models for global survival - wordpress.com · 2017-06-15 · destination, as well as from the...

15thIslandsoftheWorldConference-ABSTRACTSLIST

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CONFERENCEABSTRACTS(listedinalphabeticalorderbyauthorslastname)

15thIslandsoftheWorldConferenceInternationalSmallIslandsStudiesAssociation(ISISA)

SmallIslandCommunities:ModelsforGlobalSurvival

2-7July2017KangarooIsland,SouthAustralia,Australia


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MarkAgnew,DepartmentofEnvironment,Water&NaturalResources,KIWaterresourcesmanagementonKangarooIslandAvailabilityandappropriatesharingoffreshwaterisapersistentissueforKangarooIsland.AlackoffreshwaterpreventedSouthAustralia’sfirstsettlementatReevesPointontheoutskirtsofKingscotedevelopingintoalargetown,oreventhestatecapital.KangarooIslandhasonepublicreservoirthatsuppliespotablewatertothemaintownshipsandasmalldesalinationplantatPenneshaw.Landholdersinotherareasrelyheavilyfortheirwatersupplyneedsonthecaptureofwaterindamsandrainwatertanks.Governancearrangementsdelegatethepowertodevelopwater-sharingpoliciestoagroupofcommunitymembersthatconstitutestheKangarooIslandNaturalResourcesManagementBoard.TheBoardmustbalancetheallocationofsurfacewaterrunoffbetweencompetingdemandsfromirrigators,stock,domesticusers,commercialforestryandin-streamandriparianecosystemsthatdependonsuitableflowregimestofunction.Increasingly,therearedemandsonthesharedwaterresourcefromcoastaltourismdevelopmentsinresponsetothemarketingofKIasaniconiceco-destination,aswellasfromtheexpandinghorticultureandaquacultureindustries.Thispresentationwilldescribehowsurfacewaterresearchandmonitoringprogramsareusedtodeterminetheprimarydriversofthehealthofaquatic,riparianandestuarineecosystemsontheislandinordertoassesstherisksassociatedwithdifferentwatermanagementoptions.AmyKerrAllen,SouthAustraliaAnislandoutofwater:challengescreatedbycentralisationofpopulationandservicesinKiribatiDespitebeingexemplifiedasamodelforsuccessfulclimatechangeadaptation,Kiribatiexperiencesthelowestaccesstofreshwaterandthehighestratesofwater-bornediseasesinthePacific.Ofthe26inhabitedatolls,Tarawafacesthegreatestchallenges.Withoneoftheworld’shighestpopulationdensities,theincreasinglyurbancapitalsuffersfromextremepollution,erosion,andseveredamagetothefragilewatersource.ArguablythemostpressingconcernisthatprojectedfuturedemandssuggestSouthTarawawillneedanadditionalwatersource(e.g.desalinationplantsorlargescalerainwatercollection)tosustainthepopulationby2030.Iexaminethefeasibilityofimplementingpotentialoptionsinaculturalandsocialcontext,takingintoaccountgovernmentanddonorpoliciesandviewingthecentralisationofpopulationandservicesasakeychallenge.ThroughsystematicanalysisofadaptationpolicyandplanningforKiribati,Iidentifyhowrepeatedprojectfailuresresultedinanarrowingovertimefromalong-term,whole-of-countryapproach,toasolefocusonurbandevelopmentinSouthTarawa.Thistriggeredaself-perpetuatingcycleofinwardmigration,onewhichwillensurecontinuedfailureofadaptationprogramsifnotaddressed.IproposethatKiribatiisuniquelypositionedtobecomeamodelforglobalsurvivalifresourcesareinvestedintoprovidingsupportandservicestoouterislandcommunities,inparallelwithmanagingtheneedsofSouthTarawa.ProfessorJoëlArseneau,CégepdelaGaspésieetdesÎles–CampusdesÎles,Quebec,CanadaBuildingourIslands’futuretogetherTheMagdalenIslandsarchipelagoisabustlingtouristdestination,thrivingculturallyyetconfrontedwithmajoreconomic,demographic,environmental,transportation,energyandsocialchallenges.


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Theexiguityandvulnerabilityofthelandaswelltheuniquecharacterofthecultural,socialandeconomicfabricofthecommunitycallsforspecificandlocally-basedactionsandleadershipinfacingthosechallenges.Asmayorofthecommunityforeightyears,itdawnedonmethatanintegratedapproachtoourmanychallengeswasessential.Fromtheprotectionofourlimitedwatertablesupplies,toadaptationtoclimaticchange,fromsocialandeconomicdevelopmenttowastemanagement,airandmaritimetransportationandcleanenergy,allmajorissuesareinextricablyintertwined.Theideawastodocument,classify,prioritise,andgetthecommunityinvolvedinfindingsolutions,setgoalsandarealistictimetableforactions.Ourownchallengewastoraisepeople’sawarenessingettingtheminvolvedintheelaborationofground-basedactionsfordevelopment.Over18months,collaborativeleadershipandopengovernanceledtotheelaborationofacomprehensiveplanforthefuture,aroadmapto2025empoweringthecommunitytofaceandfollowuponitsmanychallenges.Theinitiativebeingunderway,whathavewelearned?AnnaBaldacchino,UniversityofMalta“AveryBritishstory”:earlychildhoodeducationinsmallislandstatesPost-colonialismhasimpactedprimary,secondaryandtertiaryeducationinsmall(oftenisland)states.ThispaperwillextendthisanalysistothepracticeandpedagogyofEarlyChildhoodEducation(ECE).Itdescribesthepreliminaryfindingsofongoingdoctoralresearchwhich,echoingSuePalmer,explorestheexistenceandcharacterofanycoloniallingeringinthepedagogyandpracticeofECEinsmallislandstates,withspecialreferencetoMaltaandGrenada(bothformerBritishcolonies).Itwillalsogiveanoverviewofthefindingsofaresearchquestionnairewhichwassentouttorespondentsbasedin27smallislandstatesacrosstheworld.Theresorttoschooluniforms,theusageofstandardEnglishasthelanguageofinstruction,atopdownpedagogythatobligesanearlystarttoschooling,astrongfocusonliteracyandnumeracyintheearlyyears,restrictionofplay-basedlearning,storybooksthatarenotnecessarilyrelevanttothecountry’scultureandtraditionandwrittenintheEnglishlanguageeventhoughbothcountrieshavetheirownlocallanguage…thesedetailsaresuggestiveofacoloniallingeringeveninECE.TonyBartram,KangarooIsland&VictorHarborDolphinWatchWhatISitaboutdolphins?TheworkofTownsendandothersindicatesthatexperiencesinnatureenhancewell-beingandnurturethehumanspiritinmyriadways.Recentresearchsuggeststhehuman/dolphininterfaceisamongstthemostspecialofwell-beingandnurturingexperiences,experiencesthatthephilosopherThomasBerryhasurgedmodernsocietytopursue.Asaniconic,muchlovedspecies,evendeifiedbysomeancientandislandcultures,theobservationandstudyofdolphinshasmuchtooffertoislandcommunities,positioningthemperfectlyascentresforprovidingextraordinarilybeneficial“wellness”experiencesandeducationalopportunitiesaboutsuchmattersonaglobalscalewithconsequentbenefits.Frompeacefulobservationstoaweinspiringaerialdisplays,thestudyofdolphinspresentsaperfectopportunityfordevelopingasenseofcommonpurposewithrespecttocaringforthemarineenvironmentsuponwhichislandsdepend.Itleadsustocommunewithnaturewithcontingentbenefitsofwellness,inspiringallmannerofartworks,imageryandwriting,helpingindividualsandcommunitiestobuildresilience.


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Dolphinshaveplayedsignificantrolesinthelivesofmanyislandculturesovercenturies,inspiringmysticismanddeeplyspiritualconnections.Individualwellbeingisthecornerstoneofcommunityresilience.Smallislands,becauseoftheircoastalenvironments,areuniquelypositionedtocapitaliseuponthebenefitsoftheirmarinehabitats.DrMitulBaruah,AshokaUniversity,IndiaThepoliticalecologyofenvironmentaldisastersandrurallivelihoodsonMajuliRiverIsland(Assam),IndiaDrawingonapoliticalecologyframework,thispaperexploresthetransformationofrurallivelihoodsonMajuliRiverIslandinAssam,India.Thepaperwillpaycloseattentiontothreekindsofrurallivelihoods,agriculture,fishingandpottery,thataretraditionallydominantonthisisland,anddemonstratehowthetwindisastersoffloodingandriverbankerosion,andthegovernanceprocessesofthesedisasters,haveseverelydestabilizedtheselivelihoods,therebyre-shapingsocio-culturalpracticesontheisland.Atthesametime,thepaperalsohighlightssomeoftheemergingformsoflivelihoodsintheisland,thusilluminatingthequestionofcopingbydisaster-affectedcommunities.Inexploringtherelationshipsbetweendisasters,naturalresourcesdepletion,andrurallivelihoodtransformations,thepapertakesintoaccounttheroleofthebroaderpoliticaleconomicprocesses,agrarianquestions,andthescalarpoliticsofenvironmentalgovernance.ThisresearchisbasedonoversixteenmonthsofethnographicfieldworkconductedinMajuliin2012-2013.Overall,thepaperadvancespoliticalecologicaltheorizationsofrurallivelihoodsandcontributestoscholarshipaboutsmallislands,especiallyriverislands.KarleahBerris,DepartmentofEnvironment,Water&NaturalResources,KIManaginganendangeredspeciesinthepresenceofanabundantpredator:advantagesandchallengesonisolatedKangarooIslandLossofdroopingshe-oak(Allocasuarinaverticillata)feedinghabitat,primarilythroughclearanceforagriculturalproduction,causedtheextinctionoftheendangeredglossyblack-cockatoo(Calyptorhynchuslathamihalmaturinus)(GBC)onmainlandSouthAustralia.AremnantpopulationoftheGBChaspersistedonKangarooIslandwhereclearancehasbeenlesssevere.KangarooIslandconsistsofamosaiclandscapeofhighqualitynativevegetationinterspersedwithagriculturalland,broughtaboutthroughselectiveclearancethattookplacefollowingtheWorldWarTwoSoldierSettlementscheme.Commonbrushtailpossums(Trichosurusvulpecula)benefittedfromtheconversionofnativevegetationtoimprovedpasturewithadjacentremnantpatches,andarenowabundantontheIsland.ThishadanegativeimpactontheGBCpopulation,asbrushtailpossumspredateonGBCeggsandnestlings.After22yearsofpossummanagement,theGBCpopulationhasmorethandoubledinsize,expandeditsrangeacrossKangarooIslandandcontinuestorecordincreasedreproductivesuccess.AstrongsenseofcommunityonKangarooIslandhastranslatedintohighlevelsofpublicparticipationandengagementintheGBCrecoveryprogram.MostvolunteersshareacommonappreciationofKangarooIsland’snaturalassets,andtheirenthusiasmandcommitmenthasenhancedtheprofileandoutcomesoftherecoveryprogram.


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QuentinChester,KangarooIslandIslandInspiration:photographyasabindingforceIslandshavealwaysheldaspecialallureforartists,writersandphotographers.Asplacesofrefugeandnaturalwonder,theyofferarealmofcreativefreedomthat’softendifficulttosecureinalargemetropolitansetting.Australiaisblessedwithmorethan8,000islands,manyofthemremoteandlittlealtered.Asawriterwithalife-longfascinationforthewildestofthesehabitats,itisthedirectexperienceofplacethatisthemostpowerfulinspirationformywork.Aftereightyearsasafull-timeresidentofKangarooIslandIcancharttheinfluenceofplacethroughanever-growingcommitmenttophotography.Thisisbothadeliberateartpractiseandaresponsivemeansofexploringtheisland–aprocessthatisalsosharedacrossthecommunity,viaexhibitionsandthedailyoutputofsocialmedia.Thus,foralargeislandwithasmall,dispersedpopulation,photographyworksasanaffirmationofplaceandidentity.Crucially,thisismorethanastaticportrayalofwildlifeorscenery.Theever-changingcharacterofthesesharedimagescapturesthelivingessenceoftheplace,thevividmarginsbetweenlandandsea,andthenaturalvigourthatpowerslifehereeveryday,beitonthefarmoroutbush.ProfessorJenniferCorrin,CentreforPublic,International&ComparativeLaw,UniversityofQueenslandEmpoweringtraditionalleaderstomanagenaturalresourcesinsmallPacificStatesTheSmallIslandDevelopingStates(‘SIDS’)intheSouthPacificarerichinnaturalresources.However,thesericheshavenottranslatedintowealthforlocalcommunities,whichstruggletoretaincontroloftheirlandsandtheiryield.ManySIDSpromotetraditionalleadershipintheirconstitutions,but,inpractice,traditionalleadersandtheircommunitiesareoftenmarginalisedbytheState.TheuneasyrelationshipbetweentheStateandcustomarylegalsystemsisstrained,particularinthefieldofresourcemanagement,aslandisoftenconstitutionallyvestedinthepeopleandgovernedbycustomarylaws,butjealouslyregardedbytheState,whichseekstouseitfornationaldevelopmentandtheproductionofwealth.ThispaperconsidersthedelicatebalancerequiredtoaccommodatetheinterestsofthedifferentactorsinthecontextofaselectionofSIDSlocatedinthesouthwestPacificOcean.Commencingwithsomebriefbackgroundinformationonthesecountries,thepaperoutlinesthepluralisticlegalsystemsoflandtenureandresource‘ownership’inforce.Itexaminessomeoftheresultingtensionsanduncertaintieswhichhampertraditionalcommunitiesfrommanagingtheirlandinasustainableway.Thepaperconcludesbyputtingforwardsomeoptionsfordealingwiththeseissues.JoanneDavidson,Chair,TourismOptimisationManagementModelCommittee,Adelaide&KangarooIslandTourismOptimisationManagementModel:adecadeofimplementationThispresentationdirectlyrespondstothequestion“Cansmallislandsprovideusefulmodelsforglobalsurvival?”witharesounding“yes”.Itprovidesapracticalcasestudyofmonitoringandmanagingthedelicatebalancebetweenoptimisingtourismasaneconomicdriverwhilepreservingthesocialandenvironmentalbeautyofasmallisland.ThepresentationwilllookatthehistoricalvisitationpatternstotheIslandanddiscussthedevelopmentoftheTOMMprograminresponsetoincreasingvisitationnumbers.Itwilloutlinetheunderlyingprinciplesofthemodelandidentifyitsstrengthsandweaknesses.


