Land Degradation
Degradation of limited land resources of SIDS primarily results from the over cultivation of vulnerable land and is major concern for many islands. In an effort to gain higher crop yields, aggressive cultivation practices, including use of chemicals and fertilizers, have been adopted. Old techniques, that allowed soil to fallow prior to planting, therefore, encouraging nutrient regeneration have been replaced with short-term measures that increase production. New practices have resulted in a decrease in soil quality. Once lacking the necessary nutrients to support crop growth soils become unproductive and over time erosion occurs. Soil rehabilitation projects and traditional framing techniques should be promoted to regenerate cultivated areas.
Another major environmental concern for the future of the islands is the steady reduction in forest cover in almost every country (except those that already have no forest left). Forests are logged for local use or export; shifting cultivation and clearing for agriculture are constant pressures on the forest resource; and frequent uncontrolled fires eat into the forest margins in some countries. This not only represents the loss of a significant productive resource, but contributes to many subsidiary problems such as water shortages, soil erosion, and loss of habitat for endangered species. While many countries have tree replanting programmes, these have rarely been more than marginally successful.