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Living with Internal and External Diversity

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Living with Biodiversity in an Island Ecosystem

Part of the book series: Ethnobiology ((EBL))

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Abstract

This chapter summarizes the findings, suggests ways to harmonize the interactions of humans and the natural world of Melanesia, and proposes how this system sustainably benefits the people of Roviana. Successful strategies for harmonizing community welfare and biodiversity will probably include (1) the use of diversified strategies to allow villagers to continue to receive benefits from ecosystem services, (2) the strategy that balances both low-risk and risk-prone methods of earning income, (3) conservation of biodiversity and land in a method that supports these strategies, (4) building and continuing consensus related to the sustainable management and wise use of the forest, and (5) integrating traditional leadership and knowledge for achieving these conditions. Additionally, external support is needed to empower the community with internal diversity toward harmonized interaction between humans and the natural world. Responses to external negative impacts on the island’s resources may also cause the villagers to think about how they can manage the land sustainably. Recent global forest conservation initiatives can play important roles, only when they are conducted in accordance with the internal diversity. Lessons from the Solomon Islands will be useful for other societies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Environment, Division of Southeast Asian Area Studies, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

    Takuro Furusawa

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  1. Takuro Furusawa
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Furusawa, T. (2016). Living with Internal and External Diversity. In: Living with Biodiversity in an Island Ecosystem. Ethnobiology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-904-2_10

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