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Theprocessofdatacollection,analysisandadaptivemanagementresponsewillbeoutlined,includingasummaryofthemethodologiesusedfordatacollection.Aseriesofspecificexampleswillbeprovidedhighlightingtheapplicationofadaptivemanagementresponsesandtheresultantimpactonmeasures.Thepresentationwillconcludewithanoutlineofthekeychallengesofmaintainingboththeapplicationofthemodelandtheintegrityofthedataoveritsten-yearhistoryandintothefuture.DrKirstenDavies,MacquarieUniversity,SydneyTheWarmingWar:climatechangethreateningthesecurityoftheplanetandthesovereigntyofnationsTheColdWarmovedslowlyoveraperiodof45yearsofindirectconflicts.Sincethistimetheplanethasexperiencedmetaphoricwars,suchastheWaronTerrorandtheWaronDrugs.ThispaperclaimsthatwearenowintheeraoftheWarmingWarastheimpactsofgreen-houseemissionsheattheplanet,insidiouslythreateningthesecurityoflifeonearth.Todatethisthreathasbeenapproachedthroughdiplomacyandnegotiationasclimatesciencehasaffirmedtheevidenceofthisthreat.Thesepoliticalprocessesaretooslowforsomestates,suchaslowlyingcoastalislands,thatmayceasetoexistgeographicallyinthefuture.ThispapertakesaradicalapproachaskingwhetherdevelopingcountriescouldbringtheimpactsofclimatechangebeforetheInternationalCourtofJusticeas‘actsofwar’?ItfurthersuggeststhatSmallIslandDevelopingStatessuchasTuvalu,theMaldives,andVanuatu,thatfindtheirterritorialintegrityandsovereigntydirectlychallengedbytheimpactsofclimatechange,couldenlistinternationallaw’sever-evolvingdefinitionofa‘threat’todeclaretheimpactsofclimatechangeasan‘actofwar’.DrRhondaDiBiase,UniversityofMelbourne‘Smallness’hassomeadvantages:investigatingeducationalreformintheMaldivesIslands,boundedspaces,canprovideamicrocosmicviewintothecomplexprocessofeducationalreform.Thisstudyinvestigatedapedagogicalinnovation,aninstructionalmodelpromotingactivelearning,withinaMaldivianislandschool.ThesmallnessofMaldivianislandshasposedchallengesforthecountry,yetsmallnessalsohassomeadvantages.Giventhewell-documentedtensionsbetweencurricularreformatthenationallevelandimplementationattheschoollevel,whatcanberenderedmorevisibleonasmallislandhasthepotentialtoofferinsightsintolargerquestionsforimprovingthequalityofeducation.Theaimofthisstudywastoidentifytheenablingconditionsforimplementingactivelearning,anapproachpromotingtransferableskillsandlifelonglearning.Itwasconductedusingdesign-basedresearch,aninterventionistmethodology.Throughmyengagementwiththeintervention,integraltodesign-basedresearch,necessitatedanextendedperiodoflivingontheMaldivianfishingisland,Iwasaffordedtheopportunitytogainadeeperunderstandingofislandlife.Thefindingsarticulateaseriesofdesignprinciples,anoutputofdesign-basedresearch,toprovideinsightsforimplementingsimilarreformsinothersettings.Thisstudyillustrateshowasmallislandcanelucidateanswerstotheimplementationchallengesofactivelearningreformmorewidely.


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LynDohle,DepartmentofPrimaryIndustries&RegionsSouthAustralia,KIHowislandsshapefarmingsystems:theKangarooIslandstoryAgricultureisakeyeconomicdriveronKangarooIsland(KI).Farminghasevolvedfromthe1800swhenearlysettlersproducedafewcropsandlivestock,tothepresent,withover300farmingbusinessesinvolvedinlivestock,croppingandhorticulturewithanestimatedgrossproductionvalueof$75millionperyear.ManymaythinkthatKIissimilartoanyothersmallremoteregionbutbeinganislandintensifiesthesenseofisolationandtheabsolutenecessityforfarmerstoworktogethertoensuresurvival.TheisolationofIslandlifefostersamongstfarmersauniquesenseofidentity,communityandbelonging.ThesefactorshavehelpeddevelopnotabletraitsthatsetKIfarmersapartfrommanyotherfarmingregions:-theiruniqueenvironmentalawareness:duringthe“DecadeofLandcare”KIhadoneofthehighestratesofadoptionofLandcarepracticesinthenation;-theiragestructure:defyingthenationaltrendoftheagingfarmerwithasignificantnumberofuniversityeducatedyoungfarmerstakingupfarmingonKI;and-innovationandadoption:capitalisingontheKIBrandandtheburgeoningtourismmarket.ManyofthefarmingsystemsdevelopedonKIprovideauniquemodelforsustainableandprogressivefarmingworldwide.KylieDoon(KangarooIsland),SwinburneUniversityMothersaseducatorsonsmallislandsGenerationsofyoungadultshavelefttheirislandhomesforfurthereducationandemploymentopportunities.Withmoderntechnology,thisnolongerneedstobethecase.Beinganentrepreneurisnolongeronlyanelitelifestyleaffordedthefew,andwomennolongerneedtobedependentonamalebreadwinner.Mothersvalueeducationforthemselvesandtheirchildren.Theminuteawomanbecomesamothershebecomesaneducator.Sohowdowemakeadifference?Educateandsupporttheeducator.The“formal”schoolsystemdoesthisandhasalreadyproventheimpactandbenefitsofscaffoldinglearnerstogrowandlearn.Whynotextendthistoincludemothers?Educateamotherinbusinessbutrecognisethatherbusinessgoalsmaybemoresocio-culturalthaneconomic.Specificandnon-traditionalbusinesstrainingmustbedesignedtodelivertheseoutcomes.Supportafewmotherstobuildtheirbusinessesonasmallislandandyouaresupportingfamiliesandthecommunityatlarge.Enableafewmothersonasmallislandtogaingreaterknowledgeandindependenceandtheirdaughterswillnotice.Educateafewmothersonasmallislandinbusinessandyouhavejustraisedthestandardoflivingforthewholecommunityforgenerationstocome.ProfessorYokoFujita&DrKaorukoMiyakuni,UniversityoftheRyukyus,Okinawa,Japan;andLincyLeeMarino,PalauInternationalCoralReefCenter,RepublicofPalauAcasestudyontheeconomicvalueofconservationofcoralreefsintheRepublicofPalauThepurposeofthisstudyistoevaluatetheeconomicvalueoftheconservationofcoralreefsintheRepublicofPalau,aMicronesiansmallislandnation.Palau’scoralislandsattracttouristsfromallovertheworld.WeconductedfocusgroupmeetingsinPalau,andfoundthatthePalauanresidents


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recognisethevalueofvariousecosystemservicesgivenbycoralreefsandthenecessitytoprotectthem.ThisstudyaimstoevaluatethePalauanresidents’valuesoncoralreefsinmonetaryterms.Toconvertpeople’ssubjectivevaluesintomonetaryterms,weusetheContingentValuationMethod(CVM).CVMisoneofthemethodsusedbyenvironmentaleconomiststoestimatethetotalvalueofthenaturalenvironmentbasedon“WillingnesstoPay(WTP)”.Also,weintroduceouroriginalfactor,“WillingnesstoWork(WTW).”WTWshowshowlongpeoplewanttospendonvolunteeractivitiestoconservecoralreefs.WeestimatethetotalvalueofcoralreefprotectionforPalauanresidentswithWTPandWTWinordertoprovideanobjectiveindicatorwhentheyevaluatetheirconservationpolicies.DrDiegoCGarcia-Bellido,UniversityofAdelaide,SouthAustraliaThechallengesofpreservingtheEmuBayShale:auniquefossilresourceonasmallislandTheEmuBayShalefossilsfromKangarooIslandwerediscoveredinthenorthcoastoftheisland65yearsago.These515million-year-oldfossilswereoriginallyfoundinthewesternendofthetouristicEmuBay,inrocksdepositedduringtheCambrian,thegeologicalperiodwhenmostoftheanimalgroupsknowntoday(suchasmolluscsandarthropods)appearforthefirsttimeinthefossilrecord.Asecondoutcropoftheserockswasfoundacoupleofyearslaterabout7kmeast,inthetidalareaandcliffatthemouthofBigGully,whichpreservednotonlylarge,completetrilobites(extinctmarinearthropods,reminiscentofmodernhorseshoecrabs)andotherfossilswithmineralisedskeletonsandshells,butalsoanassortmentofsoft-bodiedorganisms,likewormsandnon-mineralisedarthropods.Thecollection,studyandpublicationofthesefossilsinthelate1970sattractedglobalscientificinterest,butalsounwantedattentionintheformoffossillooters,seeking“trophyspecimens”ofthese,thelargestcompletetrilobitesintheSouthernHemisphere.Thepinnacleofthiswastheblowingofthecliff-faceandtheillegalexportofthefossilsinitintheearly1990s.Theriskhasincreasedwiththeimportantscientificdiscoveriesmadeinrecentyears,butfortunately,lootinghassofarbeenkeptatbay,innosmallpartduetotheprotectivefeelingoftheislandcommunityforthis,theirunique,world-renownedpalaeontologicalheritage.JeanetteGellard,InnovativeInfluences,KangarooIslandArewethereyet?HowsmallislandscanuseindicatorstomeasureprogresstowardssustainabilityThispresentationexploresthedevelopmentofindicatorstosupporttheongoingevaluationandmanagementofsmallislandcommunitiesandtheirnaturalresources.Theuseofindicatorsaseffectivemeasuresofprogresstowardssustainabilityhasbecomeasubjectofconsiderableandgrowingeffort,bothdomesticallyandinternationally.OnKangarooIsland,therehavebeentwosignificanteffortstodevelopindicatorsthatmeasureprogresstowardssustainablemanagementoftheIsland’snaturalresources.TheKangarooIslandNaturalResourcesManagementPlan2009wasdevelopedwithinalegislativeframeworkandincorporatesarangeoftargetsasameansofmeasuringprogresstowardsthelong-termnaturalresourcemanagementoutcomesandgoalsfortheregion.TheKangarooIslandTourismOptimisationManagementModel(TOMM)isanexampleofa‘community’driven,sustainabletourismmanagementtool.TOMMsoughttodeveloparangeofpracticalindicatorstomonitorthegrowthoftourismacrossallmajoraspectsofIslandlifeincludingeconomic,socio-cultural,environmental,marketandexperientialconditions.Thispaperwillusethesetwoexamplestodemonstratehowanislandsettingcaninfluencethedevelopmentandimplementationofindicatorsandprocessesofmeasurement.


