"...That is not to say that governments have no role in preserving reefs, beyond enforcing property rights. But it is important that they think carefully about the connections between the money they spend and the impact this has on reef-based economies. One cautionary tale among many at the conference showed how things can go wrong. An airport expansion in the British Virgin Islands, funded in part by Britain's Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Union, is causing a lot of soil erosion. The resulting sediment is leaching into the coastal reefs at the edge of the airport. Coral thrives in clear, nutrient-poor waters, so the airport threatens the very thing the tourists are coming to see..."

Nov 2nd 2000 | Nusa Dua, Bali
From the Economist Print Edition