Teach a man to fish? - Capacity building and waste management in the Pacific

Abstract: Creating opportunities for the sustainable development of tourism in the Pacific Islands must be stripped back to the basics. While assistance with marketing and promoting an image is important, developing crucial necessities such as waste management is the key to maintaining an attractive image for the destination in the short term and protecting natural resources in the long term. If the animals that tourists travel to see are choking to death on plastic bags, then how long can tourism last?

Marine debris has recently been identified as a global environmental disaster. Since the introduction of imported goods packaged in plastic, waste management in small island states has given rise to many challenges. To tackle the problem effectively requires thinking outside the square. Using constantly advancing technology and systems from the developed world to assist developing nations is a collaborative way to confront the challenge. When implementing a capacity-building system for developing nations in the Pacific, it is important to avoid the imposition of initiatives onto a community. Alternatively, working with local people towards an effective, efficient and sustainable solution helps to identify what the communities themselves see as the most pressing issues without compromising their autonomy. This requires careful consideration of local customs, tradition and culture in the hope that strong Pacific pride will be evoked, local people will take ownership of the idea and education strategies about the benefits of the system become much more effective. Teach a man how to look after his fish and he will not just catch food for his community but also protect the resource for future generations.

Biography:
Sam Judd is co founder of a New Zealand charity called Sustainable Coastlines. Educated in New Zealand and Latin America, he has spearheaded large scale coastal cleanup events and is in the process of developing a formula for waste management in small island states.

Kiwi charity heads to Tonga to help clean up the beaches - Video - Sam Judd on 3 News