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LeahGeorge,KangarooIslandShinealight:smallislands’responsestotherefugeecrisisWhatif,inresponsetotheworldrefugeecrisis,theresidentsofsmallislandsaddressedtheissues,notasaproblem,butasawayofnurturingthehumanspirit?IaimtosharemyvisionofhowKangarooIslandmightrespondbyreferencetotheParndanasoldiersettlementasamodelforinclusivenessandresilience.Iwilltalkaboutthreeotherverydifferentsmallislandresponsestorefugees:Lesvos,ManusIslandandNauru.Thereisamiddlewaywhichtakesitstimeingenuinecommunityconsultation,andbeforeinvitingnewcomers,addressespocketsofhardshipontheisland.Aconsidered,long-termapproachmightincludefindingwaysofhelpingthosewhoarestrugglinginlessbureaucraticandalienatingways.Governmentrepresentativescouldbeinvitedtoapublicforumwithanagendawhichincludesinformationabouthowaricherculturalmixmightbringbenefitsforall.Ifenoughpeopleconsideritworthinvestigating,wecangofromthere.JoGilpin,KangarooIsland&AlisonHiggs,AustralianCollegeofMidwives&TheWorldAllianceforBreastfeedingActionBreastfeeding:onegoldenhour–thepowertonurture,sustainandprotectBreastfeedingnurturesthehumanspirit,isenvironmentallysoundandofferssolutionsforself-sufficiency.Breastmilkmakestheworldhealthier,smarterandmoreequal,andthusisasignificantpublichealthissue,particularlyfortheisolatedcommunitiesofsmallislands.Smallislandsaroundtheworldhavethepotentialtobevulnerable.Isolation,climatechange,extremeweathereventsandnaturaldisasterscancompromisethehealthandwellbeingoftheirpopulations.Breastfeedingcanbeakeylifesavingintervention.Tobuildasustainablefutureonsmallislands,weneedtoreducerelianceoninternationalormainlandassistance,andbuildcommunityresilience.Promotingandsupportingbreastfeedingisaperfectexampleofsomethingthatislandcommunitiescando,thatnotonlysavelivesinemergencies,butgiveschildrenabetterchanceofahealthyfuture.Resourcinghealthservicesonanyislandisasignificantcost.Immediate,uninterruptedskintoskincontactafterbirth,promotesearlyinitiationofbreastfeeding.Thisisonesimple,costsavingandeasytoimplementstrategythatimprovesthefuturehealthandwellbeingofcommunities,aswellasreducinghealthcarecosts.ByfollowingWHOguidelinesonearlyinitiationofbreastfeeding,andskintoskincareinthefirsthouroflife,KangarooIslandhasasignificantlyhigherbreastfeedingratethanmainlandAustralia.Asasmallislandwecanleadthewayindemonstratinghowonesmallchangecanmakealifetime’sdifferencetosmallislandcommunities.DrRichardGlatz,D’EstreesEntomology&ScienceServices,KangarooIsland;UniversityofAdelaide&theSouthAustralianMuseumTheKangarooIslandInsectCollection:lessonsfrom20yearsofentomologyresearchInsectsandotherinvertebratesarethe“moversandshakers”ofecology.Theyarethecountless,oftenunseen,creaturesthatkeepecosystemsfunctioningbyperformingrolesincludingpollination,


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predation,parasitisationandherbivory,whichhelptoregulatepopulationsofplantsandotherinvertebrates.In1998,IstartedstudyingtheinsectsofKangarooIsland(KI)withbroadaimstobetterunderstandtheinsectbiodiversity/ecologyofKIandtocharacteriseuniqueaspectsofKI’sfauna.Thecollectionnowhasabout45,000specimens;aboutaquarterofthesehavehadtheirdataenteredonadatabase.Majoroutputsofthisresearchhavebeen:discoveryoftheEnigmamoth,theonlymemberofanewprimitivemothfamilyAenigmatineidaelivingonaprimitivenativecypresspine;discoveryofamemberofnewwaspGenusparasitisingtheEnigmamoth;identificationofmanyecologicalinteractionssuchasbetweenEnigmamothandthecypresspine;hundredsofnewrecordsofinsectspeciesonKI;inputintonaturalresourcemanagementandconservationplans;andsciencepublicationsandtechnicalreports.HereIusetheEnigmamothdiscoverytohighlighthowthedistinctevolutionaryhistoryofislandsstillprovidesdiscoveriesthatshedlightonevolutionaryprocessesandhaveglobalsignificance.DrAndrewHarwood&DrPeteHay,UniversityofTasmania,HobartThepoliticalrationalitiesofislandgeography:preliminarythoughtsontheideologicalfreightofislandmetaphorThereareroutineappraisalsofthecentralityoftheislandmetaphorwithinwesternculture.JohnGillis,forexample,hasclaimedthat“Westernculturenotonlythinksaboutislands,butthinkswiththem”(2004:1).Likewise,thecontradictorystatusofislandgeographyiswellsubscribedwithinislandstudies:prisonandparadise;isolatedandconnected;radicalothertoandmicrocosmofthemainland.Inthispaperwereportonpreliminaryinvestigationsintothediversepoliticalrationalitiesthataretakentoflowfromtheseassessments.Note,forexample,theoppositionalmetaphoricmeaningsarisingfromJohnDonne’s‘nomanisanisland’totheisolationtropeasametaphorfortheheroic,stand-aloneindividual.Wherethepoliticalimplicationsofthelatteraredeeplylibertarian,thepoliticalimplicationsoftheChaucerianmetaphorictraditionarecollectivist.Buildingonandbringingtogetherpreviouswork,weconductouranalysisthroughareviewofislandstudiesliteratureandreflectionsongovernanceintheisland-stateofTasmania.ProfessorDrSilkeHensel,UniversityofMünster,GermanyMissionaries’knowledgeproductiononOceaniaduringGermancolonialism,1890sto1914Germancolonialismonlyrecentlybecameatopicofbroaderinterestinhistoryandanthropology.Whereas,usuallyAfricanregionsareinthefocus,GermancoloniesinOceaniareceiveonlylittleattention.Nevertheless,colonialisminOceaniawasimportanttocontemporariessuchascolonialadministrators,missionaries,scientists,settlersandeconomicactors,andaboveallithaditsimpactontheinhabitantsoftheislandsunderGermanrule.Inthiscontextmissionsplayedanimportantrolewiththeobjectiveto“civilize”thedistantsocieties.InconnectionwiththeireffortsofbringingChristianitytotheislands,themissionariesproducedandtransferredknowledgetowardsandofftheislandsandtheirsocieties.ThepaperwillfocusonmissionsocietiesandtheirproductionandtransferofknowledgefromOceaniatoGermany.Theknowledgeproduced,ontheonehand,wastohelptheconversionoftheindigenouspopulation.Missionariestriedtolearnlocallanguages,writegrammarworksanddictionariesandwereinterestedinlocalreligions.Ontheotherhand,knowledgeontheislandsandtheirinhabitantswasproducedandtransferredtoGermany,toconvinceGermanstosupportthemissionseconomically,andtolegitimizethemissionaries’presenceinOceania.Basedontheanalysis


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ofdifferentmedia[discourses,visualrepresentations(i.e.,photographs,maps)andobjects],thepaperpresentsadetailedanalysisofthemissionaries’knowledgeproductionontheregionanddiscusseshowtheislandsandtheindigenouspeoplesbecamepartofGermanworldviews.PatHodgens,DepartmentofEnvironment,Water&NaturalResources,KIKangarooIslandFeralCatControlTrials2016-2018:guidinganislanderadicationKangarooIslandisoneoffiveAustralianIslandsearmarkedforferalcateradicationbytheAustralianGovernment.Islandsareideallocationsforferalanimalcontrolprogramsbecausetheyareclosedsystemsand,withstringentquarantinemeasures,reinvasionsorimmigrationcanbeprevented.Anotheradvantageforislanderadicationprogramsisthecapacityformanagerstogarnerfullcommunitysupportbecausethestakeholderbaseisclearlydefinedandgeographicallyrestricted.Buildingonyearsoflocalcatresearch,asupportiveislandcommunity,stringentdomesticcatby-lawsandahighlysuccessfulferalanimalcontrolhistory,KangarooIslandhasembarkedonthefirstofthreestagesofanambitiousprogramofferalcateradication.Acomprehensiveevaluationofallavailablecatcontroltechniquesiscurrentlyunderway,exploitingoneoftheisland’suniquegeographicfeatures-thenarrow,onekilometrewideisthmusthatseparatestheDudleyPeninsulafromtherestoftheIsland.Acat-proofbarrierwillbeerectedacrosstheisthmus,dividingtheislandintotwomanagementunits.ThiswillallowcateradicationtooccurfirstonthesmallerDudleyPeninsula.Cateradicationwillbenefittheisland’sendemicandthreatenedfauna,protectthelivestockindustryfromcat-spreaddiseases,andprovideanopportunityforfuturere-wildingwithnativespecies.PhillipaHolden,DepartmentofEnvironment,Water&NaturalResources,KIAsystemsapproachtonaturalresourcesmanagementonKangarooIslandTheKangarooIslandNaturalResourcesManagementBoard(theBoard)isresponsibleforpromotingsustainabledevelopmentandthewisemanagementofnaturalresourcesonKangarooIsland.Toassistintheachievementoftheseobjectives,theBoardprepares,implementsandreviewsaregionalnaturalresourcesmanagement(NRM)plantoguidetheactivitiesofallstakeholdersontheIsland.TheBoardrecentlyfinaliseditsten-yearstrategicNRMplanfortheperiod2017-2027.Theplanadoptsasystemsthinkingandresilienceapproachandwasbuiltfromthebottomupinconsultationwiththecommunity.Giventheimmensechallengeposedbyanthropogenicclimatedisruption,theplanseekstobuildlocalresilience,adaptivecapacityandself-sufficiency.Itencouragestriple-looplearningandseekstoimprovedecisionmakingthroughadaptivegovernance.Toachieveitsvision,theKangarooIslandcommunityneedstoenhancecooperation,deliberationandcollaboration,buildingonexistingstrengthsandaddressingweaknesses.Transformationratherthana‘businessasusual’approachisrequiredinsomerespects.Beinganislandwitharelativelysmallpopulationpresentsuniqueopportunitiesaswellaschallenges.ThepresentationwillconsiderlikelybarriersandsuccessfactorsaffectingtheIsland’sabilitytosurviveandthriveinarapidlychangingworld.BelindaHowden,SydneyCollegeoftheArts,UniversityofSydneyAshIslandanditsTransformations:theislandasacuratorialsiteAshIslandanditsTransformationswasacontemporaryartexhibitionheldatTheLock-Up,NewcastleNSW,in2014.Itfeaturedfourartists–NicolaHensel,CherieJohnson,EmmavanLeestandShanTurner-Carroll–whowerecommissionedtorespondtothenaturalandculturalhistories


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ofAshIsland,HunterRiver,NSW.ThispaperpresentsAshIslandanditsTransformationsasacuratorialcasestudy.AshIslandanditsTransformationswasdevisedasapoetic,post-colonialresponsetoanisland.Byexaminingtheislandlandscapethroughthelensofcontemporaryarttheexhibitionexplored:artisticresponsestocolonialnarrativesofoccupationandplace;anartist’srelationshiptotheislandlandscape;analternativecuratorialmethodologytosocialhistoryexhibitionpractices;andtheadditionofnewculturalmaterialtoanexistinghistoryinspiredbytheislandlandscape.ThispaperanalysesAshIslandanditsTransformationsasprocess-basedresearch;whatitmeanstomakeuseofanislandincontemporaryartandtheinherentcomplexitiesandattitudeswithinsuchpractices.OwenJennings,UniversityofPrinceEdwardIsland,CanadaBeingaSaint:fromtheRMStoHLEMorethanfivehundredyearsafteritsdiscovery,theSouthAtlanticislandofSaintHelenanowhasanairport.Ivisitedtheislandin2016andinterviewedSaintHelenians(orSaints)onhowthisshiftinaccesshasalreadychangedtheirisland,andtheirhopesandfearsaboutchangesthatmightcomewithacommercialairservice.Saintshavelongbeenabletoemphasisetheirownuniqueness,butinonesmallway,theyarenowjustanotherthreeletterairportcode:HLE,possiblytakingoverfromanother3-lettercode,RMS,ortheRoyalMailShip,themainconnectionwiththeoutsideworld.Theconstructionofanairporthasbeenalongtimecoming,hasbeencompletedataconsiderablecosttotheBritishgovernment,andhasbeenpredicatedonsubstantialimprovementstotheisland'seconomicsustainability.ButinaskingSaintsabouttheiridentity,theyhighlightedtheirownuniqueness,somethingthatappearstobeinseparablefromtheirisolationandtherelativelyrestrictedaccesstheyhaveexperiencedsincetheopeningoftheSuezCanal.IexaminehowSaintshavegrappledwiththechallengesposedbytheairportprojecttotheirislandidentity.SaintHelena'sextremeremotenessunderlinestheimportanceofthischange,butsimilarquestionsalsocomeupinmuchsmallerdecisionsmadebyotherislandcommunities.TheSaintHelenianexperienceisanimportantpointofcomparison,andforegroundsdiscussionsoftherelationshipbetweenidentity,islandnessandisolation.PaulJennings,DepartmentofEnvironment,Water&NaturalResourcesKIMarinepests:frontlinedefenceagainstaquaticinvadersThecomplexandvariedoceanographicenvironmentofKangarooIsland(KI)supportsaprofoundanduniquediversityofmarinelife.Likemanyislandselsewhere,KIhasnotsufferedthesamerangeorintensityofdisturbancesasmainlandAustraliaandmaintainsrepresentativeandrelativelyintactcoastalandmarinehabitats.Thesehabitatsprovidecriticalrefugiaformarinedependentspeciesthathavedisappearedordeclinedelsewhere.ThreatstonaturalsystemsonislandssuchasKIhavebeenextensivelydocumentedandincludemodificationstoterrestrialandcoastallandscapes,climatechangeandincursionsbynon-indigenousspecies.Liketheirterrestrialcounterparts,marinepestswiththepotentialtobetranslocatedtothecoastalwatersofKIareamajorbiosecurityrisk.Onceestablished,marinepestshavedevastatingandirreversibleimpacts.KIcannotaffordtoriskitspristinenaturalenvironmentandthevitalcoastaltourismeconomythatdependsonit.ThegreatestthreatcomesfromthemovementofvesselsconnectingKItoportsinGulfStVincentthatareknowntobeinfectedwithspeciesofmarinepests.Tomitigatethisrisk,NaturalResourcesKangarooIsland(NRKI)hasdevelopedstrategicandcost-effectiveapproachestopreventingandrespondingtomarinepestincursionsthroughacombinationofscience,communityengagementandon-ground


