New Caledonian environmentalists are calling on French President Jacque Chirac to stick to pledges he made at last year's Earth Summit in Johannesburg and protect the archipelago's environment.
The territory's Green party leader, Didier Baron says President Chirac made vigorous statements supporting sustainable devleopment and respect for indigenous people in New Caledonia, while in Johannesburg.
Mr Baron says the expansion of nickel mining as well as three major construction projects underway in the territory are causing environmental problems.
"These projects actually are regularly promoted as environmentally friendly but they are not because they do not have regulations in place to protect the environment of New Caledonia. They only create more problems."
Didier Baron - New Caledonia's Green Party leader.
