Forests and forestry in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

There is no internationally accepted definition of a small island developing state. However, small island states were given an international political identity with the establishment in 1991 of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) currently comprising 39 members (including four low-lying coastal states: Guinea-Bissau, Belize, Guyana and Suriname) and four dependent territories as observers. Two additional Small Island Developing States are members of FAO, but not of AOSIS (Bahrain and the Dominican Republic) adding up to 41 taken into consideration in this Web site. Ten of these states have 'least developed country' status within the United Nations system.

Below is a list of the 41 states, which are members of FAO and/or of AOSIS as of September 2002. (The list includes the four low-lying coastal states, but excludes dependent territories including those with observer status in AOSIS.)

* = Not an FAO member, but a member of AOSIS

** = Not an AOSIS member, but a member of FAO