And while it may seem counter-intuitive, among the first of these is water.
With changing weather patterns, increasing urbanization and growing competition for what water these islands have, sustainably managing this resource is fast becoming a top priority.
“Most Small Island Developing States are experiencing increasing shortages of freshwater as a result of multiple anthropogenic pressures and climate change impacts on their already vulnerable freshwater resources,” reads the UN’s 2014 Emerging Issues for Small Island Developing States report.
With a population of just 200,000 people, São Tomé and Príncipe is Africa’s second-smallest nation.
So when the Global Environment Facility-backed Implementing Integrated Water Resource and Wastewater Management in Atlantic and Indian Ocean Small Island Developing States project – or Water 4 Islands – set out to help São Tomé and Príncipe’s government to improve the islands’ water resource management, Neves and the surrounding Provaz River Basin – with its diverse water users and reliance on both freshwater and marine resources – was fast chosen as a demonstration site.
The Water 4 Islands team undertook research on the basin’s hydrogeology and water use, then brought together water users from across society and industry to form the Provaz River Basin Management Committee – the first initiative of its kind in São Tomé and Príncipe.
Inspired by the clean-up, a small group of Neves’ women decided to make it a regular activity.
“We are proud that our river is clean.
“In São Tomé and Príncipe women are the ones who fetch water, who use the river to wash – so when you go to a river, it’s mostly women you see.
With another three river basin committees now operating around the nation and two more under development as the Water 4 Islands project draws to a close in 2018, Maria and her fellow women continue to be an inspiration, from Neves to the capital.