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works.Theseincludetestingnoveltechniquesthatmayactasearlywarningsystemsandengagingstakeholdersatgreatestriskoftranslocatingmarinepeststopromotebestpracticebiosecuritystandards.Frontlinedefenceisfurtherincreasedbydevelopinganislandspecificincidentresponsecapability.FrJosephJobi&DrPASebastianPothalil,SacredHeartCollege(Autonomous),Kochi,Kerala,IndiaPathiramanalIsland:adwindlingparadiseforarachnologistsintheVembanadkol,aRamsarsiteinIndiaARamsarsiteisaninternationaltreatyfortheconservationandsustainableuseofwetlands.PathiramanalIsland,agreenpatchoflandwiththickvegetation,isapartofVembanad-Kol,aRamsarsitesituatedinAlappuzhadistrictofKerala,India.ThoughPathiramanalIslandissmallinsizewithacomparativelysmallareaunderforestcover,itshowsveryhighlevelsofspeciesdiversityandendemism.TheIslandhasbeensubjectedtomajoralterationsinitsnaturalhabitat,asitisexposedtohighlevelofhumaninfluence.SpidersonPathiramanalIslandareoneoftheinvertebrategroupsthatgainedattentionfromtaxonomistsveryrecently.Spidersweresampledthroughpitfalltraps,beatingsheetsandsweepingmethodsfromOctober2014to0ctober2016.The70acreareawascategorisedintolow,intermediateandhighdisturbedareasinaccordancewithanthropogenicinfluencesontheIsland.Ourstudyaimedtocomparethediversitybetweenthreehabitatsreceivingdifferentdegreesofhumandisturbance.Atotalof2,412adultspidersfrom124speciesdistributedin26familieswascollected,including101speciesnewlyrecordedontheIsland,ofwhich7appeartobenewtoscience.SalticidaeandAraneidaewerethedominantfamilies,withTyloridaventralisshowingthehighestabundancethroughoutthestudy.Areasexposedtohighhumanupheavalsexhibitedlowerdiversityindices,density,andevennessvalues,whilethelowdisturbedareawithmaximumdiversityhadthegreatestdensityofspiders.Sincespidersareextremelysensitiveeventothesmallestchangesinhabitatstucture,theyareeffectivetoolstomonitortheoverallspeciesrichnessandhealthofterrestrialcommunities.OurresultssupporttheIncreasingDisturbanceHypothesisthatoveralldiversitywilldecreaseindisturbedhabitatsandsuggestthathumaninfluencehasadetrimentaleffectontheecologicalstabilityandsustainabilityofanecosystem.JoKaspari,QueenslandUniversityofTechnology,BrisbaneLinesInTheSandNorthStradbrokeIslandFestivals(LITSNSI)2011-2014:chroniclingacuratorialphilosophyinresponsetoanecologyofchangeAnoverviewofthehistoryofMoretonBayanditsislands(culture,environment,penalcolonies,settlementandpostminingeconomies)willsetthecontextfortheenvironmentalartsfestivalsthatarethesubjectofthispaper.LinesintheSandNorthStradbrokeIslandLtd.(LITSNSI)deliveredfourenvironmentalartsfestivalsfrom2011to2014inresponsetoanecologyofgreatchangesforMinjerriba(NorthStradbrokeIsland).In2011artistswereinvitedtoworkinresidenceandrespondtotheshiftinglinesinthesandofNativeTitledeterminations,announcementsconcerningnationalparks,campgroundsandminingthroughmultimediapracticesthatencompassedoutdoorephemeralartinstallations,projection,performanceandsound,film,andcreativeworkshops.Ineffect,thefestivalscontributedtoarebrandingoftheislandasaneco-culturaldestination.


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ReflectingonthehistoryofLITSNSIcanbeunderstoodasapathwaytoeffectiveleadership,onethatinvolvesextensivenetworkingandassertingapositionofecologicalinterdependence.LITSNSIprovidedthefoundationforthenextgenerationoffestivals,theinauguralQuandamookaFestivalin2015,acelebrationofAboriginalculture,CountryandcommunitydeliveredbythenewQuandamookaYoolooburrabeeAboriginalCorporation(QYAC)workingalongsideregionalpartners.ThecuratorialphilosophydevelopedthroughLITSNSIisconcernedwithresponsiveartmakingcommittedtolocalecologyandsocialchange,andarticulatesacontemporaryecologicalartthatisdiscursiveinnatureandcommunicatesenvironmentalimperatives.ThecurrentresearchoftheauthorextendsthisphilosophytoincludethegreatergeographyofQuandamooka,MoretonBay-itsislandsandwaters.JoKaspari,LinesintheSandNorthStradbrokeIslandLtdQuandamookabeachandforeshorecleanupLinesintheSandNorthStradbrokeIslandLtd(LITSNSI)isacommunitybasednot-for-profitorganisationexperiencedinenablingenvironmentaleducationbywayofthearts.DuringthethreemonthsoftheQuandamookaFestival,weundertookbeachandforeshorecleanupsacrosstheislandsofQuandamooka,MoretonBay.TheensuingfilmdocumentarywassharedonsocialmediaplatformsandscreenedonferriesthattransitpeopleacrosstheBay.LITSNSIbroughttogetheranallianceofentitiesthatincludeReefCheckAustraliaandStraddieCamping,whichisanewbusinessinitiativeandpartnershipbetweentheQuandamookaYoolooburrabeeAboriginalCorporationasshareholders,trusteeandTraditionalOwnersandIndigenousBusinessAustralia(IBA).Island-born,thisprojectwasprimarilyfundedbyphilanthropicmonies.Beachandforeshorecleanupsmobilisedataskforceofislandvisitorsandvolunteers.Inapostminingeconomy,arebrandingofMinjerriba,NorthStradbrokeIsland,asaneco-culturaldestinationaimstoincreaseislandvisitations.Thisshortfilmcarriesthemessage‘takeyourrubbishwithyou’andresponsiblepracticessuchasthiswillhaveenduringimpactintermsoftheislandseconomicsustainabilityandenhancesourgreatestnaturalresource–theQuandamooka,MoretonBay.ProfessorKeiKawai,ResearchCentreforthePacificIslands,KagoshimaUniversity,JapanThebiologyandecologyofshellfishinhabitingatidalflatinSumiyo,AmamiOshimaIsland,JapanOnAmamiOshimaIslandinsouthernJapan,heavyrainfallon20October2010significantlyaffectedmostofthearea.Aninfluxofsand,whichflowedintotheseanearthetidalflatinSumiyo,causedtremendousdamagetofisheries.ThispaperdescribestheeffectofflooddamageonorganismsandtheenvironmentonatidalflatbycomparingresultsofasurveyconductedinDecember2009onthebiologyofMoerellaphilippinensis,abi-valvespeciesofinfaunalshellfish,andonseawaterandsoilinSumiyo,withsimilardatarecordedafterthedamage,inFebruary2011andMarch2016.Aftertheflooddamage,agreatmanyseashellswerescatteredaroundthetidalflat,andthedensityoflivingindividualssignificantlydecreasedfrom1.50/250cm2priortotheflooddamageto0.89afterthedamage.Theaveragelengthofshellsremainedalmostunchangedwith15.40±1.03mmpriortotheflooddamageand16.93±1.11mmafterthedamage.Thisshowsthattheshellfishdiedregardlessofsize,insteadofinasize-relatedfashion.Theflooddamageobviouslyhadalargeimpact


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ontheshellfishatthetidalflat.However,acertainnumberofindividualssurvived,andsubsequentlytheyshowatrendtorecover.DrIlanKelman,UniversityCollegeLondon,UK&UniversityofAgder,NorwayLostforwords?IslandlessonsonsustainabledevelopmentterminologySustainabledevelopmenthasspawnedalargeindustryforacademics,policymakers,andpractitioners.Thisindustryhasgenerateditsownvocabularyandjargon—wordsandphrasessuchasadaptation,adaptivecapacity,resilience,social-ecologicalsystems,transformation,andvulnerability—which,duetodefinitionstailoredtotheirownpre-conceivedpurposes,endupservingtheindustrymorethansupportingpeopleandcommunitiesforlivingandlivelihoods.Islandcontextsrevealsignificantdrawbackstosuchsustainabledevelopmentvocabularybeingimposedonthem,suchaspoortranslatability,culturalmismatching,clashesofvalues,anddistractionfromneededaction.Toovercometheself-servingstructureofthissustainabledevelopmentterminology,islandsprovidesolutionsforlocalcontextualisationofkeyconceptsinordertokeepthemtangible,communicable,andapplicable.Thelessonsrevealhowmuchcontemporarysustainabledevelopmenttheoryhaslongbeenappliedinpracticeinislandcommunitiesandhowtoretainthesepracticesinthefuturewhileovercomingolderandmorerecentpracticeswhichareharmfulforislandcommunities.DrIlanKelman,UniversityCollegeLondon,UK&UniversityofAgder,NorwayTempophiliaforever:sustainableislandfuturesunderclimatechangeDiscussionsofclimatechangeimpactsonlow-lyingislandcommunitiesoftenassumeanoutcomeofinvoluntarymassmigration,withislandersbecoming‘climatechangerefugees’.Physicalsciencedoesnotindicatetheinevitabilityofislanddestructionandsocialsciencedoesnotindicatetheinevitabilityofislandersbeingforcedtomoveagainsttheirwill.Majorchangestoislandlifeandlivelihoodsarenonethelesslikelyunderclimatechange,butitisunclearwhetherornotthosechangeswillbeasextensiveaspreviouschanges,suchaschangesinreligion,changesintransport,masstourism,andtheinternet.Instead,islanderattitudestomobilityfollowingenvironmentalchanges—fromvolcaniceruptionstopreviousclimaticchanges—suggestaformoftempophiliaorchronophiliaanalogoustothewell-studiedtopophilia,akintosenseofplace.Tempophiliaorchronophilia,ratherthanotherconnotationsintheliterature,focuspeople’sinterestsonoccurrencesatthemomentaspartofday-to-dayactionsandeffects—inotherwords,havinganaffinityforthepresenttime—yetdonotneglectthepastorthefuture,justastopophilicislandnessdoesnotnecessarilyisolatefromtherestoftheworld.Tempophiliaorchronophiliacansupportdecision-makingunderclimaticuncertaintiesbyacceptingthatone’sfuturemightnotbeplace-based,butmightrequiremigrationinordertoretaindeepvaluesoflocalculturesandtopromotesustainableliving.Islandershaveepitomisedsuchmobilitiesforsustainablefuturesandself-sufficiencylongbeforeclimatechangebecameacontemporaryconcern.Theseislandermobilitiesoffermodelsforcommunitieselsewherewhichmightchoosetomoveduetoclimatechange.HeiriKlein,DepartmentofEnvironment,Water&NaturalResources,KIKangarooIslandthreatenedplants:alandscapechallengeKangarooIsland’suniqueecosystemsarecharacterisedbyahighlevelofendemismatthespeciesandsubspecieslevel.TheIsland’snativeflora,whichprovideshabitatformanyraremammal,bird


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andinsectspecies,isoftenregardedasbeingingoodconditionwhencomparedwithmostotherSouthAustralianregions.However,acloserlookrevealsserious,landscape-scaleimpactssuchashabitatdegradationandfragmentationthathaveresultedinmanyplantspeciesbeingunderthreat.TheKangarooIslandNationallyThreatenedPlantProject(KINTPP)wasestablishedtoaddressthesethreateningprocessesbyactivelyre-instatingpatchesofhighlybiodiversevegetation,withthelong-termvisionofbufferingandreconnectinghabitatatalandscapescale.Large-scaleecologicalrestorationfacesanumberofimpediments:1)agenerallackoftheknowledgeandskillsrequiredtopropagatemanynativeplantspecies;2)alackofresourcestoundertakelarge-scaleplantings;3)browsingpressurefromnativeherbivoresand4)competitionfromweeds.Since2002theKINTPPhasbeenfocussedonovercomingeachofthesechallenges,resultinginthedeliveryofecologicalrestorationprojectsatanumberofsitesthatbenefitnotonlythreatenedplantsbutalsoawholesuiteofotherfloraandfaunaspecies.DrMurukesanKrishnapillai,CollegeofMicronesia,FederatedStatesofMicronesiaClimate-smarturbanvegetablegardeningfordisplacedurbanpopulationsinthesmallislandsofMicronesiaDenselypopulatedurbansettlementsinMicronesiaresultingfromconstantinflowofenvironmentalmigrantsfromcoastalsettingsandatollsoftenresultinhealthandsocialchallengesofvaryingseverity.Theinfluxandconsumptionoflessnutritiousimportedfoodinducemalnutritioninallforms–undernutrition,micronutrientdeficiencies,obesityanddiet-relatednon-communicablediseases.Malnutritionisoneofthegreatestimpedimentstohumanandnationaldevelopment.Itadverselyaffectsphysicalgrowthaswellascognitivedevelopmentoftheunbornandyoungchildren,underminingthecapacitiesandcapabilitiesofindividualsandcommunities.Thiscallsfortheuseofclimate-smarturbanvegetableproductionsystemsthatensuresecureaccesstoastablefoodsupply.Urbangardeningisanadaptationstrategyforithelpsthevulnerableurbansettlerstodiversifyurbanfoodsourcesandenhanceaccesstonutritiousfood,diversifyincomes,anddecreasesvulnerabilityduringperiodsofdisasters.Thispaperexaminesthepotentialofclimate-smarturbanvegetablegardeningsystemsasthemostculturallyappropriateandcost-effectivemeansofaddressingfoodandnutritionsecurityforenvironmentalmigrantsoccupyingurbansettlementsinthesmallislandsofMicronesia.AlvinLal(Fiji)&DrBithinDatta,JamesCookUniversity,QueenslandTheimpactofgroundwaterutilisationoncoastalaquifersinPacificislandstatesSmallislandcountries(SICs)aresurroundedbythesea,andintensivegroundwaterwithdrawalfromconcentratedboreholesystemsandwellshasresultedinsaltwaterintrusion(SI)causingcontaminationoffreshgroundwaterreservesincoastalaquifers.IncreasedsaltconcentrationsingroundwaterhavedepleteditsutilisationfordrinkingandirrigationpurposesaffectingthelivelihoodsofmanySICcoastalinhabitants.TheincreasingdemandsforgroundwaterduetorapidpopulationgrowthandincreasingindustrialandagriculturalactivitiesisakeychallengefacingSICsglobally.Planningsustainablegroundwaterwithdrawalrateswithoperativemanagementstrategiesisnecessarytoaddressthisproblem.ThepresentstudyexploresthecurrenttrendandtheimpactsofgroundwaterutilisationoncoastalaquifersinsomeoftheSICsinthePacific.Italsoexplorestheeffectsoflong-termpumpingonSIratesinacoastalaquifersystem.


