in Abu Dhabi. Data were collected using a customized mobile application with a focus on geo-referencing and photographing all nest structures. Of a total of 339 located nests across more than 60 coastal and island territories, 127 were active. Moreover, 44% (n=148) of all nests were observed on artificial platforms intentionally installed at different breeding territories to support nesting. Whereas 39% (n=133) were built naturally on ground and 17% (n=58) were observed on abandoned high-rise structures. The breeding population of osprey in the UAE is estimated to be 110 breeding pairs. The study established that current breeding population of Ospreys in Abu Dhabi Emirate stands at 127 breeding pairs. This stable breeding population of Osprey indicates the overall well-being of UAE’s coastal and marine environments. The Abu Dhabi Environmental Agency continues to monitor and enforce conservation measures to ensure the protection of this regionally important species and its habitats.

От ретроспективы к системе реального времени – прогноз землетрясений методом LURR на Сахалине (2019–2022 гг.)

The results of an experiment on the implementation of operational analysis of Sakhalin seismicity by the LURR method of medium-term earthquake prediction are presented. Monitoring began in 2022 on the basis of the LURR parameter calculations based on 2019–2021 seismic data. The island territory is divided into 36 calculated areas, which evenly cover it in increments of 0.5 degree in latitude and longitude. Prediction zones for this period are constructed, including those calculated areas in which anomalies of the LURR parameter have been detected. During 2022, information about new anomalies and prediction zones was added quarterly. The main objective of the experiment is to test the work with data in quasi-real time mode and to check the quality of solving the procedural issues related to prediction from the approval stage to the completion one. In the period of 2019–2022, 25 anomalies of the prediction parameter were detected. In the retrospective database (from 2019 to 2021), two prediction zones were identified in 2020 (consisting of 9 and 4 calculation areas, respectively). Two more prediction zones were formed in 2022 (3 and 6 calculation areas). Predictions with the definition of time, place and strength were approved for three prediction zones at the meetings of the Sakhalin Branch of the Russian Expert Council on Emergency Situations (SB REC). During 2022, two out of three predictions were recognized as realized. In the fourth zone, the prediction was realized, but an earthquake with the required parameters has occurred after the definition of the zone within a quarter, i.e. both the prediction zone and its implementation were simultaneously recorded, already after the fact (data processing is carried out once a quarter). In this case, the forecast is not recognized as either a missed goal or realized in real time (retrospectively, this is a successful forecast), but it is procedurally defined as a technical omission. As of the beginning of 2023, there is one active prediction zone in the north of the island. The experiment continues.

Editorial Introduction

Editorial Introduction

Картографирование растительности южной части острова Сахалин по данным дешифрирования снимков спутниковой системы Landsat

The purpose of the research is to determine the factors that have a significant impact on the distribution structure of plant communities over the territory and to draw up a vegetation map. The article pre-sents the analytical results of the vegetation cover diversity and geobotanical mapping of the territory based on the data of decoded satellite images. Materials and methods. The main sources of information for the study are materials of field geobotanical studies and satellite images of medium spatial resolution obtained from the Landsat-8 satellite, which provided an assessment of the current state of forest communities. Modern compilation and design of maps is characterized by the widespread use of GIS technologies and computer analysis methods. To decrypt and process the images, the ENVI, ArcGIS, and QGIS software complexes were used. The final processing and design of the cartographic material was carried out using the Adobe Illustrator program. Results. The southern part of the Sakhalin Island territory was chosen as the object of research, on which a large number of east-asian species, including tree and shrub forms, grow. In the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk floristic region, the flora of the North-Japanese type prevails, and the presence of northern species characteristic of the dark coniferous taiga zone is noticeably reduced in its composition. Krillionsky district is distinguished by the presence of species common with the Southern Kuril Islands and the Hokkaido Island. The re-sults of studying the spatial distribution of forest landscapes served as a basis for identifying the most resistant to climate change plant communities, as well as those capable of rapid recovery after forest fires. Climatic conditions have been analyzed, which made it possible to identify trends in the long-term dynamics of plant communities in the territory. The analysis of long-term dynamics made it possible to identify the current state of forest communities, predict certain negative natural phenomena (fires, waterlogging, etc.). Conclusions. The dynamics of the state of forest plant communities is clearly determined by the data of satellite surveys. The map, compiled on the basis of the results of space images interpretation, reflects the spatial distribution and state of the vegetation cover of the territory, enables to make an inventory of plant associations, to establish the boundaries of geobotanical regions in their current state.

Food trade among Pacific Island countries and territories: implications for food security and nutrition

BackgroundThere is growing attention to intra-regional trade in food. However, the relationship between such trade and food and nutrition is understudied. In this paper, we present an analysis of intra-regional food trade in the Pacific region, where there are major concerns regarding the nutritional implications of international food trade. Using a new regional database, we examine trends in food trade among Pacific Island Counties and Territories (PICTs) relative to extra-regional trade.ResultsIntra-regional trade represents a small, but increasing proportion of total imports. The major food group traded within the Pacific is cereal grains and flour, which represented 51% of total intra-regional food trade in 2018. Processed and prepared foods, sweetened or flavoured beverages, processed fish, and sugar and confectionary are also traded in large quantities among PICTs. Trade in root crops is negligible, and overall intra-regional trade of healthy foods is limited, both in terms of tonnage and relative to imports from outside the region. Fiji remains the main source of intra-regional imports into PICTs, particularly for non-traditional staple foods.ConclusionsThis study highlights the growth in trade of staple foods intra-regionally, indicating a role for Fiji (in particular) in regional food security. Within this overall pattern, there is considerable opportunity to enhance intra-regional trade in traditional staple foods, namely root crops. Looking forward, the current food system disruption arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and associated policy measures has highlighted the long-term lack of investment in agriculture, and suggests an increased role for regional approaches in fostering trade in healthy foods.

Novel Sentiment Lexica Derived from User Generating Content by Chinese Tourists in Pacific Islands

Identification of tourists’ sentiments is relevant to the destination’s planning. Tourists generate extensive User Generated Content (UGC)—embedding their sentiments—in the form of textual data when sharing experiences on the Internet. These UGC tend to influence tourists’ decision-making, thus, representing an important data source for tourism research and planning. By obtaining data from Mafengwo and Ctrip, sentiment analysis was conducted to shed light on the sentiment tendency of Chinese tourists in seven Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). Eleven thousand two hundred four reviews were obtained between January and March 2021. The data shows that Chinese tourists’ sentiments towards the PICTs are overall positive. Yet, they pay more attention to practical issues such as transportation, visa and fees, and their sentiment orientations are influenced by tourism resources, weather, and perceived safety. Moreover, the study demonstrates that the needs of Chinese tourists in the region are influenced by their physiology, security, self-esteem, belonging, and self-actualisation needs. The study contributes to theory and practice by constructing an exclusive set of Chinese sentiment lexicons for tourism research based on data from the PICTs. This lexicon complements but also contradicts previous studies. In addition to being relevant for the studied region, it can inform similar destinations that may or may not have a relevant Chinese tourism market.