Indigenous vs Western Land Management Strategies in the Pacific Islands

This paper explores the critical role of sustainable land management in the Pacific Islands, focusing on its intersection with climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and cultural preservation. Indigenous land management practices, shaped over generations, are integral in maintaining ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, soil fertility, clean water, and coastal protection. These methods not only enhance resilience to climate change but also preserve species crucial for food security and cultural practices. By comparing traditional and Western land management strategies, this research suggests ways to integrate modern technology with indigenous knowledge to improve adaptive capacity. The paper addresses the gap in existing literature by providing a comprehensive overview of indigenous land management in the Pacific Islands, emphasizing the importance of recognizing indigenous land rights in environmental governance. It advocates for sustainable development by merging cultural traditions with ecological conservation, empowering indigenous communities through participation in land management and policy-making, and promoting the inclusion of indigenous perspectives in global sustainability frameworks. This work contributes to environmental studies, indigenous rights, and sustainable development, highlighting the potential of blending traditional knowledge with modern environmental practices to foster long-term resilience and sustainability.