Fig: Palm Islands

Importance of Islands

♤ Earth’s 175,000 islands are home to more than 600 million inhabitants

♤ Islands and their oceans represent one-sixth of earth’s total area

♤ Islands support many of the most unique and isolated natural systems including:

o more than half the world’s marine biodiversity

o 7 of the world’s 10 coral reef hotspots

o 10 of the 34 richest areas of biodiversity in the world

♤ 64% of recorded extinctions are on islands

♤ Over two-thirds of the world’s countries include islands.

♤ Island ecosystems provide food, fresh water, wood, fibre, medicines, fuel, tools and other important raw materials, in addition to aesthetic, spiritual, educational and recreational values. In fact, the livelihood and economic stability of the islands depend on its biodiversity.