Oceania

Reference Type Book Chapter
Year of Publication
1980
Author
Author: Gary A. Klee
Editor: Gary A. Klee
Book Title
World systems of traditional resource management
Pagination
245-281
Date Published
01/1980
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons
City
New York
Language
English
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Abstract
Many South Pacific islanders possessed and continue to possess a wealth of environmental knowledge, including traditional systems of resource management. Taboos, bans, seasons, wildlife preserves, marine preserves, land and lagoon tenure systems, systems of time reckoning, social stratification, religion, and population control (overseas voyaging, suicidal voyages, celibacy, prevention of conception, abortion, and infanticide) undoubtedly function in conserving island resources. Several of these inadvertent or recognized conservation practices were distinctly effective in terms of conserving resources, and, if those appropriate were supported or adapted to modern conditions, they could continue to be so. Yet, little time remains to identify, record, and possibly preserve some of these traditional systems of conservation management. (author)