TERRESTRIAL
Story by Patrick Pikacha
The most obvious environmental crisis in Melanesia is the destruction of
native forests by loggers. Industrial logging is by far the most widespread
cause of habitat destruction here. Logging affects the food resources such
as wild meat, and fish and forest gardens of forest – dependent peoples.
P
ERHAPS NO ECOLOGICAL RISK facing the
Earth at present is more critical than the
damage done to biodiversity. Varieties of
organisms, and the ecosystems that support the
ecological systems here are becoming more and more
threatened. Water pollution, poisonous waste, and
global climate changes are important issues, and
demand our serious attention, yet these are
reversible. Loss of species on the other hand is not
reversible. Once a species is lost, it is lost for good,
never to be recovered. What’s more, humans are
dependent on the health of ecosystems, which
depend on the state of the biological diversity.
Within Melanesia there are numerous factors that
threaten the environment. To discuss simplistically
the causes of each threat is not possible here. Yet it is
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vital to at least highlight some of these underlying
causes.
The most obvious environmental crisis in
Melanesia is the destruction of native forests by
loggers. Industrial logging is by far the most
widespread cause of habitat destruction. Logging
affects the food resources such as wild meat, and fish
and gardens of forest – dependent peoples. Oil from
heavy machinery seeps into the ground, and felling
the forest opens the canopy and exposes the soil to
torrential rain. This reduces the soil quality for
gardens. Watersheds and rivers become polluted by
soil erosion which destroy fish stocks and upsetting
the stream ecology. And deprivie the people of clean
water. Health problems frequently ensue, and
transformations in the social structure arise.
JANUARY - JUNE 2005
In the 20th century the world’s
population has tripled. At the current
rate, Earth’s renewable resources are
being fast depleted. With the Melanesian
region’s population increasing over the
years, in the near future this will put
strain on the environment. In the 2000
census PNG’s annual average grow rate
was 2.7% and the population about 5.19
million. The highest population
percentage is in the highlands region
with 38% of the total population.
Incidentally the area is also one of the
most biological diverse of the terrestrial
regions in the country.
What’s more, with a growth rate of
3.4%, in twenty years Solomon Islands
population is set to double. Vanuatu has
a growth rate of 3.0%. Population
pressures tend to lead to clearing of
forests to make for gardens and homes.
Also with increased populations and
economic and international market forces
to satisfy, developing countries are often
forced to sell off their natural resources
cheaply. Lands are cleared for industrial
agriculture and mining. Without proper
management systems this fractures the
rainforest structure, and the biodiversity
is forced to survive in forest patches.
Worst still, local farmers are marginalized. This results
in disruptions to the livelihood of indigenous
communities.
Indigenous communities rely a lot on the
biodiversity. It is estimated by the World Health
Organization that 3,000 plant species are employed as
birth control by tribes throughout the world.
Knowledge of these plants is quickly disappearing
with the native tribes that hold it. Compounding this
obstacle is the lack of trained scientists in third world
countries including Melanesia where the loss of
biodiversity is most acute.
JANUARY - JUNE 2005
Photo: Nelson Koroi
LEFT: Brahminy kite. RIGHT: Hunting has threatened
many birds in Melanesia. Solomon’s sea eagle
endemic to Solomon Islands. BELOW: Rousettus
Bat (Rousettus amplexicaudatus).
In Melanesia traditional environmental knowledge
(TEK) is valuable and passed on from generation to
generation. For example, throughout the islands of
Melanesia TEK is evident in the people’s knowledge
of the marine resources. In New Guinea TEK is
associated with hunting for food, and body
decorations such as animal furs or bird feathers. TEK
is also part of the people’s cultural heritage as the
forests and numerous species are associated with
traditional stories and myths.
In brief there are far more reasons for the loss of
biodiversity, and the general pressures put on the
natural environment. Other factors include, global
warming, the risk of invasive species, hunting
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Photo: Shane Palepane
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES RELY A LOT ON THE BIODIVERSITY. IT IS ESTIMATED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION THAT 3,000 PLANT SPECIES ARE EMPLOYED AS BIRTH CONTROL BY TRIBES THROUGHOUT THE
WORLD. KNOWLEDGE OF THESE PLANTS IS QUICKLY DISAPPEARING
WITH THE NATIVE TRIBES THAT HOLD IT.
pressures, and so on. Understanding these concerns
and acting intelligently to save what is left of the key
ecological processes is critical.
Generally experts state that there is a connection
between financial systems and the physical
environment. High biodiversity offers necessary
means to forestry, agriculture, and fisheries. The
productivity and variety of life-forms are necessary
for various foodstuffs, medicines, and raw materials
employed by indigenous peoples. Pharmaceutical
products derived from plant-based sources have a
probable market worth of $84 billion each year.
Practically 40% come from tropical rainforests. Nature
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tourism also relies on the intactness of tropical
forests. This has not reached it’s potential in
Melanesia.
What can we do?
To tackle these striking challenges, governments,
NGO’s, community’s, and industries must work
together to develop lasting, and large-scale
incorporated methods to resource management. Such
approaches that will assist human requirements and
progress, and at the same time sustain the
environment. An initial step in this process may be to
recognize comprehensive drivers that cause poverty,
JANUARY - JUNE 2005
LEFT: The livelihood of indigenous peoples have been threatened by
rapid industrialization. Women carrying firewood, East Malaita. TOP:
Lowland forests. RIGHT: Platymantis spp. BOTTOM RIGHT: Solomon
sheathtail bat (Emballonura nigrescens).
loss of biodiversity and environmental damage. A
range of complicated social, economic, political and
cultural issues affect resource expenditure at the
grassroots level. And to effectively prevent the loss
of biodiversity, it is important for scientists,
community leaders, developers, and politicians in
Melanesia to acknowledge and deal with these core
reasons.
For years “outsiders” trying to understand why
our region and forests are being exploited have
produced information to help us make choices on
resource management. As well as to bring to our
attention the damage caused to the environment by
certain choices we make. Yet it is time that we as
locals of this region understand these causes and act
to halt the biodiversity loss. Information
dissemination and education are important
components of this process. Yet this information must
be translated to our local context and filter to the
villages and indigenous custodians of the forests.
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