Island Sustainability II (Wit Transactions on Ecology and the Environment)

Containing the papers presented at the second conference organized
on island sustainability by the Wessex Institute of Technology, the book
addresses the massive scale of seasonal population mobility that has
such a profound effect on coastal regions and islands. The problems that result from large temporary increases in population are especially serious for islands and archipelagos, which have limited resources and possibilities of developing supporting infrastructures.
Most islands cannot provide all the resources required by a large seasonal
tourist population; in many cases basic requirements such as water and energy, as well as agricultural produce, must therefore be imported. Authorities need to carefully evaluate the impact of large seasonal population increases on the community and the resulting socio-economic factors, as well as issues related to transportation and communication,
all of which should be part of an overall strategy. They must also ensure
year-round economic activity in order to achieve true sustainability.
The topics covered include: Tourism Impact and Strategies; Community
Issues; Changing Climate and Environment; Infrastructure; Transport
Issues; Natural Resources; Energy Issues; Risk and Safety; Waste
Management; Island Services.