National Environmental Management Strategy and Action Plan 2004-2006.

The Environmental Management Strategy and Action Plan is a national policy with a multi-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the policy is 3 years between 2004 and 2006. This policy lays down environmental strategies to address poverty, health, employment, education, social development and the provision of basic human needs to improve the quality of life in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Sustainable use and management will be strengthened by addressing terrestrial, marine and atmospheric resources, organisms and ecosystems in an appropriate manner to obtain the optimum sustainable productivity. Biodiversity conservation and ecosystem preservation will be enhanced through protection of species and habitats, designation of protected areas, prevention of alien invasive species, phytosanitary control, and biosafety measures.
The participation of the relevant public, private, non-governmental and community-based organizations in environmental management will be promoted for the exchange of information and traditional knowledge on environmental management as well as for their effective participation in the implementation and evaluation of decision-making processes and programmes. Access to environmental information will be provided for all and environmental awareness programmes will be strengthened for effective environmental management.
Social, economic and environmental considerations will be integrated into national development policies, plans and programmes to enable poverty alleviation, the general improvement of social, economic and cultural conditions, the conservation of biological diversity, the mitigation of adverse effects of climate change and the maintenance of essential ecological processes and life support systems. Environmental impact assessment will be conducted and enforced to adequately prevent or mitigate potential negative impacts on human health and the environment. Measures will be taken to restore environmentally degraded areas and to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources, taking into consideration the intricate linkages between ecological systems in small island states, and between these systems and human activity. In order to ensure sustainable management of environment and natural resources, the legal and institutional framework will be strengthened. To this end, the roles of national, regional and international environmental agencies, networks and institutions will be rationalized to maximize efficiency and accountability in managing the environment and natural resources. The capacities of the existing national agencies with responsibility for environmental management, such as Fisheries Division, Forestry Department and Environmental Services Unit, as well as the capacity of non-governmental and community-based organisations will be strengthened for effective management of the environment and natural resources. The precautionary approach will be adopted in environmental management, including the adoption, wherever feasible, of specific standards necessary to ensure protection of human health, the environment and all natural resources consistent with the principles of sustainable development. The collaboration with the private sector will be strengthened to establish best management practices that prevent negative environmental and human health impacts and to adequately mitigate negative impacts that may occur. Economic incentives will be provided to encourage the adoption of sound environmental technologies and practices. Pollution control will be strengthened through an integrated waste management and environmental protection with a polluter pays principle. The monitoring units will be established under the relevant institutions to monitor and assess the pollution levels.
In order to adapt and respond adequately and timely to the impacts of climate change, appropriate and relevant integrated strategies, plans and policies will be established. The collaboration will be strengthened at the regional and international levels for the implementation of the obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Disaster risk management will be strengthened at the community and national level to prevent, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the impacts of natural and man-made disasters on the environment.
The National Environmental Advisory Board shall be responsible for monitoring of the implementation of the Environmental Management Strategy and Action Plan.