Using Samoan traditional ecological knowledge to identify calls of the critically endangered endemic tooth-billed pigeon (Didunculus strigirostris)

The tooth-billed pigeon (Didunculus strigirostris) is an endemic and highly cryptic bird of the rainforest canopy of Samoa. According to the recently released Tooth-billed Pigeon Recovery Plan (2020–2029), one of the greatest obstacles to conservation efforts is the inability of ornithologists to reliably separate its advertising coo call from that of the common and sympatric Pacific imperial pigeon (Ducula pacifica).

Western Santo Custom and Conservation Festival highlights traditional knowledge, culture. Photo -Santo Sunset Environment Network (SSEN).
Western Santo Custom and Conservation Festival highlights traditional knowledge, culture

Chiefs and traditional authorities of Western Santo have successfully concluded a Custom and Conservation Festival this month...With custom stories, dancing, music, cooking, slow food, agriculture, hunting, handicraft, and tabu histories, the Festival, hosted by Elia community, was the first ever

Scientists’ Warning to Humanity on Threats to Indigenous and Local Knowledge Systems

The knowledge systems and practices of Indigenous Peoples and local communities play critical roles in safeguarding the biological and cultural diversity of our planet. Globalization, government policies, capitalism, colonialism, and other rapid social-ecological changes threaten the relationships between Indigenous Peoples and local communities and their environments, thereby challenging the continuity and dynamism of Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK).

In December 2020, a cultural working group in Hawai‘i birthed a new name for the Bonin petrel, nunulu; in Hawaiian, the word means growling, warbling, or reverberating. Photo by Rebecca Jackrel/Alamy Stock Photo
Decolonizing Seabirds

A cultural working group is developing Hawaiian names for seabirds in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, after an extensive period of colonization eradicated many of those names...Hōkū Cody began journeying to the islands of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in 2013...Cody is pa

10th Pacific Islands Nature Conference 2020: How to Ensure the Transmission of Traditional-Knowledge as a way to preserve biodiversity in the Pacific

Traditional way of life in the pacific islands in the expression of each and everybody's identity. The link between people and their natural habitat, living and unliving things is key to someone's social status, relationship to other member of its community and existence in the world. The session shall look at the importance of traditional knowledge and its relation to the environment as a way to protect existing biodiversity and thus ensuring that the cultural heritage of Pacific Island population i preserved.