Publications
Eco-cultural Practices Related to Sustainable Food Systems in Coastal Communities in Fiji
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Manage No DI00001195 Country Republic of Korea Author Jimaima Lako (Associate Professor, School of Applied Science, College of Engineering, Science and Technology, Fiji National University, Fiji) Published Year 2021 Language English Copyright 
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| Description | The eco-cultural practices in Fiji demonstrate the wisdom and knowledge in understanding the relationships between ecological change, cultural practices and livelihood that contribute to the sustainability of traditional food systems. In Fiji, this is based on the traditional lunar calendar (vula vakaviti) and its value systems. This traditional lunar calendar is associated with ecological changes of the food systems and how they are regulated accordingly. Hence, it is used as a guide to determine and manage monthly foods across the entire food system with associated activities. This is identified through observed ecological changes in the food system of the various agricultural and marine foods species. The traditional lunar calendar identifies specific foods or plants and related activities respectively in an annual lunar cycle. This helps rotate the use of various food resources all year around, which reduces the over-use and over-harvest of one resource and allows for the recuperation and recovery of resources in a given environment. Similarly, the declaration of tabu (no take) for a temporary closure of a section of a land or community’s fishing ground for a certain period, the use of traditional farming and fishing methods, such as vucivuci and yavirau, as well as the barter system between the coastal and highland people are also ecocultural value systems that act as adaptation techniques. These systems help preserve the recovery of the environment to allow increase in breeding and growth of the various species of food resources, enhancing the culture of exchange and sharing of goods that strengthens kinship relationships. While the traditional lunar calendar and its value systems are useful, the impact of climate change and the apparent loss in the value systems have limited their usefulness and applications, which warrants further investigations and research. | ||
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