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Variouspumpingpatternsandtheirconsequencesontheextentofsaltwaterintrusionareinvestigated.TheoutcomesofthestudyrevealthatincreasinggroundwaterwithdrawalratescauseanincreaseinSI.Recommendationsforkeyplanningandmanagementstrategiesareanintegralpartofthestudy.Thesimulationofvariousgroundwaterusescenariosalsoshedlightonpossibleplanningandmanagementsolutionstopreservethelongtermbeneficialuseofgroundwaterasasourceoffreshwater.Preservingthesustainableuseofgroundwaterasaresourceinislandcoastalcommunitiesisessentialforsustainableeconomicdevelopment.DrMicheleLane,KangarooIslandTheislandeffectMyobservationsmadeoverfortyyearsofvisitingKangarooIslandarepresentedfromfourdifferentperspectives:asasea-changer,amedicalpractitioner,anenvironmentalistandanartist.Asasea-changer,myislandvisitsreducestressbyallowingdisconnectionfromabusy,urbanexistenceandmostimportantly,areconnectionwiththenaturalworld.Humansrelyonnaturefortheirmaterialnecessitiesandalsofortheiremotional,psychologicalandspiritualneeds.Depressionratesarehalvedamongstpeoplewhoareregularlyexposedto‘green’spaces.Thisconceptof‘therapeuticlandscapes’isparticularlyrelevantforislands.Thesediscreet,sea-lockedlandsoftendevelopataslowerrate,allowingsurvivalofimportantplantandanimalspecieswithinuniquehabitats,asinthecaseofKangarooIsland.However,thedividebetweenecologicalandeconomicideologiesthatcurrentlythreatensourglobalfuture,willbemostdevastatingtoislands.Limitedresourcesarealreadyinconflictwiththeirimportantroleascustodiansofbiodiversity.Asanartistmyself,Iamdriventocreativelycommunicatethistensiontothewidercommunity.CollaborationbetweenartistsandscientistslivingonKangarooIslandhasfuelledacontemporaryartcommunitypassionateaboutenvironmentalissues.MadameMarie-LineLeBlanc,Quebec,CanadaIslandterritoryasacontextforartisticinquiry:presentationoftrajectory-basedartworksTheappropriationoflandbyartistswhopracticewithinthespatialturnincontemporaryarthasinvitedustoquestiontherelationshipwehavewithoursurroundingsininnovativeways.Asaterritorialframeworkandsocialunit,asaconfigurationofobjects,andasawebofrelationsthatarenetworkedwithotherspaces,anislanddoeshaveenormouspotentialasasitewhereonemust‘makedo’withwhatisathand(DeCerteau,1980).Iwillpresentrecenttrajectory-basedandparticipativeartworks(IslandStudyandGeopoeticSurveyofOurNeighbourhoods)thatarebasedonfieldworkandchainsampling.MyartpracticeinvestigatesecologicalnarrativeswhichIrepresentinpoeticwaysthroughavarietyofmedia.Indoingso,Iwishtoengagewithlocalcommunities,toacknowledgethe'quotidien'(ordinaryevent)asaspaceforknowledge,andtooffersimultaneouslymultiplerepresentationsandunderstandingsofplaces.Iwilldiscusspopularknowledgeandlocalcultureasintimateconnectionstotheland,andhowartcanintroducesomethingunexpectedwithintheorganisationallogicofsociety.


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DrStefanoMalatesta&ProfessorMarcellaSchmidtdiFriedberg,DepartmentofHumanSciencesofEducation,UniversityofMilano-Bicocca,Italy;andMarineResearchandHigherEducationCenter,UniversityofMilano-Bicocca,RepublicoftheMaldivesEmpoweringcommunities?Are-readingoftheimpactofinternationalactorsintheMaldivesSince2012,aspartofabroaderresearchprogramconductedbytheMarineResearch&HigherEducationCenteronthegeographyofMaldivianislands,ourteamhasbeencarryingoutthreeaction-researchprojectsaimingtopromotesustainablepractices,economicdevelopmentandgenderempowermentwithinthecommunityofFaaf-Magoodhoo,RepublicoftheMaldives.Theseprojectsaddressthemainenvironmentalchallengesfacingthecountry:energyproduction,collectivewastemanagementanddrinkingwateravailability.Wehavetakenabottom-upapproach,mainlydrawingontwoparadigms,ClimateJusticeandParticipatoryRuralAppraisal.Recently,assessingtheoutcomesoftheseactions,wereportedthelackofanauto-reflexivereadingoftheimpactofourCenteronthesocialandpoliticalmilieuofFaaf-Magoodhoo.Startingfromthere-discussionofthisimpact,andreferringtothedebateonthepoliticalroleplayedbyinternationalactorsintheregion,thispaperwillcriticallyreviewasampleofinterventionscarriedoutacrossthearchipelagobyagencies,NGOsandresearchcenters,withaspecificfocusontheinfluencetheseactorshaveonlocalenvironmentalpolicies.Furthermore,stressingthegeographicalfeaturesdefiningsmallMaldivianislands,thecontributionshowshowtheneedtore-thinkexternalagencies’actionsisevenmoreimportantwithinsmallislandsystems.DannyMale,DepartmentofEnvironment,Water&NaturalResources,KIFosteringcommunitysupportformarineparksthroughengagementwithschoolsonKangarooIslandAsaresultofitsuniquelocation,geographyandoceanographicenvironment,thecoastalwatersofKangarooIslandarehometoaremarkablydiversemixtureoftemperateandsub-tropicalmarinespecies.Inrecognitionofthis,fourmarineparkshavebeencreatedaroundKangarooIslandinordertoprotectapproximatelytwo-thirdsoftheIsland’swaters.Despitetheirbiodiversityvalue,theestablishmentoftheseparkswasnotfullysupportedbythelocalcommunity.Infact,themostrecentsurveyofpublicopinionin2015showedthatonly52%ofresidentswereinfavourofhavingmarineparksaroundKangarooIsland.Islandcommunitieshaveastrongconnectiontotheocean,withcomparativelyhighproportionsoftheirpopulationemployedinmarineindustriesorusingtheseaforrecreation.EngagingwithyoungpeoplebybuildingonthisattachmenttotheseaiscriticalforensuringthatfuturegenerationscontinuetoappreciateandconservetheIsland’snaturalenvironment.ThispresentationwilldemonstratehowNaturalResourcesKangarooIslandhasbeenworkingwithlocalschoolstocreatenovelopportunitiesforstudentstolearnmoreaboutthemarineenvironment,andhowthishasinfluencedtheirsupportforthemarineparksnetwork.


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NickMarkopolous,DepartmentofEnvironment,Water&NaturalResources,KITheeradicationofferaldeerandgoatsonKangarooIslandSmallislandsofferuniqueopportunitiesforferalspecieseradication.Howeversocial,economicandenvironmentalcomplexitiesthatexistwithinlocalcommunities,landholdergroups,visitorsandallthreelevelsofgovernmentinAustraliaraiseextrachallenges.Theinvolvementandsupportofallstakeholdersunderpinthesuccessofanyprogramofferalanimaleradication.In2005,aneradicationprogramforfallowdeerandferalgoatsbeganonKangarooIsland(4,400km2)offtheSouthAustraliancoast.Eradicationhastakenlongerthananticipatedanditssuccesswillbecelebratedonceeverylastbreedingindividualisaccountedfor.Thecurrentassessmentandpopulationmonitoringphaseoftheprojectisrevealingsomeveryexcitingresults.ThispresentationwillfocusonthesuccessesandchallengesoftheKangarooIslandprogramandhowobstacleshavebeenovercome,withparticularfocusonthedifficultiesfacedinthefinalstages.ProfessorGrantMcCall,UniversityofSydneyThe3Dworldandnissology“Modernity”isthekeynoteconceptofourtimeandithasbeenincreasinglysoforatleasttwocenturies,dependingupontopicsanddefinitionsasIdiscussthemhere.The“3DWorld”isthechallengingtroikaof:De-Tribalisation;De-Territorialisation;Dis-Embedded.Allthosecommandingforcescastgroupsandindividualsadriftinconcerningconfusion,aspeoplegrapplewiththeirdailyandlifepredicaments.Butarethese3DWorldforcesinvariablynegative?De-tribalisationcanproduceacosmopolitanoutlook,thatseeksoutreachtothemultitudeofexperimentsinlivingthatisculture.De-territorialisationprovidesafluidbasisforassociation,sothateventhemostgeographicallyremotecommunitycanparticipateintheworld,facilitatedbyevolvingcommunicationstechnologiesthatcontinuetodoubleincapacitywhilstreducingbyhalfinsizeandcost,toparaphrase“Moore’sLaw”.Dis-embeddedenablesgroupsandindividualstoexpandtheirhorizonsbeyondthelocaltoembraceglobalvisionsbasedonlocalconfidenceandconditions.Theproofofhowthe3DWorldcanbeasadvantageousasitisunsettlingishowKangarooIslandhasevolvedfromalandshunnedasaplaceofdeathbyAustralia’soriginalpopulationtoacontemporaryvenuetovisit,andanexporterofprimaryproduction,increasingvisitorsby72%duringthedecade2005to2015.AsidefromtheKIexample,wehavealsothesuccessofISISAasascholarlyenterprisethatisverymucha“3DWorld”,givingtheorganisationthepowertogrowandprosperamidtheforcesofglobalmodernity.TheconclusionisthatplaceslikeKIandislandstudies,orNissology,asfacilitatedbyorganisationssuchasISISAcanshowthe3DWorldhowtosurviveandthrive.ProfessorElizabethMcMahon,UniversityofNewSouthWales,SydneyPerformancepoetryandMarshallesesurvival:AlinkattheUnitedNationsAttheUnitedNationsClimateLeaders’SummitheldinNewYorkCityinSeptember2014MarshallesepoetKathyJetnil-Kijinerrecitedapoemshehadwrittentoherseventh-month-olddaughter,DearMatafelaBeinem.Thepoemsetsoutaseriesofbothsacredandbrokencontractswhichwilldeterminethechild’schancesofsurvivalonthisPacificnationofcoralatolls:thecompactbetweenmotheranddaughterandtheinterconnectionofocean,landandtheMarshallesepeople.Fromthislocalcontext,thepoempansouttoquestionthewiderconnectionsofglobalcitizenshipinlateindustrialmodernity.Inaddressingthecontractsmadebyglobalcapital,Jetnil-Kiijner’spoemembedsitsthesisofcontamination,inundationandresilienceinpoeticmetaphoricsandinpoetry’s


