Island Vulnerability explores the challenges which isolated geographies face when dealing with risk and disasters by examining the processes which create, maintain, and could be used to reduce their vulnerability. This page provides information specifically related to island vulnerability (including risk, disasters, and sustainability).

The information provided is not intended to be comprehensive, but is indicative of the work which has been done and the groups and people involved in island vulnerability. The publications listed reflect those in the library of Island Vulnerability. Generic disaster and risk management topics are not covered because the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado, Boulder and the United Nations' International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Secretariat provide unmatchable information resources. As well, other sites such as EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database and PAHO Country Health Profiles provide information for risk and disaster profiles of countries. Island Vulnerability is designed to complement, not replace, such sources.

The resources provided here are illustrative of:

• Publications: Islands and isolated geographies.
• Publications: Island risk, vulnerability, and disasters.
• Websites: Island Development.

See also:

• Island Studies Journal
• Shima: The International Journal of Research into Island Cultures
• International Journal of Island Affairs

Any further suggestions or indications of omissions or errors are encouraged. Please Contact Island Vulnerability.

Connell, J. 1988. Sovereignty and Survival: Island Microstates in the Third World, Research Monograph No. 3, full text (7.5 Mb in PDF).

Crowards, T. 2002. "Defining the Category of 'Small' States". Journal of International Development, vol. 14, issue 2 (March), pp. 143-179.

Dommen, E. and P. Hein (eds.). 1985. States, Microstates and Islands. Croom Helm, London, U.K.

Emergences: Journal for the Study of Media & Composite Cultures. 2000. Special issue on "Islands: Waterways, Flowways, Folkways", vol. 10, no. 2.

Geografiska Annaler, Series B: Human Geography. 2003. Special issue on "Nature-Society Interactions on Islands", vol. 85, issue 4, pp. 187-264.

Geografiska Annaler, Series B: Human Geography. 2005. Special issue on "Islands - Objects of Representation", vol. 87, issue 4, pp. 247-305.

Geographical Review. 2007. Special issue on "Islands", vol. 97, issue 2.

Geographische Zeitschrift. 1996. Special issue on "Small Islands, Large Questions", vol. 84, issue 2, including the articles (other articles are listed elsewhere on Island Vulnerability):

• Hills, T.L. 1996. "Island Matters, Islands Matter: International Institutional Responses to the Analysis of Problems and Their Solutions". Geographische Zeitschrift, vol. 84, issue 2, pp. 94-101.


• McCall, G. 1996. "Clearing Confusion in a Disembedded World: The Case for Nissology". Geographische Zeitschrift, vol. 84, issue 2, pp. 74-85.


• Ratter, B.M.W. and G. Sandner. 1996. "Small Islands, Large Questions: Introduction to Special Issue". Geographische Zeitschrift, vol. 84, issue 2, pp. 63-66.

Gillis, J.R. 2002. "Islands of the Mind: Imagining Islands over Time and Space". Abstracts of the 98th Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, Los Angeles, California, 19-23 March 2002.
Islands have occupied a central place in the western geographical imagination. This paper will trace this complex tradition in the Atlantic world since 1400, indicating its changing forms and suggesting some of the origins of contemporary western islomania. It will so comment on the consequences, not only for islands themselves but for the mainlands that have generated such powerful myths and images, not only in the arts and literature, but also within geographical and historical sciences.

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management. 2009. Special issue on "Sustainable Environmental Management and Technological Applications in Small Island Developing States and Island Territories – Progress and Capacities", vol. 10, issue 2.

Journal of Developing Societies. 2006. Special issue on "Island Sustainability in a Global Context", vol. 22, issue 3.

Journal of International Development. 2008. Special "Policy Arena" section on "Small island states development challenges", vol. 20, issue 4, pp. 481-571.

Kelman, I. 2004. "Island Affairs".
-Network Newsletter and ENSO Signal, vol. 19, no. 1, 1 January to 31 March 2004, p. 4.
-Fragilecologies, 4 February 2004, .
See the full text of this article at http://www.islandvulnerability.org/affairs.html

Kelman, I. 2007. "Sustainable Livelihoods from Natural Heritage on Islands". Island Studies Journal, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 101-114, full text (447 kb in PDF) and updates (as a webpage).

Kelman, I. (ed.). 2007. "The island advantage: Practices for prospering in isolation". id21 insights, no. 70 (November), full text (as a webpage).

Kelman, I. Complete island publications list (as a webpage).

Kerr, S.A. 2005. "What is Small Island Sustainable Development about?", Ocean and Coastal Management, vol. 48, nos. 7-8, pp. 503-524.

Lewis, J. 2003. Island Anthology. Published on Island Vulnerability.

Liou, F.M. and C.G. Ding. 2002. "Subgrouping Small States Based on Socioeconomic Characteristics". World Development, vol. 30, issue 7 (July), pp. 1289-1306.

McCall, G. 1994. "Nissology: A Proposal for Consideration". Journal of the Pacific Society, vol. 17, no. 2-3, pp. 93-106.

Menard, H.W. 1986. Islands. Scientific American Books, New York, U.S.A. and Oxford, U.K.

Nunn, P.D. 1994. Oceanic Islands. Blackwell, Oxford, U.K.

Royle, S.A. 2001. A Geography of Islands: Small Island Insularity. Routledge, London, U.K.

Steinberg, P.E. 2005. "Insularity, sovereignty and statehood: The representation of islands on portolan charts and the construction of the territorial state". Geografiska Annaler, vol. 87B, no. 4, pp. 253-265.

Strachan, J. 2008. Data Paper: Promoting the Interests of Small States in International Institutions. 28th Small Branches Conference, 3-4 August 2008, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Streeten, P. 1993. "The Special Problems of Small Countries". World Development, vol. 21, issue 2 (February), pp. 197-202. World Development, vol. 21, issue 2 (February) was devoted to small country issues.

Sustainable Development. 2006. Special issue on "Small Island States and Territories: Sustainable Development Issues and Strategies - Challenges for Changing Islands in a Changing World", vol. 14, no. 2.

Thompson, L., J. Pearce, and J. Ross Barnett. 2007. "Moralising geographies: stigma, smoking islands and responsible subjects". Area, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 508-517.

Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie. 2004. Special issue on "Islands", vol. 95, no. 3.

Views (National Trust, U.K.). 2003. Special issue on "Islands and Oases", issue 38, full text (2.8 Mb in PDF).

Gaudru, H. 2005 (March). Potential Impacts Of Eruptions On Volcanic Islands. (106 kb in Rich Text Format).

Hampton, M.P. and J. Christensen. 2002. "Offshore Pariahs? Small Island Economies, Tax Havens, and the Re-configuration of Global Finance". World Development, vol. 30, issue 9 (September), pp. 1657-1673.

Hurst, L. 2003. "A Moral Challenge". Tiempo, issue 47, March, pp. 1-5.

Jeffery, S.E. 1981. The Creation of Vulnerable Populations. University of Bath, Bath, U.K., full text (250 kb in Rich Text Format)

Kaly, U., C. Pratt, and R. Howorth. 2002. "A framework for managing environmental vulnerability in Small Island Developing States". Development Bulletin, vol. 58, pp. 33-38.

Kelman, I. Complete island publications list (as a webpage).

Kelman, I. and J. West. 2009. "Climate Change and Small Island Developing States: A Critical Review". Ecological and Environmental Anthropology, in press.

Kelman, I. 2009. "Overcoming Island Vulnerability". Emergencies Bulletin, no. 1 (January-April), pp. 14-17, full text (173 kb in PDF).

Kelman, I. 1998. Role of Technology in Managing Vulnerability to Natural Disasters, with Case Studies of Volcanic Disasters on Non-Industrialized Islands. Master of Applied Science dissertation supervised by Prof. B. Karney, University of Toronto. Download the entire dissertation (links to another website).

Kyan, S. 1998 (March). Proceedings of Emergency Management in the Small Islands: Learning from Natural Disasters and Forming Mitigation System. Research Institute for Subtropics, Naha, Okinawa, Japan.

Lewis, J. 1981 (16 October). "Project Proposal Outline: Field Identification of development projects for disaster mitigation". Prepared for the United Nations Environment Programme, full text (1.4 MB in PDF).

Lewis, J. 1982 (February). "A Three-Part Proposal: Three stages for natural disaster mitigation strategy: Integrated with socio-economic development at national, provincial and local levels". Prepared for the United Nations Environment Programme, full text: first half (4 MB in PDF) and second half (4 MB in PDF).

Lewis, J. 1990. "Small States Conference on Sea Level Rise". The Environmentalist, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 141-143.

Lewis, J. 1990. "Small States Conference on Sea Level Rise, Malé, Republic of the Maldives, 14-18 November 1989". Disasters, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 77-78.

Lewis, J. 1990. "The Vulnerability of Small Island States to Sea Level Rise: The Need for Holistic Strategies". Disasters, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 241-248.

Lewis, J. 1991. "Tropical Cyclones and Island States". pp. 39-44 in Shelter, Settlements, Policy and the Poor, Sixth Inter-Schools Conference on Development, ITDG, U.K., full text (488 kb in PDF).

