ABSTRACT
During the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, pressure on coastal ecosystems has amplified and resulted in the widespread degradation of adjacent marine and terrestrial habitats globally (Burke et al., 2001). The ecosystem services provided by coastal habitats, including coastal protection and food procurement, have been heavily compromised by anthropogenic disturbance such as overfishing, pollution, sedimentation and alteration of coastal vegetation (Costanza et al., 1997; Agardy et al., 2009). In the context of small islands, this continued degradation in tandem with the ongoing effects of climate change is putting the livelihoods of coastal peoples at risk (e.g. Bell et al., 2009). While international efforts at curtailing these negative trends are ongoing, many researchers are working directly with coastal local/ indigenous communities to seek more effective management of coastal terrestrial and marine resources. Among various approaches, researchers are increasingly incorporating local knowledge systems for designing resource management and conservation plans (e.g. Gadgil et al., 1993). In this respect, of particular significance is the incorporation of indigenous ecological
CONTENTS
10.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................225 10.2 Regional Context ......................................................................................228 10.3 Human Spatio-Temporal Settlement Dynamics ..................................228 10.4 Human Foraging Strategies ....................................................................230 10.5 Local/Indigenous Ecological Knowledge Systems .............................234 10.6 People’s Detection of Rapid Ecological Change ..................................238 10.7 People’s Detection of Protracted Ecological and Climate Change ... 239 10.8 Development and Spatial Conflicts ....................................................... 243 10.9 Discussion ................................................................................................. 244 10.10 Conclusion ................................................................................................ 246 References ............................................................................................................. 246
knowledge (IEK) into management schemes for the conservation of biological diversity (e.g. Berkes et al., 2000).
