Research Communication Threatened Biodiversity and Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Associated Beliefs, Customs, and Uses of Herpetofauna among the ’Are’Are on Malaita Island, Solomon Islands Edgar John Maeniuta Pollard1*, Randy Thaman2, Gilianne Brodie3, and Clare Morrison4 Author addresses: 1Solomon Islands Campus, University of the South Pacific, P.O. Box R241, Honiara, Solomon Islands. 2School of Geography, Earth Science and Environment, Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji. 3School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment, University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji. 4School of Environment, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, G24 Parklands Drive, Southport, Queensland 4222, Australia. *Corresponding author: [email protected] Received: April 10, 2015 Volume: 6(1):99-110 Published: August 24, 2015 © 2015 Society of Ethnobiology Abstract: For many societies, including those in the rapidly urbanizing Pacific Islands, local biodiversity is threatened and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is in danger of being lost. Herpetofauna, in particular, are globally threatened, along with their associated cultural knowledge and beliefs. The aim of this study was to examine the species richness and conser- vation status of herpetofauna and associated TEK among the ’Are’Are on Malaita Island, Solomon Islands. Questionnaire surveys were used to collect information about local perceptions and knowledge regarding frogs, skinks, and geckos, as well as their forest habitats. Local informants were distributed equally between sexes and age groups. A total of 18 different species of frogs and lizards were recorded and characterized. Seven distinct cultural uses were identified. Informants above the age of 60 exhibited greater herpetofaunal knowledge, as measured by number of species identified, with males demon- strating knowledge of slightly more species than females. Our results show that action is warranted to document and preserve community TEK in the Solomon Islands as step towards preserving biodiversity and supporting cultural conserva- tion. Keywords: Herpetofauna, Frogs, Lizards, TEK, ’Are’Are, Solomon Islands Supplementary Files available at ojs.ethnobiology.org/index.php/ebl. Introduction language, that a given culture, including modern As E. O. Wilson (1992:343) stressed, we are in the science, has for its biodiversity.” From this perspec- midst of the sixth “great extinction spasm of geologi- tive, ethnobiodiversity and TEK provide a strong cal time,” caused mainly by human degradation of the foundation for successful living in natural and cultural environment. Thaman (2002, 2008a, b, 2013) has also environments and form the ‘glue’ that encourages stressed that there is a parallel “extinction event” social cohesiveness and creates cultural identity as a relating to the loss of traditional ecological knowledge basis for sustainability (Bennet 2000; Dutfield 2006; of biodiversity. Huntington (2000:1270) defined FAO 2011; Hviding 2005; Thaman 2009; Thaman et traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) as “the al. 2010, 2013). knowledge and insights acquired through extensive TEK is essentially wisdom, knowledge, and observation of an area or species,” which is usually information learned through common experience, shared orally. For thousands of years indigenous passed on from generation to generation, and used in peoples have used TEK to survive, build, and decision making, planning, and the management of maintain their unique cultures (Bennet 2000; FAO biodiversity among other resources that are critical 2011; Thaman et al. 2010). With specific reference to and beneficial to life in subsistence communities ethnobiodiversity, Thaman (2008b:103) has defined (Merculieff 2000). TEK is the basis for people’s such knowledge as “the beliefs, knowledge, uses, livelihoods and sustainability, as well as their mainte- customs, management systems, taxonomy and nance of cultural, economic, and traditional practices Ethnobiology Letters. 2015. 6(1):99‐110. DOI: 10.14237/ebl.6.1.2015.389. 