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complexrelationshipofaddresstoitslisteners,whatinliteratureiscalled‘apostrophe’.InherpresentationJetnil-Kijinermakesacleardistinctionbetweentheformsofaddresssheisdeploying,movingfromonemicrophone,whereshepresentedtheplightoftheMarshallIslands,toanotherwheresherecitesherpoem.ThispaperidentifieswaysJetnil-Kiijnerweaveswebsofinterconnectionbetweenmateriality,cultureandcitizenshipinherislandhomelandandthehomeoftheworld.DrChrisMcMurray,AustralianNationalUniversity,CanberraSocial,politicalandeconomicimplicationsofcentraliseddevelopmentinPacificislandnationsTheearlyeconomicdevelopmentofmostPacificIslandstateswasshapedduringthecolonialperiod,primarilytofacilitatetheexportofrawmaterials.Inmostcasesthisresultedinaprimatepatternofurbanisationwithalladministrative,tradingandshippingactivitiescentredononemainsettlement.Someinlandareasandoutlyingislandswerelinkedtothemaincentrebyshippingroutesoroccasionallyroads,butseldomconnectedtoeachother.Acenturylater,thislegacyisnotonlycontributingtocontinuingeconomicdisadvantage,butalsohasmajorsocialimplications,includingunequalaccesstoservicesandpoliticalinstability.Thispresentationconsiderstheextenttowhichthecolonialeconomicandpoliticallegacyisimpactingthedevelopmentofsustainableeconomies,participation,productivityandeffectiveleadershipinPacificIslandnations.ItincludesacasestudyoftheSolomonIslands,basedpartlyontheauthor'srecentresearchinruralandurbancommunities.DrRobynMolsher,DepartmentofEnvironment,Water&NaturalResources,KIHumanhealthandecosystembenefitsofenvironmentalvolunteeringonKangarooIslandEnvironmentalvolunteering(EV)canprovideauniquewaytooptimisethewellbeingofparticipantswhilefosteringenvironmentalstewardship.However,thepotentialofEVtocreatehumanhealthbenefitsremainsanunder-researchedarea.ThisprojectexaminedchangesinwellbeingandenvironmentalawarenessofparticipantsfromdiversebackgroundsundertakingEVactivitiesonKangarooIsland.Islandscanprovidetheidealenvironmenttofacilitateaprojectofthistypeaslackofservicesleadstoagreaterneedforvolunteersthanonthemainland,employmentopportunitiesaregenerallylowandthenecessarypartnershipsbetweengroupsispromotedinsmallercommunities.Inthiscase,strategicpartnershipswereestablishedbetweenconservation,regionaldevelopment,employmentandhealthorganisationstocreatecommunityownershipandcohesionaroundprojectgoals.Thisprojectprovidedevidenceforimprovedhealthoutcomesandenvironmentalawarenessin32participants.Otherbenefitsincluded:31%ofthoseseekingworkobtaineditand50%joinedavolunteergroupatprogramcompletion.Thestudyemphasisedtheimportanceoffacilitatingparticipationofmembersofthecommunitywhoaresociallyexcluded.Itcanbeusedasamodelforislandsorregionalcommunitieselsewhere.Benefitsofvolunteeringinsmallcommunitiescanalsoincludebeingknowntopotentialfuturesponsorsoremployers.


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DrRobynMolsher,DepartmentofEnvironment,Water&NaturalResources,KIRespondingadaptivelytoincreasingkoalanumbersonKangarooIslandIslandscanbeconsideredanalogoustofragmentedhabitat,becauseformostspecies,dispersalandmovementfromislandsisinhibited.Anumberofkoala(Phascolarctoscinereus)populationsinsouth-eastAustraliahaverapidlyincreasedindensitybecauseofalackofnaturalpredatorsanddispersalopportunities,withresultingover-browsingoffoodtrees.TheintroducedkoalapopulationonKangarooIslandhasbeenmanagedthroughfertilitysuppressionsince1996with>12,500koalassterilisedtoprotectnativevegetation.Regularmonitoringandcensuseshaveshownthatthekoalapopulationdeclinedsteadilyfromanestimated27,000in2001to14,000in2010.Inthelastfewyears,however,despitecontinuedsterilisationefforts,koalanumbershaveincreasedasaresultofarangeofenablingfactors.Theseinclude:theavailabilityofnewhabitats(e.g.,bluegumplantations),reducedsterilisationandtranslocationtargets,inaccessibilitytosomepropertiesforkoalamanagementandfavourableclimaticconditions.Thepopulationincreasehaspromptedanin-depthevaluationoftheprogramthathasemphasisedtheneedforappliedresearchandinnovativetoolstoaddresskeyknowledgegaps.Thispaperdiscussesthechallengesandsuccessesofoneofthelargestmammalianfertilitycontrolprogramsintheworld.Itdescribestherecentapplicationofdronetechnologytosupportkoalamonitoring,aswellastheroleofspatialmodellinginassistingmanagerstodetermineappropriateadaptivemanagementstrategies.DavidMorris&JotiWeijers-Coghlan,UniversityofSouthAustralia,AdelaideAssistinganislandcommunityenterpriseinVanuatuThispaperdescribesworkinprogressofaprojectinitiatedbythechiefsofTannaIsland,Vanuatu,toengagetheDesignConstructProgramattheUniversityofSouthAustraliatoassistindevelopingamodelcommunityeco-tourismenterprisewiththeaimsofgeneratingincomefortheeducationofyouthandpreservingownershipandcontrolofindigenousland.TannaIsland,beingoneofmorethan80islandsintheVanuatuarchipelago,isrelativelyisolatedbydistancefromexogenousinfluences.Thisisolation,whilelargelypreservingTanna’sculturalandnaturalheritage,anditsattractionasatouristdestination,presentsparticularchallengesforeconomicdevelopment,exacerbatedbythevulnerabilityoftheregiontonaturaldisaster.Thepaperdescribesthestrategyadoptedforthiscommunityenterprisetopreservebothcultureandenvironmentbymaximizingendogenouseconomicdevelopmentbaseduponexistinghighlyevolvedandwelladaptedni-Vanuatu(of-Vanuatu)culturaltraditionsaugmentedbyamulti-agencycommunityeducationandtrainingprogramtobuildcapacityinareasofmanagement,finance,tourism,hygiene,building,maintenanceandservicetechnologies.Itishoped,thatasthisprojectprogressestowardshostingitsfirstvisitorslaterin2017,itwilldemonstratewhatcanbeachievedbyacommunityandbecomeamodelthatothercommunitiescanreplicatetoaddressTannaIsland’slimitededucationalandeconomicopportunities,anditsvulnerabilitytoforeignlandownershipandcontrol.ProfessorSatoruNishimura,KagoshimaUniversity,JapanSocialandeconomicIssuesintheFederatedStatesofMicronesiainaneraofglobalisationSmallislandPacificcountriessuchastheFederatedStatesofMicronesia(FSM)areundergoingprocessesofcommercialisationandglobalisation.Heavydependenceofthenationaleconomyon


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grantsfromforeigncountriesisalsoproblematic.FSMneedstobemoreindependenteconomicallyandpoliticallybecausethesizeofgrantsisheavilydependentonbothglobalanddonoreconomies.Socialandeconomicproblemsvaryfromplacetoplaceevenwithinthecountry.ThispaperfirstexaminesthesocialandeconomicproblemsinFSMbothatnationalandstatelevelsusingtheofficialGovernmentstatisticssuchastheFSM2010CensusofPopulationandHousing.Thedataexplainproblemssuchasdepopulationandtoomuchdependencyongrantsatthenationallevelandremittancesattheindividuallevel,bothfromothercountries.Italsodiscussesthesituationatthelevelofislands,withtheuseoffieldresearchdataconductedonPiisIsland,ChuukState,bytheauthorin2016.Regardingthedescriptiveanalysis,referenceismadetotheresearchofFatherFrancisHazewhereheidentifiesdomesticviolenceandalcoholaddictionasconsequencesofeconomicandsocialpressures.Thepaperconcludesbyexploringtheinterrelationshipsbetweeneconomicandsocialproblems,andseekstoidentifyusefulsolutionstothem.DrReedPerkins,QueensUniversityofCharlotte,USA&DrSteveKraus,BeaconCollege,USAAninterdisciplinaryexaminationofclimatechangeperceptionsandresponsesinYapState,FederatedStatesofMicronesiaYapState,FederatedStatesofMicronesia(9.5N,138E)consistsoffourhighislands(MainIslandsorMI)and13coralatollsandsmallerislands(OuterIslandsorOI)spreadover400,000km2ofocean.SealevelsinwesternMicronesiaarerisingatthreetofourtimestheglobalaverage,andsaltwaterintrusionisimpactingfoodproduction.ThispaperexaminesthreerelateddimensionsofYapresidents’perceptionsandresponsestoclimatechangeimpacts.First,physicalgeographicaldifferencesbetweentheMIandOInecessitatehighspatialvariabilityinimpacts.TheOI’sisolation,lowelevation,andmostlycorallinesubstrateresultinfewerandmoreimmediateadaptationoptions(e.g.,permanentemigration).Second,thetraditionalSaweitributesystembetweentheMIandtheOIbindstheseculturesinacontractofmutualobligation,allowingOIresidentstherighttorelocatetotheMI.Third,theMI’sindigenoussociopoliticalsystem(e.g.,landtenure,socialhierarchy,complexlineagenetworks)hastraditionallyprovidedMI-widefoodsecurityandsocialresiliencethroughwell-definedproductionanddistributionpatterns.ThisstrongcommunalsupportsystemmakespreciseevaluationofYapState’svulnerabilitiesproblematic.Also,effortsbyMIresidentstointegratetraditionalagriculturalknowledgewithmoderngeospatialsciencemaydevelopanewapproachtofoodsecurity.DrReedPerkins,QueensUniversityofCharlotte,USA;DrMargieFalanruw,YapInstituteofNaturalScience&FrancisRuegorong,YapStateDepartmentofAgriculture&ForestryMaintainingfoodsecuritydespitesealevelriseonYap,FederatedStatesofMicronesiaTobetterdocumenttheimpactsofsealevelrise(SLR)onthefoodsecurityofYapState,FederatedStatesofMicronesia,foodproducersin117ofthe120villagesonthefourmainislands(MI)wereaskedtwoquestions:‘Wheredoyougrowtaro?’(2,707patcheswereidentifiedandmapped);and‘Issaltwaterintrudingthere?’Spatialanalysisoftheseanecdotaldataunexpectedlysuggeststhatsaltwaterintrusion,thoughhighlyspatiallyvariable,isaffectingfoodproductionupto5metreselevation.Also,GISanalysisindicatesthat~68%oflandidealfortaroproduction(basedonsoilsandslope)islocatedinthe0-5metreelevationzone.Approximately40%ofYapState’spopulationlivesonwidelyscatteredsmallislandsorcoralatolls(typicalmaximumelevation=5metres),and


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theseresidentsarebeginningtomigratetotheMI.Thus,SLRappearstobeincreasingYap’sMIpopulationwhilesimultaneouslydegradingitsfoodproductioncapacity.ThispaperdescribesanongoingprojecttomaintainfoodsecurityonYap’sMainIslandsthatintegratesgeospatialscienceandtraditionalknowledgeofYap.Specificobjectivesincludevalidatingandquantifyingtheanecdotaldata,creatingspatiallyaccurategeodatabases,andbuildingnewfoodproductionandecosystemmanagementstrategies.DrMargiPrideaux,Indo-PacificGovernanceResearchCentre,UniversityofAdelaideRootedcosmopolitanismand‘islandsofcommunities’:thepotentialforsmallislandcommunitiestoinfluencegovernanceInmostcontemporarynationstates,politicshasbecomeamuteddiscussion.Wehavebeenpersuadedthatgovernanceisfocusedonlythroughtheauthorityofthestate,butbeyondeverydayview,governanceisincreasinglycontrolledbynon-stateelites.Asaconsequence,thecitizensofmoststateshavelittleactiveengagementwithimportantnationalandinternationalgovernancematters.Againstthistrend,manysmallislandcommunitieshaveretainedcultivatedandreciprocalinteractionswiththeirgovernancebodies.Independentsmallislandnationstatesareoftenassertivelyactiveonbehalfoftheircitizensinglobalgovernancematters,whereastheviewsofsub-nationalislandsareusuallysuppressedbymainlandgovernmentsthatdistantlycontroltheiraffairs,oftenwithoutconsiderationoftheirislandcharacter.Asworldpoliticsintensifies,empoweringsmallislands,andindeed‘islandsofcommunities’,isbecomingcrucialtobalancehomogeniseddecisionsdrivenbynon-stateelites.Rootedcosmopolitanisminvitesabroader,moreinclusivecommunitytothenationalandinternationalgovernancetable,balancinglocalandlargermoralclaimswhileexpandingandenrichingunderstandingofself,theotherandtheworld.Usingtherootedcosmopolitanmodel,thispaperinvestigatesthepoliticalneedforislandvoices,andhowtheempowermentof‘islandsofcommunities’mightbeachieved.DrMaxQuanchi,UniversityofQueensland&DeakinUniversity,VictoriaUsinghistoricalphotographytoexploretheconceptof‘islands’PhotographypresentedsmallPacificislandstoareadingandviewingworldinthemidnineteenthcenturyandthisimaginghascontinuedinadvertising,reportingandsocialmedia.Theexpanseofoceanswasdifficulttocapture,butatropical,distant,paradisiacalPacificorSouthSeas“isle”provedimmediatelysuccessfulthroughthecamera.Thispaperarguesthatitwasimages–art,thenphotography--notwords,thatcreatedfamiliarityandvisualassociationwiththePacificthroughaglobalonslaughtinmagazines,illustratednewspapers,serialencyclopaedia,exhibitionsandpostcards.VariousconceptualapproachesframethisargumentincludingtheNewWorld’smarvellouspossessions(Greenblatt,1991),visualeconomy(Poole,1997),artificialentities(Mayer,2002),tropicality(DriverandMartins,2005),tropicalisation(Thompson,2006)andvisualising(Koivunen,2009).Thispaperalsoreliesontheglobaltourismconceptof“placeimage”todescribephotography’sdominanceinimagingtheislesofthePacific.Theseseminalworksdrewattentiontothe‘gaze’appliedtocolonialpossessionsandthemannerinwhichcoloniesweremanufacturedandconstructedbythoseintheEuroAmericanaudiencewhodrovesystemsofdistributionanddissemination.ThecameramadethePacific’sislandsappeardistinctiveanduniquebutphotography’stechniques,trope,artandcommercialapplicationswereuniversalandborrowed


