HATI-Oceania An Ecological Homeostasis Framework for Reducing Malaria Risk in Pacific Island Landscapes

Malaria persistence in parts of Oceania continues despite decades of biomedical intervention, indicating a systemic mismatch between conventional control strategies and island ecologies. This paper presents HATI-Oceania, a conceptual framework for reducing malaria transmission risk through ecological homeostasis, landscape design, and Indigenous knowledge–aligned decision support, rather than pathogen-centric or chemical approaches. The framework focuses on Melanesian island systems where the dominant vector (Anopheles farauti) has adapted to bite outdoors during early evening social hours, rendering indoor-focused interventions insufficient. HATI-Oceania reframes malaria as an ecological signal of disrupted airflow, water stagnation, vegetation imbalance, and cultural–environmental misalignment. The model integrates three pillars: (1) Botanical architecture, using native and culturally valued plants to create wind corridors, scent masking, and spatial repellence; (2) Biological restoration, restoring native larval predators and water flow to suppress vector breeding without chemicals or genetic modification; and (3) Sovereign AI decision support, where a collaborative, offline-first AI system assists communities by modelling wind, rainfall, and landscape dynamics while remaining subordinate to local governance and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). Crucially, HATI-Oceania does not propose medical treatment, eradication, or public health mandates. It is an ecological design and governance framework intended to reduce environmental suitability for vector transmission while delivering co-benefits including soil stability, climate resilience, cultural continuity, and community autonomy. This paper is presented as an open, non-commercial framework to invite interdisciplinary collaboration across ecology, Indigenous governance, climate adaptation, and ethical AI design. Keywords: Ecological homeostasis, vector ecology, Indigenous data sovereignty, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, landscape-based disease prevention, climate adaptation, wind-based vector suppression, community-governed AI, island ecology, non-chemical vector management