99 Research Communication Figure 1. Map showing the location of the Solomon Islands and Malaita. (Bennet 2000; FAO 2011; Thaman et al. 2010). Herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles) play Thaman (2002, 2013) identifies the loss of traditional functionally important roles in energy flow and knowledge as a major threat to biodiversity preserva- nutrient cycling in ecosystems and culturally important tion. Thaman and Hviding (2005) argue that, if the roles in many societies (Pough et al. 1998). Amphibi- traditional names, taxonomies, uses, and management ans, which are usually abundant, are of global conser- systems of biodiversity are lost, the impetus for the vation concern because of their well-documented conservation of these natural resources at the widespread decline and often threatened status community level is also lost. (Bennett 1999; Bishop et al. 2012; Smith and Rissler In Melanesia, TEK and cultural practices have 2010; Stuart et al. 2004). Reptiles face a similar fate developed and evolved over millennia, resulting in but are less well documented scientifically (Bombi interactions and relationships with the environment 2009). Due to the cultural and ecological importance that are based on time-depth, qualitative, holistic, and and distinctiveness of herpetofauna, traditional oral approaches (Caillaud et al. 2004; Merculieff 2000; communities, particularly those living in forests, Walker-Painemilla et al. 2010). Indigenous people wetlands, or other suitable habitats, commonly have have used traditional knowledge, skills, customary deep knowledge of amphibians and reptiles not shared laws, taxonomic systems, and traditional practices to by scientists and conservationists. This traditional sustainably utilize their rich natural resources as a knowledge, the focus of the current survey, can basis for adaptation to change (Lauer and Aswani provide a basis for better understanding the cultural 2010; Thaman 2013; Walker-Painemilla et al. 2010) and ecological importance and conservation status of and biodiversity conservation (Berkes 2004; Hunting- herpetofauna. This TEK potentially may be used in ton 2000; Walker-Painemilla et al. 2010). collaboration with scientific knowledge for a more Ethnobiology Letters. 2015. 6(1):99‐110. DOI: 10.14237/ebl.6.1.2015.389. 100 Research Communication largest and fourth highest island in the Solomon Islands. It is oriented in a northwest to southeast direction about 60 km northeast of the main island of Guadalcanal (Polhemus et al. 2008). The island is about 190 km in length and approximately 40 km wide at its widest point. Dominant landforms include “steep, narrow ridges, fluvial plains, karst mountains, valleys, swamps and coastal landforms” (Moore 2007, PHCG 2008). Lagoons are also a common feature of the island, with the lagoons of the Lau (renowned for its artificial islands), Langa Langa (renowned for its shell money) and ’Are’Are (known for its expansive mangrove forests) constituting some of the most widely recognized features of Malaita province internationally (Moore 2007). Daily temperature ranges from 25°C to 32°C with high humidity and an annual average rainfall of 5,000 mm/year (Moore 2007). With a total land area of approximately 4,200 km² and roughly 33 persons per square kilometer, Malaita has the highest population density of the Solomon Islands and is home to roughly a third of the total Solomon Islands population of approximately 560,000 (Moore 2007). Almost all of Malaita is still under customary land tenure system and most Malaitans depend on subsistence agriculture (Filardi et al. 2007). Malaita is comprised of 14 language group areas (Figure 2). The ’Are’Are language area in the south covers the largest land area on the island (approximately 25%). The Tai Ward within the Figure 2. Map of Malaita highlighting the ’Are’Are lin- ’Are’Are area was selected as the study location for gual group. the present study because (i) it has a relatively low population density and (ii) native vegetation was relatively intact until the commencement of logging holistic approach to the conservation management of operations in the early 2000s, after which subsequent herpetofauna and other natural resources. heavy degradation took place throughout the region. Study Site ’Are’Are Human Population Demographics The Solomon Islands, the third largest archipelago in The age and gender demographics of the ’Are’Are, the South Pacific, is located between 6-12º S latitude based on the 2009 national census (SINSO 2011), and 155-168º E longitude (Figure 1) and is composed show a young population (Figure 3), of which 52.9% of a double chain of approximately a thousand islands is below the age of 20. This scenario is typical of most extending over 1450 km in a south-easterly direction of the Solomon Islands in that year. There is an (Mueller-Dombois and Fosberg 1998). As a nation obvious reduction in population numbers between the state, the Solomon Islands are located 1,800 km ages of 15 and 24, probably due to temporary migra- northeast of Australia. The total land area is approxi- tion due to education or work. The population of mately 28,785 km² (Mueller-Dombois and Fosberg older individuals is small, with only 5.8% over the age 1998) and the country has rich marine resources with of 60. a total marine area of around 1.3 million km² (Gough et al. 2010). Malaita Island, the focus of this study,