Kava cultivation, native species conservation, and integrated watershed resource management on Pohnpei Island

Date
2005-04
Authors
Merlin, Mark David
Raynor, William
Contributor
Advisor
Department
Instructor
Depositor
Speaker
Researcher
Consultant
Interviewer
Annotator
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Hawaii Press
Volume
Number/Issue
Starting Page
Ending Page
Alternative Title
Abstract
For many centuries, the kava plant, Piper methysticum, a series of sterile clones of a truly wild Piper species, has been used in several high islands in remote Oceania, including Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. Until modern times, its use on all of these islands was largely restricted to chiefly, priestly, and medicinal use. Because of colonial suppression and/or the use of other nonindigenous psychoactive drugs, its use was abandoned on some of these islands. On other islands, such as Pohnpei, its use has increased greatly, with substantial changes in rank, gender, motivation, time, and place. This steep rise in its use has resulted in a large increase in its cultivation. On Pohnpei, intensification of cropping in upland environments is largely responsible for more than 70% loss of the remaining native, tropical rain forest since 1975. This impact and other human activities endanger the unique upland biodiversity of this remote tropical island. Recent historical trends in forest exploitation, threats to biodiversity, and watershed disturbance on Pohnpei are discussed in this paper. The Watershed Conservation Plan and management benefits of the proposed Pacific-Asia Biodiversity Transect (PABITRA) are emphasized with permanent plot establishment for long-term monitoring.
Description
Keywords
Pacific-Asia Biodiversity Transect Network., Biological diversity conservation--Micronesia (Federated States)--Pohnpei Island., Ecosystem management--Micronesia (Federated States)--Pohnpei Island--Citizen participation., Kava industry--Environmental aspects--Micronesia (Federated States)--Pohnpei Island., Natural history--Periodicals., Science--Periodicals., Natural history--Pacific Area--Periodicals.
Citation
Merlin MD, Raynor W. Kava cultivation, native species conservation, and integrated watershed resource management on Pohnpei Island. Pac Sci 59(2): 241-260.
Extent
20 pages
Format
Geographic Location
Time Period
Related To
Table of Contents
Rights
Rights Holder
Local Contexts
Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.