Lewis, J. 1999. Development in Disaster-prone Places: Studies of Vulnerability. Intermediate Technology Publications, London, U.K.

The author may be contacted at Datum International.

Lewis, J. 2001 (November). Island characteristics and vulnerability: some perspectives (25 kb in Rich Text Format).

Lewis, J. Complete publications list (751 kb in Rich Text Format).

Méheux, K., D. Dominey-Howes, and K. Lloyd. 2007. "Natural hazard impacts in small island developing states: A review of current knowledge and future research needs". Natural Hazards, vol. 40, pp. 429-446.

Mossler, M. 1996. "Environmental Hazard Analysis and Small Island States: Rethinking Academic Approaches". Geographische Zeitschrift, vol. 84, issue 2, pp. 86-93.

Natural Resources Forum. 2007. Special issue on "Addressing the vulnerability of SIDS", vol. 31, issue 2, including the articles:

• Cherian, A. 2007. "Linkages between biodiversity conservation and global climate change in small island developing States (SIDS)". Natural Resources Forum, vol. 31, pp. 128-131


• Nurse, L. and R. Moore. 2007. "Critical considerations for future action during the second commitment period: A small islands’ perspective". Natural Resources Forum, vol. 31, pp. 102-110


• Quarless, D. 2007. "Introduction: Addressing the vulnerability of SIDS". Natural Resources Forum, vol. 31, pp. 99-101


• "Viewpoints". 2007. "Experts address the question: 'Given its relatively high cost, is renewable energy the answer for SIDS?'". Natural Resources Forum, vol. 31, pp. 162-165.

Pelling, M. and J.I. Uitto. 2001. "Small Island Developing States: Natural Disaster Vulnerability and Global Change". Environmental Hazards, vol. 3, no. 2 (September), pp. 49-62.

Shima: The International Journal of Research into Island Cultures. 2009. Special issue on "Islands of Risk, Islands of Hope", vol. 3, no. 1, full text freely available http://www.shimajournal.org.

Small States Conference on Sea Level Rise, 14-18 November 1989, Male, the Maldives, Proceedings

Turvey, R. 2007. "Vulnerability Assessment of Developing Countries: The Case of Small-island Developing States". Development Policy Review, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 243-264.

UNDP/FIELD. 2003. SIDS Workshop on Insurance and Climate-Related Extreme Weather Events. Workshop Report. Final. UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and FIELD (Foundation for International Environmental Law), New York, New York, U.S.A. and London, U.K.

UNOHRLLS. 2007 (June). The Impact of Climate Change on Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States. UNOHRLLS (United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States), New York, New York, USA.

Warrick, R. 2000. "Strategies for Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment in the Context of National Communications". The 2nd AOSIS Workshop on Climate Change Negotiations, 31 July to 3 August 2000, Apia, Samoa.

Yoshida, K. 2008. "Evolutionary cause of the vulnerability of insular communities". Ecological Modelling, vol. 210, pp. 403-413.

AOSIS
Alliance of Small Island States
"A coalition of small island and low-lying coastal countries that share similar development challenges and concerns about the environment, especially their vulnerability to the adverse effects of global climate change."

Biodiplomacy
"BioDiplomacy uses diplomatic skills to promote global diversity, especially in island communities...The main skills are policy analysis, negotiating and lobbying, reporting and networking...BioDiplomacy interprets 'diversity' to include the natural world's habitats and species and the diversity of human physical, cultural and social artefacts; eg products, languages, the built environment and social systems."

CDMA
Commonwealth Disaster Management Agency, Ltd.
"Our mission is to offer vulnerable small (1.5 m. population) states insurance against the financial effects of natural disasters by servicing their outstanding loans for three years after the occurrence of a defined catastrophe, at a cost of 1% of the sum insured."

CENTICA
Centre for Tourism in Islands and Coastal Areas
"The work of CENTICA focuses on producing high quality applied research on the development and management challenges facing tourism in islands and coastal areas."

CII
Clean Islands International, Inc.
"A non-profit non-governmental organization with international members who are dedicated to providing educational and technical assistance to island communities for the preservation and beautification of indigenous natural environments and the sustainable development of proper solid waste handling practices."

Commonwealth Secretariat's Work on Small States
"A large proportion of the Commonwealth Secretariat's resources is devoted to small states. It is committed to maintaining and, where possible, expanding current levels of support for small states development, in terms of consensus building and policy development and the provision of technical assistance."

FAO SIDS Page
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Includes "FAO Country Profiles and Mapping Information System", "Documents and Publications", and "Links of Interest to SIDS".

