The objective of the ISLA project is to prevent the economic and social decline of NW Europes peripheral islands via the protection and enhancement of their natural and cultural heritage. The project, which is being led by the Dutch Government Service for Sustainable Land and Water Management, aims to exploit these islands unique cultural and natural landscape by fostering sustainable island tourism as a niche market. The 6.432m euro project will also seek to identify ways that island governments can deliver services in more effective ways. The project will use five islands to deliver cost effective, island specific solutions in areas such as field and water management, energy, water supply and treatment and tourism management and experience will be shared. By working on a transnational basis, the ISLA partnership will offer solutions that would not be available to islands if they – true their insular definition - were acting in isolation. It will also enable these traditionally isolated communities to share expertise in tackling common problems. The project will produce guidance documents, governance models and case studies to show how development can be achieved on NW Europes islands without jeopardising the quality of their natural and cultural environments.