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widely,soacontraryargumentisthatislandsareuniversalandthatwithoutcaptions,viewerswouldhaveconfusedCaribbean,IndianOcean,AsianandPacificpalmtreesleaningoverawhitesandbeachandplacidlagoon.ProfessorJamesRandall,UniversityofPrinceEdwardIsland,CanadaPerceptionsofutopianislandsbyislanduniversitystudentsTheambiguousconceptof‘utopia’haslongbeenlinkedinthepublicdomaintosmallislands.FromMore’sUtopiaandHuxley’sIslandtotheidealised,andoftenunattainable,imageofthetropicalparadisecreatedbytheglobaltourismindustry,islandshavebeenthesubjectofperfection.Thispaperexploresacontemporaryperceptionofislandutopiaandperfectionthroughtheeyesofagroupofyounguniversitystudents.Forthepasttwoyears,thispresenterhastaughtanonlineversionoftheundergraduateIntroductiontoIslandStudiescourse(IST201)attheUniversityofPrinceEdwardIsland,Canada.Duringthattime,approximately180studentshavetakenthecourse.Asanintroductorycourse“ice-breaker”mostofthestudentscompleteda“GettingtoKnowYou”exercisethatincludedquestionsonwherestudentswerefrom,theislandstheyhavevisitedandhowtheywoulddefinetheirperfectisland.Thispaperpresentsadescriptiveanalysisoftheresultstothesequestions.Theresultswillallowustobetterunderstandtheperceptionsofutopianislandlandscapesbycontemporaryislandersandtopositionlocallearnerstoactglobally.ProfessorDrBeateRatter,UniversityofHamburg;DrJanPetzold,AlfredWegenerInstituteforPolar&MarineResearch,Germany;KamardineSinane,Comoros;ArnesHennig,HamburgPolitricksandumpteenallegations:climatechangeadaptationinacrossculturalcomparisonoftheBahamas,theMaldivesandtheComorosThecurrentdiscussiononanticipatedclimatechangeimpactsandfuturesealevelriseisparticularlyrelevanttosmallislands.Sealevelriseleadstoanincreaseinnaturalhazards(floodsandstormwaves)andislikelytohaveadevastatingimpactonsmallislandcoastlines,exacerbatingcoastalerosionandseverelyaffectingtheabilitytoachievesustainabledevelopmentgoals.Beforeattributingspecificimpactstoclimatechange,currenthumanactivitiesneedtobeanalyzed,focusingnotonlyongeomorphologicalandclimatologicalaspectsbutalsoonpoliticalandculturalframeworksasenablersofcoastalchange.Historicalexperiences,institutionalsettingsandpoliticalinterestsalsoinfluencehowsmallislandcommunitiesarepreparedtodealwithenvironmentalpressuresmanifestingaspresentandfuturecoastalchange.BasedonempiricalstudiesonTheBahamas,MaldivesandComoros,thepaperdiscussesthevarietyofmeaningsattributedtothecoastsuchasaresource,aconstructionandinvestmentsite,atouristattraction,aplaygroundorspiritualplace.Theobjectiveistoscrutinizeenvironmentalresponsibilityatdifferentpoliticallevelsandindifferentsocietalsettings,andtodemonstratetheimportanceofsocial-political-ecologicalsystemsanalysisforadaptationandthusforfuturesustainabledevelopment.Howdothecompetingmeaningsascribedtothecoastinfluencesociety’scapacitytoadapt?Whoholdswhatresponsibilities?Andhowcanwelearnfromthedifferentexamplespresented?


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DrPeggyRismiller,PelicanLagoonResearch&WildlifeCentre,KangarooIsland,andtheUniversityofAdelaideTurninguptheheatonsmallislands:thermalvulnerabilityandadaptioninawarmingclimateTemperatureanditsinfluenceonvariousaspectsofsustainablelifeisoftenoverlooked.Everyspecies,plantandanimal,hasanoptimumtemperatureatwhichtheythriveandacriticalthermalmaximumtemperaturewherelifeceases.Theconceptofthermalvulnerabilityisgainingmomentuminprimaryindustriesbyaddressingthegermination,growingandproductionneedsofdomesticagriculture.Howevertheimpactsofawarmingclimateonthethermalqualitiesofnativemicrohabitatsandthechallengesthatpresentstoadaptationinthenaturalbiosphereisrarelyconsidered,especiallyonsmallislandswithfinitespace.Thethermalsafetymargin(=thermaltolerance)variesgreatlybetweenandevenamongnativespecies.Effectivetemperatureregulationexpandsthethermalsafetymarginthushavingsignificantimplicationsforsurvival.Smallislandsprovideanoptimumplatformforunderstandingtheeffectsonterrestriallandlockedorganisms.Theroletemperatureplays,andtheadaptationsthattwosignificantnativeKangarooIslandwildlifespecieshaveevolved,provideinsightsintothesignificanceofthermaltolerance.Theabilityandcapacityforphysiologicaladaptationstoglobalwarmingwillvaryamonganimalspecies.However,documentedfactsraiseawarenessandquestionsaboutourownthermalvulnerability.ProfessorMonicaRobotin,SchoolofMedicine,UniversityofNotreDame,Sydney&AishathShaheenIsmail,FacultyofHealthSciences,MaldivesNationalUniversityDoingittheirwayinasmallislandnation:implementingacountry-specificMasterofPublicHealthintheMaldivesOverthelast4decades,theMaldivianpeople’shealthstatusimprovedsignificantly,particularlyinmaternalandchildhealthandthroughtheeradicationorcontrolofmanycommunicablediseases.However,non-communicablediseasesandclimatechangeareunderminingthesesuccesses,requiringnewknowledgeandskillsfromitshealthworkforce.ThispromptedtheMaldivesNationalUniversity(MNU)todevelopthefirstlocalMasterofPublicHealth(MPH)programin2013.AstakeholderconsultationusingconsensusmethodssoughtagreementoncurricularstructureandcompetenciesrequiredbylocalMPHgraduates.AresearchprioritizationexerciseidentifiedspecificPublicHealthresearchtopicsforMPHstudentstopursue,boostinglocalresearchcapacityandaddressingemerginghealthneeds.ConsultationsaboutspecifictrainingneedsofprospectiveMPHstudents,keypublichealthcompetenciesandpreferredtrainingmodelsinformedanominalgroupmeeting,whereparticipantsagreedoncurricularstructureandMPHcoresubjects.ElectivesubjectswereselectedandrankedthroughaDelphiprocess,consideringlocalhealthneeds,feasibilityandavailableteachingexpertise.Asimilarprocessidentifiedresearchprojectsforstudents,alignedwithMPHlearningobjectives.Theypertainedto:environmentalhealth,healtheffectsofclimatechange,foodsafety,addictionmedicine,healthdisparities,geneticaspectsofdiseaseandcommunicabledisease.TwocohortsofstudentsgraduatedfromtheMPHtodate.


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AssociateProfessorSophiaRolle,UniversityoftheBahamasSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDG)implementationsuccessesinsmallislandstates:thecaseforTheBahamasSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs),UnitedNations,2016,aremulti-dimensional,broadandveryambitious.ManyoftheSmallIslandDevelopingStates(SIDS)ormajorstakeholdershaveundertakenthesegoalsusingmulti-facetedapproachesandstrategiestoimplementation.Thegoalsforthemostpartencompasssocial,environmentalandeconomicsmandatesthatmanygovernmentshavegrappledwithforalongtime.Howtoengagethepublicandprivatesector,civilsociety,academicinstitutionsandvariousdonororganizationsinimprovingpolicycoherence,legislativewill,promotingpartnerships,strengtheninformation,communicationandtechnology(ICT),andthepromotionofinvestmentwillbeexaminedfromTheBahamas’perspective.Thispaperwillalsodiscusstenkeyperformingindicators(KPIs)thatareviewedasmajoringredientstoimplementationsuccessacrosscounties.AnexaminationofTheBahamas’sveryrobust2040NationalDevelopmentPlan(2016)willbeusedasabasesforthisdiscussion.ProfessorSophiaRolle,UniversityoftheBahamasTheexperienceeconomyofJunkanooininTheBahamas:theshiftingparadigmThispaperwilltakeanExperienceEconomy(EE)approachtotheJunkanoonationalfestivalofTheBahamas.ThefourdimensionsoftheEE(PineandGilmore,1999)willbeexaminedinrelationtothelevelofparticipationofresidentsandtouristsinJunkanoo.Theexperienceeconomyexamineshowindustriescreateandmeasureexperiencesgeneratedthroughtheactivitiesofthoseindustries(Flagstade2006).Thisfour-phaseeconomicprogressivemodelwillbeusedtofurthersubstantiatewhataretheconsumptiveenvironmentsofJunkanoothatcanbemeasured.

ThispaperwillfurtherinvestigatewhethertheallureofJunkanooforthecitizensofTheBahamasisshiftingawayfromthisdeep-rootedculturalphenomenontobecomeashallowerfestivalorcarnival.Thediversificationanddifferentiationofoneofthemajortourismproducts(Junkanoo)bytheGovernmentofTheBahamaswillalsobeadvanced.MeasuringlevelsofEEthroughthelensofeconomicswillbereviewed.Otherquestionstobeaddressedare:HowshouldthedeclineinlevelsofparticipationinJunkanoobeaddressed?HastheparadigmshiftedforgoodintheCarnivaldirectionorcantheybothexist?EmeritusProfessorStephenRoyle,Queen’sUniversity,Belfast,UnitedKingdomEffectiveresourcemanagementinsmall-islandJapanJapan,whilstdominatedbyitsfourlargeislands,hasaplethoraofsmallislands.Theauthorhadmuchopportunitytoexperiencesmall-islandJapan,particularlytheOsumi,TokaraandAmamigroupsoffsouthernKyushu,whilstVisitingProfessoratKagoshimaUniversityResearchCentreforPacificIslandsin2015-16.Theseislandsdisplaygreatgeologicalvarietyfromactive–smoking–volcanoesthroughsteepgraniticmassestolimestonereefs,butsharetheproblems(andopportunities)ofsmallislands.Theyhavereactedinwaysrelatedtolocalopportunitiespresentedbynaturalorhumanagency.Limestoneislands,suchasKikaijima,focusonagriculture,particularly,giventhesouthernlocation,sugaranditsproducts,includingspirits.Highislandswithspecialecosystemsattractvisitorstoviewwildlifeandwilderness,especiallyYakushima.IslandsmarketspecialistproductssuchastheknivesandscissorsofTanegashima,thesilkofAmami-oshimaorculturaltraditionsfromthebullfightingofTokunoshimatotheshima-utamusicofAmami-Oshima.Islandsco-operate:thereissomejointmarketingandsharedinfrastructure,suchasaferrytothe


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threeMishimaislandsandanothertotheinhabitedislandsintheTokaragroup.Theseislandsmakethemostofwhattheyhave–withsomesupportfromoutside–andtheirexperiencespresentlessonstothewiderinsularworld.ChetanShah,FijiNationalUniversityFacultyperceptionsofsustainabilityineducation:acasestudyfromFijiSustainabilityisakeyconsiderationforanisland’sdevelopmentandbecomesevenmorecriticalinafragileecosystem.Educationiscrucialforpromotingsustainabledevelopmentandimprovingthecapacityofpeopletoaddressit.Asuniversitiesarecommunitiesforlearning,itisimperativethattheirteachingendorsesustainability.Academicstaffplayacrucialroleinensuringsustainablelearning.Oftentheirteachingisbasedontheirownperceptionsandmotivations.Theseperceptionsoftenguideandmouldthestudents’learningandthoughtprocesses.FijiisoneofthemostdevelopedcountriesamongthesmallislanddevelopingstatesintheSouthPacificandisarecognisedcentreoflearningfortheregion.Usinganemicapproach,thispaperattemptstomaptheseperceptionsofsustainabilityintertiaryeducationinFiji,furtherrelatingthemtothepedagogyemployedwithinrespectivedisciplines.Thepaperalsocomparestheimportancelocalandexpatriatestaffgivetoteachingsustainability,identifyingthesustainabilityaspectstheychoosetoaddress,theirmotivationsandtheirapproachtowardsovercomingchallenges.Aqualitativeapproachisfollowedandconveniencesamplingisusedtocollectdatathroughsemi-structuredinterviews.Athematicapproachisusedtoanalysethedatathroughanopensoftwarepackage,QDAProfessorPhillipSlee&DrGraceSkrzypiec,FlindersUniversity,AdelaidePromotingpeacefulschoolsinsmallislandcommunitiesInternationallythereisnowalongoverduefocusonthewell-beingandhealthofyoungpeopleintheeducationsectorincludingthoseinsmallislandcommunities.Putsimplytheconceptofwell-beingreferstooptimalpsychologicalfunctioningandexperience.Schoolstypically,andteachersgenerally,havealwaysseenitaspartoftheirroletosupportandencouragechildren’sall-rounddevelopment,includingtheircognitive,interpersonal,social,aesthetic,physicalandmoral/spiritualgrowth.ResearchinAustralianschoolshasfoundthatbothtraditionalandcyberbullyinghasharmfulmentalhealthoutcomesforallthoseinvolved(Skrzypiec,Slee,Askell-Williams,&Lawson,2012).Thispaperwillprovideabroadoverviewofthebasicprinciplesforpromotingwell-beingandreducingschoolviolencewithafocusonsmallislandcommunities.Anationalinterventionfocusedonpromotingstudentwell-beingandreducingschoolviolenceconductedontheislandofMaltawillbeusedtoillustratethebarriersandfacilitatorsforpromotingpeacefulsmallislandcommunities.Particularconsiderationwillbegiventotheissues(e.g.,confidentialityandanonymity)facedonsmallislandcommunitiesinconductinginterventionswhereparticipants,communitiesandorganisationsarewellknowntoeachother.


