ALM UNDP

Summary:

The project will identify necessary infrastructure and supporting systems for sustainable use of natural resources in Kiritimati Island and employment generation. The output of the TA will be a recommendations of priority projects for selected outer island growth centres, and a long-term strategic development plan for Kiritimati Island that considers land use planning and zoning for residential, business, and protected areas, tourism, transportation, expanded water/sewer systems and protection of fresh-water lenses, solid waste management, and necessary supporting infrastructure.

Kiritimati Island is located in the Line Islands group 4,000 km east of the Kiribati's capital. It is the world's largest atoll, covering an area of 642 km2, of which 325 km2 is land and the remainder is lagoon and salt marshes. Kiritimati accounts for half of the country's total land area, and its promising potential has led to accelerating, and somewhat uncontrolled, migration to the island. Its proximity to Hawaii, and hence its access to markets; deep-water fish resources; freshwater resources to support around 20,000 people; exports of marine ornamental fish; and tourism potential are all likely to provide further opportunities to generate much-needed jobs, but at the same time call for an innovative and integrated approach to development. Kiritimati has been almost continuously occupied since 1882, when the first attempt was made to plant coconuts for commercial production of copra. It was a major military base in the 1950s and 1960s and was used for atmospheric nuclear testing by both the British and the Americans. The testing took place offshore, and apparently no trace of radioactive contamination remains. More recently, Kiritimati has been chosen as a base for the Japanese space exploration agency. These activities account for most of the road and runway infrastructure in place today. Kiritimati offers a unique opportunity to advance the Government's development objectives through an integrated economic, social, and environmental strategy. Its relatively large size, Government ownership of all land, and relative proximity to Hawaii mean that its development potential is relatively unconstrained. However, at the same time Kiritimati is vulnerable to

• constant and poorly regulated immigration from the rest of the country
• poor devolution of responsibilities to the local government
• a fragile ecology, and 
• limited fresh water.