Role of GIS and Remote Sensing in the Sustainable Development

Small island developing states are located among the most vulnerable regions in the world in relation to the intensity and frequency of natural and environmental disasters and their disproportionately high economic, social and environmental consequences. They pose various sustainable development challenges, which principally arise from their remoteness, small size, ecological fragility, topography, susceptibility to natural disasters, limited resources, limited local capital for productive investment, and excessive dependence on imports. Though there is significant progress made for sustainable development in Mauritius particularly in the protection and/or management of land, environment, fresh water, coastal area, biodiversity, agriculture and waste, GIS and remote sensing technologies have not been employed much in these executions. The role of GIS and remote sensing in the sustainable development of Mauritius has been explained in the paper. Key words: GIS, remote sensing, small island developing states, Mauritius, sustainable developmen