Conservation Projects
The following projects have each been conducted within different kinds of relationships with community groups, student groups and classes. Many of these were initiated at the request of members of the communities where the work was held.
The following projects have each been conducted within different kinds of relationships with community groups, student groups and classes. Many of these were initiated at the request of members of the communities where the work was held.
Florida 1995-2000
- Big Cyperus Reservation. Consultation with the Florida Seminole Tribe on development of a Native American based natural product business and establishment of an ethnobotanical garden at the tribal headquarters.
Federated States of Micronesia 1995-1999
- Pohnpei. Studies of traditional house construction techniques and Kapingamarangi carving of Metroxylon seeds.
French Polynesia 2002-2004
- Mo’orea. Evaluation of developing ethnobotanical garden at the Gump Research Station. Training in oral history documentation of traditions. Supervision of graduate students working on documentation of traditional farming practices and impacts on lowland forest ecosystems.
Hawai`i 2002-2007
- O`ahu. Development of long-term management plan for Lyon Arboretum with special emphasis upon development of resources for the Manoa valley community and Native Hawaiian educational programs. [Note that the plan was not implemented because of political turmoil and rejection by non-Hawaiian dominant "stake-holders."] The work included development of the Hawai’i and Pacific Island ‘awa Festival held each October at the University of Hawai`i and first at the Arboretum.
- O`ahu. Development of resources for `ahupua`a o Kahana community including: a plant inventory toward a flora of the valley; Nakoa trail signs, maps and brochures; artifact recreations, panorama photographs for a visitor interpretive center, and a 3 dimensional watershed map.
- O`ahu. Support of a wide variety of student led projects addressing community needs or concerns about human-plant relationships.
Madagascar 2005
- Analalava. Training workshop on ethnobotany field methods for Malagasy conservation researchers. Conducted studies with two communities on the intensity and sustainability of their interactions with forest, marsh, and grassland resources.
Malaysia 1996
- Sarawak. Studies of traditional sago starch extraction by Malay and Dayak cultural groups living near Kuching.
Palau 2004-2005
- Babeldaub. Evaluation of five potential sites for a National Botanical Garden on behalf of the Palau Tourists Authority. Each site was evaluated for conservation potential, botanical diversity, and economic potential as an asset for tourism. Development of a Botanical Garden Rough Layout, Business Plan, and Grant Proposals.
Republic of Fiji 1990-1998
- Vanua Levu. Studies of economically important palms: Clinostigma, Veitchia, Balaka, Metroxylon, Calamus, Cocos, and Pritchardia. For each palm, the uses, cultural impact on plant populations and resource availability/sustainability was analyzed.
- Rotuma. Studies of Polynesian traditional house construction techniques and materials. Technical terminology used in construction was compared with four other Polynesian cultures using a cladistic-linguistic analysis in order to determine cultural relationships. Studies of traditional medicine. Each species used was collected for chemical analysis and taxonomic identification. In addition to identifying medicinal plants, the Rotuman perspectives of disease causation, human anatomy, health and wellness, and the development of traditional remedies were documented. Studies of traditional uses of palms: Cocos, Pritchardia, and Metroxylon.
Republic of Marshall Islands 2001-2003
- Rongelap Atoll. Evaluation of potential eco-tourism sites and development of grants and programs for resettlement of the people of the atoll back after their generation absence due to nuclear testing in nearby Bikini atoll. Also conducted an independent evaluation of the “clean-up” that has been conducted by the Department of Energy with particular emphasis upon potential environmental exposure to residual radioisotopes during the practice of traditional activities such as harvest of medicine and growing of crops.
- Ailinginae Atoll. Terrestrial biodiversity evaluation as part of preparation for an application for World Heritage Site status. Data generated from the initial site review was used to propose and then legislate the atoll as the first national park in the Marshall Islands. The site is now a biodiversity preserve and tourist destination managed by the community of Rongelap atoll while it awaits consideration as a World Heritage Site.
Samoa 1992-2002
- Tutuila and Sawai‘i. Studies of plants used in the production of traditional fish traps. Each species was collected and evaluated based upon cultural impact and resource sustainability. Community development workshops conducted with Trish Flaster focusing upon culturally appropriate herbal products and marketing of products in ways that are legal in the United States.
Solomon Islands 1996-2001
- Lauru (Choiseul). Ethnobotanical studies of Babatana and Ririo traditional medicine and uses of nut crops including Canarium spp. Establishment of two field research stations in the villages of Susuka and Sasamuqa.
- Guadalcanal. Development of a joint biodiversity research program with the Solomon Islands Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Forestry for ethnobotanical research studies in Choiseul Island. Biodiversity research initially focused upon ethnobotanical analysis of medicinal plants with future plans to expand into floristic and ethnobotanical studies. Studies of traditional housing materials, material supplies, sustainability of traditional housing, and environmental impact of maintaining traditional housing standards. Studies of the Ririo language and Ririo/Babatana taxonomy of biota, diseases, and land usage zones.
Thailand 2005-2006
- Khon Kaen and Sakon Nakon. Ethnobotanical studies of distributions of traditional knowledge of plant diversity, classification systems, plant and ecosystem nomenclature in Phuthai communities.