Print PageIsland socio-ecological systems present the same processes and challenges that continental systems face, but on a scale more easily measured and perceived by humans. Therefore, island socio-ecological systems represent viable case-studies for scalable sustainability. Hawai`i was originally populated by a culture of sea-faring Polynesians who had, over the course of several thousand years, developed socio-ecological management strategies for island systems of very limited resources. In Hawai`i this system came to be known as the ahupua`a system of resource management which divided the island into self-sustaining, mountain-to-sea units that roughly followed watershed lines. For approximately 1,000 years prior to contact with foreign cultures this system managed to sustain a large population while maintaining the integrity of its natural resources. Due to changes in politics and land tenure this system began disintegrating in the mid-19th century, and is now no longer fully practiced. One of the smallest watersheds in Hawai`i is located in and around a 1,000 acre valley called Limahuli that once provided its several thousand residents with all of the food, water, fuel, medicine, clothing, and construction material that they needed. It just so happens that this was the area of one of Hawai`i’s last functioning ahupua`a, which itself lasted into the mid 20th century. Today, the area is managed as Limahuli Garden and Preserve (a branch of the National Tropical Botanical Garden). Having stewardship over a valley filled with a high rate of endemism (including nearly 50 plants and birds o the verge of extinction) and filled with archaeological features with a deep cultural significance, but also neighbored by a community of native Hawaiians who trace their ancestry to this valley we have a substantial responsibility to not only preserve, but perpetuate the natural and cultural treasures of our valley.
Results/Conclusions
Holding the world view that humans are not intrinsically detrimental to ecosystems we aim to restore the ahupua`a system in our community. We attempt to be a model of sustainability that couples the ancient wisdom of our ancestors with modern science to address issues that threaten or weaken the resilience of our socio-ecological system. As a means to this we attempt to rebuild the traditional relationships between our community and its natural resources so that both will be healthy again. The lessons of sustainable resource management which we have learned, we believe, are scalable to the largest watersheds on the planet; and this is what we hope to share.