FIRE
Forum for Island Research and Experience
"The Forum for Island Research and Experience was established in 2003 at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. At this time there were over fifty staff and postgraduate students working in island environments around the world. The primary aim of this research group was to bring together these researchers for discussion and comparative debate. However, the forum has gradually expanded in response to the growing interest from other researchers around the United Kingdom and further afield. The 'island' forms the theme for this Forum in its broadest sense, stretching beyond the boundaries of the marine island paradigm and allowing for differing conceptualisations and encouraging inter-disciplinary approaches. F.I.R.E. will aim to continue providing an informal environment for anyone interested in sharing their island research or experience in the company of like minded individuals."

Frontlines Forum
"Seeks community-based experiences with climate change: impacts, opportunities and adaptation strategies. It provides a platform for sharing observations, concerns and innovations. We invite contributions from indigenous or rural communities in small islands, high altitudes, the Arctic, desert margins and other vulnerable environments."

GIN
Global Islands Network
"The Global Islands Network is a non-profit organisation established in June 2002 to conduct and promote culturally appropriate, ecologically sound, economically sustainable and socially equitable development on islands worldwide. To realise this mission GIN has adopted the following basic objectives:

• facilitating the capacity of islanders to acquire, disseminate and utilise knowledge resources


• improving access to existing data and generating original information about islands


• providing technical assistance and supporting initiatives which further integrated development on small islands


• encouraging collaborative projects and comparative studies between and among islands


• fostering cooperation by sharing good practices and offering a forum for discussion


• strengthening the voice of island communities as well as their representatives in intergovernmental and policy making bodies."

GLISPA
Global Islands Partnership
GLISPA brings together over 20 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as major non-governmental and multilateral organizations, to assist islands in addressing one of the world’s greatest challenges: to protect and sustainably manage the invaluable natural resources that support people, cultures, and livelihoods in their island homes around the world.

GSEII
Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative
"Towards energy independence, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and socio-economic development:
-Assist SIDS to develop and implement national Sustainable Energy Plans
-Build local capacity for, and reduce obstacles of, clean energy and energy efficiency projects
-Increase international awareness of SIDS to influence global climate change mitigation."

IIS
Institute of Island Studies at the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada.
"A research, education and public policy institute...With an emphasis always on Prince Edward Island, the work of the Institute focuses on the culture, environment and economy of small islands."

INSULA
International Scientific Council for Island Development
"To contribute to the economic, social and cultural progress of islands throughout the world, as well as to the protection of island environment and the development of their resources."

IRF
Island Resources Foundation
"A private, non-profit research and education organization based at Red Hook in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, dedicated to solving the environmental problems of development in small tropical islands".

ISISA
International Small Islands Studies Association.
"Our objectives are to study islands on their own terms, and to encourage free scholarly discussion on small island related matters such as islandness, smallness, insularity, dependency, resource management and environment, and the nature of island life."

Islands of Globalization
"The project seeks to enhance understandings of the origins, nature and consequences of globalization from the perspective of small island societies, and in the context of changing notions of 'islandness'."

Island Studies
"Island Studies is the global, comparative and inter-disciplinary study of islands on their own terms. This site is a key electronic depository of research material which supports the study of islands. It is meant to facilitate international, regional, national and local scholarship in all branches of island knowledge."

Many Strong Voices
"A collaborative programme to ensure the well-being, security and sustainability of coastal communities in the Arctic and Small Island Developing States in the face of climate change."

Ocean Dots
"A pictorial atlas of the Earth's islands and reefs."

PDC
Pacific Disaster Center
"To provide applied information research and analysis support for the development of more effective policies, institutions, programs, and information products for the disaster management and humanitarian assistance communities of the Asia Pacific region and beyond."

SICRI
Small Island Cultures Research Initiative
"SICRI was established in 2004 to facilitate communication and collaboration between researchers and cultural practitioners working with small island communities. SICRI's principal aim is to research and assist the maintenance and development of the language, music, dance, folkloric and media cultures of small island communities. It aims to identify potential research partners and appropriate strategies and funding sources to benefit small island cultures and those researching them. Key to SICRI's activities is the principle that external researchers should develop their projects in consultation with island communities and should reciprocate such co-operation with appropriate assistance and facilitation of local cultural initiatives."

SIDSNet
Small Island Developing States Network
"A direct follow-up to the 1994 Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA)...SIDSnet's main goal has been to utilise information and communication technologies (ICTs) to link SIDS in supporting the implementation of the sustainable development objectives of the BPoA."
BPoA+10, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005.
IISD's Earth Negotiations Bulletin / Linkages from BPoA+10.

