Thresholds Database > Forest to subsistence crops, Tikopia Island, Pacific Ocean

Background

Tikopia is a relatively young island (3,000 years B.P.; 4.6km2 area), with nutrient-rich soils. Settlement occurred around 900 B.C. The natural resources of the island were exploited until the islanders introduced a diverse multi-layered orchard system, which mimicked the structure of the tropical forest they had removed. Tikopia was just small enough for the people to think of themselves as one community, which probably helped to unite them in their planning and decision-making.

Alternate Regimes

1. Tropical Forest

2. Eeroded soil, loss of much of the native fauna and flora

3. Diverse multi-layered orchards of economic and subsistence crops

Mechanism

State 1 to State 2: For the first 1000 years of settlement, the island's dense tropical forest was burned and cleared for shifting cultivation. The soil became eroded and the native fauna depleted, in particular birds, fruit bats, fish and shellfish. Some species went extinct. The loss of native food resources was partly offset by the intensification of pig production.



State 2 to state 3: With the depletion of the forest resources and a rapidly increasing population, the islanders established an intensive system of multi-layered orchards of economic and subsistence value which mimicked the structure of the former tropical forest. This took several centuries to fully develop. Small areas of crops were intensively hand-mulched and crops were rotated nearly continuously. They conserved fish stocks to provide an ongoing source of protein and starchy crops were stored for times of low harvest. Pigs were eliminated from the island since they caused damage to the orchards and were in competition with people for starchy food resources. The cost of sustaining this system was that population numbers were strictly controlled at zero population growth, a strategy that was incorporated into their spiritual ritual cycle.

Management Decisions in Each Regime

State 1: Pre-settlement.



State 2: No known controls on clearing, hunting, fishing or population growth.



State 3: Management decisions made by the chiefs include the establishment of the orchards, elimination of pigs, conservation of fish stocks and controls on population numbers at zero population growth. Population controls meant that even when hurricanes destroyed part of the crop, there was still sufficient food for the people. Many methods were employed to maintain ZPG (see paper), until, from 1929, the Christian missionaries prevented the more stringent practices. This resulted in a large population increase (1753 people in 1952), so that when cyclones struck in 1952/53 destroying 50% of crops, famine ensued. Today, the council of chiefs allows 1115 people on Tikopia, whilst additional people live on other islands.