Recommendations
In addition to the many specific suggestions arising from
the Conference papers and workshops, seven overarching recommendations are
made. These represent important
starting points to begin the journey towards sustainable development in Timor
Lorosa’e.
- Include
sustainable development within the Constitution being drafted for Timor
Lorosa’e
- Adopt
a consistent set of sustainable development principles and guidelines for
reviewing policies, programs and projects within Timor Lorosa’e. These may include:
·
Social equity, economic efficiency, and ecological integrity
·
The Precautionary Principle
·
User Pays Principle
·
Participatory decision-making
- Approach
national development planning by drafting a sustainable development
strategy for Timor Lorosa’e
- Address
acute unsustainability concerns without delay. Examples include:
- Deforestation
of watersheds
- Rural
and urban primary environmental care, with attention to water and
sanitation and housing, and urban land law
- Land
tenure and rights for sustainable resource use
- Uncontrolled
fishing on the southern banks of the seas of Timor Lorosa’e
- Recognise
and conserve indigenous cultivars of useful plants
- Limited
progress on achieving sustainable livelihoods for both urban and rural
youth
- Empower
civil society groups and community organizations through participatory
approaches to decision-making during and after the transition period.
- Prioritise
participation in existing global and regional multilateral environmental
and sustainable development agreements based on Timor Lorosa'e’s needs and
capacity.
·
A key priority is to define Timor Lorosa'e’s ocean boundaries
- Invest
substantially in sustainable development, including significant revenue
derived from the Timor Gap.
Investment priorities include:
·
Sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation
·
Sustainable development education and research
·
Water supply, sanitation and waste management
·
Sustainable energy infrastructure
·
Environmental impact assessment of development