Jamaica

Known as the 'Land of Wood and Water', Jamaica lies south of Cuba and west of Haiti. Patricia Francis of Jamaica was in 2010 appointed to the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group in October 2011. Jamaicans hold four Commonwealth Games records and three world records.

Four Jamaican women have won Commonwealth Writers' Prizes: Olive Senior in 1987 (Best Book); Erna Brodber in 1989; Alecia McKenzie in 1993; and Vanessa Spence in 1994. The Commonwealth Library Association has its secretariat at the Mona, Kingston, campus of the University of the West Indies.

Like Trinidad and Tobago the country has no railway. Jamaica is a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Association of Caribbean States, Caribbean Community, Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of American States, UN and WTO. Pollution of coastal waters, damage to coral reefs and air pollution in Kingston are among significant environment issues.

Zambia

It is one of seven landlocked Commonwealth countries. Zambia is a fertile and mineral-rich country on the Southern African plateau. The Commonwealth Youth Programme Africa Centre is based in Lusaka. Kalusha Bwalya, born in Mufulira in 1963, was African Footballer of the Year in 1988. Zambia is a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, African Union, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, Non-Aligned Movement, Southern African Development Community, UN and WTO.

The Forest - mostly savannah bushveld - covers 67% of the land area. Zambia has a wealth of wildlife, including big mammals and species of antelopes.

Significant environment issues include air pollution and resulting acid rain in the areas surrounding mining and refining operations in Copperbelt Province, inadequate water treatment facilities and poaching.

Barbados

Barbados is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands.

Sir Garfield Sobers, born in Bridgetown in July 1936, was the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for eight years.

Austin Ardinel Chesterfield Clarke, born in St James, Barbados, in July 1934, won the 2003 Commonwealth Writers' Prize with his tenth published novel, The Polished Hoe.

Barbados is a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Association of Caribbean States, Caribbean Community, Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of American States, UN and WTO.

The most significant environmental issues are pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships, soil erosion and contamination of underground water supply.

Lesotho

Known as the mountain Kingdom, the Kingdom of Lesotho is a small landlocked country entirely surrounded by South Africa. The country is divided into ten districts, each named after the principal town. Lesotho is a monarchy. It is a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, African Union, Non-Aligned Movement, UN and WTO among others.

The country is well-watered in a generally dry region, the Orange river and its tributary the Caledon rises in Lesotho. The country exports water to South Africa. The most significant environment issue is overgrazing, resulting in severe soil erosion and desertification.

*Gambia - Gambia which joined Commonwealth of Nations in 1965 withdrew from it after 48 years, in early October 2013.

Uganda

Uganda is an East African country bordered by Sudan, Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The country will host the Commonwealth Local Government Conference in May 2013. Samuel Kavuma of Uganda was appointed to the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group in 2010. Uganda is a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, African Union, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, East African Community, Non-Aligned Movement, OIC, UN and the WTO.

There is a rich variety of wildlife, including elephants, Uganda kob, lions, rhinos, mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. A total of 338 species of mammals and 830 species of birds live there. The most significant issues include draining of wetlands for agricultural use, deforestation and poaching.

Kenya

Kenya lies astride the equator and borders Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Tanzania. The country is divided into eight provinces.

The father of US President Barack Obama was a Kenyan national. Its athletes hold eight Commonwealth Games records and nineteen world records. The country hosts a national chapter of the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council. Kenya hosts the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme and UNHabitat. Kenya is a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, African Union, Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation, Non-Aligned Movement, UN and WTO among others.

Kenya's wildlife is probably the most famous in the world. Wild mammals include lions, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, antelopes, gazelles, elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamus, baboons and many kinds of monkeys. There are 359 recorded species of mammals, of which 51 are endangered. Soil erosion, desertification and poaching are among key environment issues facing the country.

Malawi

Malawi is a long, narrow south-east African country shaped by the Rift Valley and is bordered by Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania.

Malawi is one of seven landlocked Commonwealth countries, all of which are in Africa.

Malawi has one of the lowest per capita incomes in the Commonwealth, but its economy has grown at 7.5% a year over 2007-11.

It is a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, African Union, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, Non-Aligned Movement, UN and WTO.

The country faces deforestation and water pollution among other environment issues.

Botswana

The Republic of Botswana is a large, roughly circular, landlocked plateau in the centre of Southern Africa, bordered by South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Scholarships for postgraduate study are awarded by Botswana to citizens of other Commonwealth countries. Botswana was the largest producer of gem-quality diamonds in the world in 2011, a position held by Australia till 1999.

Botswana is a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, African Union, Non-Aligned Movement, Southern African Customs Union, Southern African Development Community, UN and WTO.

The most significant environmental issues are overgrazing, desertification and limited resources of fresh water.

Trinidad and Tobago

The country situated off the Venezuelan coast consists of two islands; Trinidad and Tobago.

The country has no railway. Port of Spain and Point Lisas are the main ports.

Tourist cruiseships dock in Scarborough and Port of Spain.

Trinidad and Tobago is a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Association of Caribbean States, Caribbean Community, Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of American States, Un and WTO.

The Pitch Lake in the south- west is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt.

The forest which is tropical evergreen covers 44% of the land. The most significant environment issues include water pollution and oil pollution of beaches.

Singapore

Singapore which is the 'City of Lions' in Sanskrit, is part of south east Asia. A number of smaller islands are included within its boundaries and the country is separated from Malaysia by Johor Straits. Singapore has an excellent harbour and is one of the world's busiest ports. It has won the annual Commonwealth Essay Competition nine times, no other country has won more than three times. Singapore is by far the most densely populated country in the Commonwealth. Scholarships for postgraduate study in integrative sciences and engineering are awarded by Singapore to citizens of other Commonwealth countries.

Singapore is a member of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation, Non-Aligned Movement, UN and WTO. Singapore hosts the headquarters of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

Despite the urbanisation of the country, there are over 300 species of birds. Industrial pollution and seasonal haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia are significant environment issues.

Malta

The Republic of Malta comprises an archipelago of six islands and islets in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.

The Commonwealth Network of Information Technology for Development (COMNET-IT) has its secretariat in Valletta.

Malta is a member of the Council of Europe, European Union, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, UN and WTO.

There are no rivers, streams or lakes on Malta Island. Limited freshwater resource is a major environment issue facing the country.

Guyana

The Co-operative Republic of Guyana lies in the north-east of South America. It is bordered by Suriname, Brazil and Venezuela. The country comprises ten regions.

Sir Shridath Ramphal of Guyana was Commonwealth Secretary-General 1975-90. Guyanese writers have won the overall Best First Book award of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize in 1991 (Pauline Melville) and in 2006 (Mark McWatt).

The Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre is based in Georgetown.

In 1989 Guyana offered 360,000 hectares of pristine rainforest the Commonwealth's flagship Iwokrama Rainforest Programme. The Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre is based in Georgetown.

Guyana is a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Association of Caribbean States, Caribbean Community, Non Aligned Movement, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Organization of American States, UN and WTO.

Guyana's tropical forest, covering 77% of the land area, is among the most ecologically valuable and best preserved in the world. The environment is an issue of great political importance in Guyana.

The most pressing environment issues include water pollution and deforestation.