SIV
Small Islands Voice
"The goal of this initiative is that the voice of the general public in small islands is heard loud and clear and that this voice becomes a driving force for island development."

South Atlantic and Subantarctic Islands
"These pages are a reference to these fascinating islands, and will grow as I research and condense the available information."

sustainabletourism.net
"It is critically important to develop a responsible sustainable tourism and travel industry. Some of the areas that need to be considered to move the industry and your business forward include:
-environmental management
-sensitivity to cultural and social dynamics
-sustainable management, training and customer service
-sound financial and business planning
-consideration for all stakeholders
-long term vision
-marketing and communications programs to showcase these elements."

SVE
Société Volcanologique Européenne.
"An independent (NGO) scientific organization established in 1991...The main goal is to develop international cooperation in the field of forecasting of volcanic eruptions."

UN DESA Small Islands
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development
"In April 1994, the first global conference on sustainable development and the implementation of Agenda 21 the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States was convened in Barbados. The conference highlighted the economic and ecological vulnerabilities of small island developing States (SIDS) and, through the adoption of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, it set forth specific policies, actions and measures to be taken at the national, regional and international levels in support of the sustainable development of SIDS."

UNDP SIDS
United Nations Development Programme
"CAPACITY 2015 is a global partnership mechanism assisting countries to develop the capacity of their professionals, institutions, and systems to formulate and implement strategies for sustainable development to achieve local, national and international development goals. It will work with developing and transitional countries to build and develop their capacity for sustainable development based on proven successes."

UNEP Islands Web Site
United Nations Environment Programme
"Provides access to a number of resources concerning islands, primarily from within the United Nations system." Includes an "Island Directory (compilation of geographic, environmental, and socio-economic information on some 2,000 islands and over 150 countries, territories and administrative units with islands)".

UNESCO CSI
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Environment and Development in Coastal Regions and in Small Islands. See also their Wise Practices website.
"A global platform for environmentally sound, socially equitable, culturally respectful and economically viable development in coastal regions and small islands. The driving force and goal is the prevention and resolution of conflicts over coastal resources and values."

UNESCO Small States Focus
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Unit for Relations with Small Member States
"To contribute to a general policy and a global approach for the specific needs of small Member States, to ensure their full participation in UNESCO’s activities and facilitate access to the assistance that UNESCO can provide."

UNOHRLLS
United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and the Small Island Developing States
Key functions: "(a) To assist the Secretary-General in ensuring the full mobilization and coordination of all parts of the United Nations system, with a view to facilitating the coordinated implementation of and coherence in the follow-up and monitoring of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries at the country, regional and global levels;
(b) To provide coordinated support to the Economic and Social Council as well as the General Assembly in assessing progress and in conducting the annual review of the implementation of the Programme of Action;
(c) To support, as appropriate, the coordinated follow-up of the implementation of the Global Framework This Global Framework has now been replaced by the Almaty Declaration and Programme of Action, 2003 for Transit Transport Cooperation between Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and the Donor Community and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States;
(d) To undertake appropriate advocacy work in favour of the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States in partnership with the relevant parts of the United Nations as well as with the civil society, media, academia and foundations;
(e) To assist in mobilizing international support and resources for the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries and other programmes and initiatives for landlocked developing countries and small island developing States;
(f) To provide appropriate support to group consultations of Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States."

UNU Island Gateway
United Nations University
"A gateway to island resources on the internet. It facilitates networking, information exchange and resource collation."

Webbing the Islands
"To provide to people with a passion for islands - especially teachers, students and community workers - a range of exciting and interesting island studies, activities and resources, and to offer this space online for you to share your work on islands with others around the world."

World Bank Group Small States
See also the Vulnerability and Natural Disasters section. "Generally, small states are highly vulnerable, being exposed to economic, environmental, health, and other shocks that tend to affect entire countries and populations. The extent of their vulnerability is determined by the frequency and impact of shocks - over which they have little control - and their resource base (resilience) to withstand those shocks. Hence, to explore the development opportunities and challenges facing small states, it is essential to understand their situations in relation to income volatility, vulnerability, disaster proneness and mitigation, environmental protection, and the human and economic consequences of a pandemic, such as HIV/AIDS."

Contact Island Vulnerability.

The material on the Island Vulnerability website is provided as only an information source. Neither definitive advice nor recommendations are implied. Each person or organisation accessing the website is responsible for making their own assessment of the topics discussed and are strongly advised to verify all information. No liability will be accepted for loss or damage incurred as a result of using the material on this website. The appearance of external links on this website does not constitute endorsement of the organisations, information, products, or services contained on that external website.