Thaman, Randolph R. (2008) Atolls - the “biodiversity cool spots” vs “hot spots”: a critical new focus for research and conservation. Micronesica, 40 (1/2). pp. 33-61. ISSN 0026-279X
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
This paper highlights the seriousness of the “biodiversity
crisis” on atolls and the need to place greater research and conservation emphasis on atolls and other small island ecosystems. It presents a “snapshot” of the current status of atoll biodiversity, including associated marine biodiversity, and stresses that atolls are “biodiversity
cool spots”, which, apart from, in some cases, very considerable marine resources, have among the poorest and most highly threatened biodiversity inheritances on Earth. Atoll societies and ecosystems are also widely believed to be the most seriously threatened by global
climate change and associated sea level rise. This paper is based on studies over the past twenty years conducted in the atolls of Tuvalu, Tokelau, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. It stresses that atolls offer some of the greatest opportunities for integrated studies of simplified small-island ecosystems, especially studies that involve local communities and local researchers, as have been emphasized by the Pacific Asia Biodiversity Transect Network (PABITRA). It is suggested that, if we are really
worried mutual capacity building and sustainability of islands as human support systems, we must place higher priority on research on, and the conservation of, the Earth’s “cool spots”, such as the atolls and other
biodiversity-poor small islands. Emphasis is also placed on the importance of the protection, recording and application of indigenous knowledge, here referred to as “ethnobiodiversity”, which when used in concert with the most up-to-date modern scientific knowledge, constitutes perhaps the most appropriate means of designing models for
the sustainable use of small island ecosystems.
| Item Type: | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Q Science > Q Science (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Geography, Earth Science and Environment |
| Depositing User: | Ms Neha Harakh |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Jan 2008 22:39 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Jul 2012 08:28 |
| URI: | https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/222 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |