Climate change and tenure insecurity in small island developing states

This year’s International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) Working Week in Christchurch, New Zealand, focused on “Recovery from Disaster”. Having experienced significant earthquakes in recent years, the city was well placed to host this event and showcase how the local population has innovated and adapted in the face of so much destruction.

One of the extension units, known as the small island developing states (SIDS) workshop (30 April – 1 May) provided an opportunity to discuss the role of land professionals in the context of climate change and tenure insecurity in SIDS. These states face numerous hurdles as they work towards improved social and economic development outcomes. Climate change adds to the pressure that these populations, economies and environments are already under.

Key topics included (see http://www.fig.net/fig2016/sids.htm):
• context and vulnerabilities for SIDS
• challenges faced by SIDS in the land sector
• climate change, vulnerability and the risk of natural disasters
• urbanisation, and
• land governance challenges.

The outcomes of this workshop (in the form of a report) will be available shortly, along with a FIG Christchurch Declaration as the main outcome of the workshop (to be published on the FIG website).