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JenniferSmith,UniversityofSouthernQueensland,ToowoombaLearninghowtogrow:newfarmersinTasmania‘Newfarmer’movementsonsmallislandsmayserveasmodelsforbridgingthefrequentlycitedgapbetweenideasoflocalandglobalsurvival.ThispaperusesnewfarmersinTasmaniatoillustratethepotentialcontributionthesepeoplemaketoruraldiversityandresilience,astheylearnto‘dwell’asfarmersandastheylearntobeproductivethroughfarming.AgricultureinAustraliacontinuestolosefarmerstomoreurbanwaysoflife.Despitethis,thesepeoplearechoosingtoenteragricultureforthefirsttime.ManyofthemcometofarminTasmaniaanditssmallerislandsas‘non-locals’andtheymustlearnhowtobelong.Thisresearchisongoing,butearlyobservationssuggestthatthesenon-localpeoplearelearninghowtobelocalthroughthefoodtheyproduce,andtheyareformingnewnetworksofrelationshipsintheprocess.Peoplehaveimaginativelyprojectednewfutures,transformingperceptionsoftheiridentitiesastheytransformtheirsocialandphysicallandscapes.Globalrisksassociatedwiththeindustrialisationofagricultureandclimatechangeareananxiousbackdroptothelocalfarmingscene,anditmaybethatthegrowthofnewfarmersonislandslikeTasmaniawillcontributetoouradaptivecapacities.DrRickSouthgate,KangarooIslandEco-ActionKangarooIsland:clean,greenandpristine?KangarooIslandiswidelypromotedasbeing‘clean,greenandpristine’bygovernmentandindustrytomarkettourismandagriculturalproducts.Butdotheseclaimsstackupcomparedtoadjacentregionsandotherislands?Thispaperexaminesphysicalandnaturalcharacteristics,theextentandtypeofagriculturalpractise,resourceuse,andattitudesofresidentsandvisitorstodeterminetheaccuracyoftheseassertions.While47%ofnativevegetationisretainedandtherearefewerthreatenedspeciescomparedtoneighbouringregions,agriculturalpractices,energyuseandwasteproductionaresimilar.Thereareamixofothersignificantissuesincludingwaterresourceallocation,weedandpestanimalproblems.AframeworkandapproachisoutlinedtoprovideamoreaccuratebenchmarkoftheIsland’senvironmentalcredentials.Itisarguedthatpresentingverifiableinformation(includingthemeasurementofconditionsandmaterialandenergyflows),coupledwiththeclearstepsbeingundertakentoimproveconditionswouldprovideastronger,morehonestwayforislandstopromotetheirproducts.TerraSprague,UniversityofBristol,UnitedKingdomListeningtothemangrove:localconceptualisationsofislandresilienceinthefaceofenvironmentalchangeThediscourseofislandvulnerabilityisshiftingtooneofresilience,butwhatismeantbythisincreasinglyfashionableterm?Internationaldevelopmentbodiesoftenbringself-definedunderstandingsofresiliencetotheirworkinislands.Thispaperarguesforgreaterattentiontolocalconceptualisationsofresiliencebeforeprioritisingworkonresilience-buildingthroughframeworks,indicesandprofiles.Usingthemangroveasametaphorforlocalknowledge,thisresearchhassoughttobetterunderstandhowresilienceisconceivedamongstawiderangeoflocalstakeholders.Through


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qualitativeinquiry,andusingnarrativemethods,itlistenstoamultiplicityofvoicesandperspectivesinMauritius,SaintLuciaandFijitoexplorelocalunderstandingsofthepressingenvironmentalconcernsandwhatresiliencemeansinthefaceofenvironmentalchangeinthesethreeislandstates.ExtendingDeleuze’sconceptsofthetreeandrhizome,thispaperpresentsaMangroveofLocalKnowledgeaboutislandresilience.Whiletheconceptofresiliencehasgrabbedglobalattentionaswefaceincreasingenvironmentaluncertainty,islandshavedealtwithsomeoftheearliestandmostsevereeffectsofclimatechange.Assuch,thereismuchwhichotherscanlearnfromthissharpendexperience.EmeritusProfessorNenadStarc,TheInstituteofEconomics,Zagreb,CroatiaIslandrankinginCroatia:challengesandentanglementsInregionallyheterogeneousCroatiatheislandsaretheregionwithmostpronouncedspecificities.HowevertheCroatianislandtownsandmunicipalities(localself-managementunits-LSUs)aresubjectedtodevelopmentrankingbyuseoftheofficialone-dimensionalindicator.IslandLSUsthusappearontheoverallranklisttogetherwithmainlandLSUs.TheranksofparticularislandLSUsthusmisguidethepolicymakersandleadtoilltreatmentofislandproblems.Thepaperproposesrankingislandsintwodimensions.Itisassertedthatislandsthatarenotattractiveeitherforeconomicdevelopmentorforeverydaylifeareareasofthreatenedsocio-economicsustainabilitycallingforspecificpolicymeasures.Socialandeconomicdimensionsarethusdefined,eachonebasedontwoindicators.Dimensionvaluesareobtainedbymeansofprincipalcomponents/factoranalysis.Simulationsbasedondifferentweightingofindicatorsarealsodone.Theresultspointoutfourgroupsofislandswhichrequirespecificmeasuresregardlessoftheirrankontheoverallofficialdevelopmentranklist.Possibilitiesofextendingtheanalysistomorethantwodimensionsalsoarediscussed.Itisstressedthatdecisionsondimensionsandweightsshouldbemadewithpolicygoalsandexistingpolicyinstrumentsinmind.Mary-AliceSwan&DebbieClark,DragonBoatSAIncConnectingtheKangarooIslandcommunitythroughdragonboatinginPelicanLagoonMarineSanctuaryAllIslandcommunitiesarealone,cutoffbyabodyofwater.ButKangarooIslandDragonstakewhatthewaterhastooffer,addadragonboatortwoandcreateaformofrecreationthatenhanceslives,promoteswell-being,liftsthespiritandbringstogetherdiversepeoplefromacrosstheIsland.Inthisway,aunique,pristinemarineasset,PelicanLagoonatAmericanRiver,isbeingusedtobuildcommunitythroughfitnessandfun.Historically,AmericanRiverwasthehubofmodernKangarooIsland,whereAmericansealerssetupcampandbuiltanewvessel,TheIndependence.Boatingandfishingremainattheheartofthearea’sculture.Paddlinginunisoninthecompanyofdolphins,shorebirds,seabirds,andfishingandsailingboatsfosterscooperationandteamspiritamongpaddlersofallagesandabilities,buildingstrongandsupportiverelationships.Peoplelearnnewskills,includingleadership,anditisagreatspringboardforclear,creativethinkingandinnovationthataddstoproductivityoutsidethesport.Theseareessentialqualitiesforpeopleinsmallislandcommunitieswherebeinghealthy,happy,fit,skilledandconnectedhelpmaintainastrongsocialfabric.


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AliceTeasdale,KangarooIslandOninhabitedislands:Shakespeare,Stevenson,magic,colonisationandthepublicimaginationLiteraturehasshapednotionsof‘islandness’inthepublicimaginationformillennia.Whilethe‘Robinsonade’orcastawaynarrativeisprobablymorecommon,talesofinhabitedislandsreflectchangingattitudestonation,culture,isolationandpower.Shakespeare’sTheTempesthasideasof‘islandness’embeddedwithinitandlayereduponit.Itreferencesthemystic–andoftengendered–islandsoftheOdysseyandotherclassicaltexts,aswellasthegrandadventureoftheexpandingnewworld.Thisislandhasalsobeenreadasamicrocosmofthebrutalprocessofcolonisation,withdiscoursesonpower,dignityandhumancruelty.StevensonwroteTreasureIslandasaflightoffancy,andhisreadersrevelledinitspureromance.WhentheauthorhimselftravelledtotheislandsofthePacific,hisfictionalandautobiographicalwritingtookonamorerealisticbent,exploringthesubtletiesofcolonisationandculturesinconflict.Buthisreaders,whilecaptivatedwiththeideaofhisSouthsealife,wereunimpressedwithhisgrittynewstyle.Unifiedbythemesofmagic,adventureandthejourney,aswellasanunsettlingdiscourseonthenatureofpower,thesetextsgiveinsightintothehistoryof‘islandness’inthepublicimagination.JennieTeasdale(KangarooIsland),FlindersUniversity&ClaireMincham-Trowbridge,KangarooIslandCommunityEducationKidsonanisland:children’sperceptionsofplaceandislandnessUsingthetoolofstorywriting,islandchildrenwereinvited,byexternalresearcherswithteachingexperience,todescribetheirfeelingsaboutlivingonKangarooIsland.Over250storieswerewrittenbychildrenaged5to16bothwithinandoutsidethecontextoftheschool.Ananalysisoftheirstoriesrevealedthattheyhadastrongawarenessoftheislandasplace,withcommonthemesrelatingtoislandnessfrequentlysurfacing.ThelivedexperienceofKangarooIsland’schildrencanbedescribedas‘freerange’.Withintheirnarrativeschildrendescribedislandnesspredominantlyintermsoflandscapeandhumanrelationships.Likethemajorityofyoungchildrenlivinginasociallysecure,environmentallywholesomeworld,mostKangarooIslandchildrenhaveanidealistic,Utopianviewoflifeontheirisland,particularlythoseinyoungeragegroups.Thisstudywillexplorehowislandchildren’sidentityissignificantlysculpturedbytheirearlyislandexperiencesandwillreportonchangingperceptionsofislandnessaschildrenmature.ThepresentationwilljuxtaposetheKangarooIslandchildren’sstoriesagainstatheoreticalunderstandingofplaceandislandness,predominantlyfromgeographicalandsociologicalperspectives.Asmallsampleofstorieswillbereadbyyoungauthors.Thepaperwillconcludebyraisingsuggestionsforfutureresearch.Asasmallislandcasestudytheauthorshopetoengagewithconferenceparticipantsinexploringtheusefulnessofthismethodologyforfurtheringourunderstandingofislandness.AaronTham,UniversityoftheSunshineCoast,QueenslandShipAhoy!CruisetourismtoworldheritageFraserIslandCruisetourismhaswitnessedunprecedentedgrowthratesamidstgreaterinterestinnewdestinationsandshipswithanimpressivearrayoffeatures.Thereissomeagreementwithinthe


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industrythatthesectorislikelytocontinueitsgrowthtrajectory,giventhatmanycruisetouristsaresoldontheideaoftheall-inclusiveandvalue-basedpricingstrategiesemployedbymanyoperators.Fromanacademicperspective,cruisetourismpromiseseconomicandsocialsustainability,particularlyfromtheperspectiveofemergingdestinations.However,otherscontendthatcruisetourismplacessignificantpressuresonsmallislands,especiallywherepollutionandwastedisposalareconcerned.ThispaperfocusesonthedevelopmentofcruisetourismtoFraserIsland,Australia.DespiteitsWorldHeritagelisting,FraserIslandisextremelyvulnerabletoexternalstressorscausedbytourismdevelopments.Somestudieshavealludedtotourismactivitiesthatmayhavenegativeenvironmentalimpacts,suchasalteringdingobehaviour.Theislandalsoisgrid-free,doesnotgenerateitsownfoodsources,andcanonlybeaccessedby4WDvehicles.Thisinsularityofthedestinationaddstoitsvulnerability.TheresearchreportedinthispaperfocusesontheimpactsofcruisetourismonFraserIsland.Thepresentationwillreportonpreliminaryfindingsthatsuggesthowcruisetourismmightbemanagedinordertomitigateanydamagingconsequences.AssociateProfessorTakashiTorii,FacultyofFisheries,KagoshimaUniversity,JapanEffortsforimprovingthedistributionoffisheryproductsinToshimavillage,JapanThefishingindustryinremoteislandsoftenhasdisadvantagesintermsofthedistributionofproducts.Althoughremoteislandsenjoyabundantresourcesinsurroundingfishinggrounds,theyareatagreatdisadvantagewhenitcomestoderivingvaluefromsuchresources.Therefore,fishingbusinessesinremoteislandsgenerallydonottendtobeprofitable.Fisheryisakeyindustryformostremoteislands.Thereisapossibilitythatadeclineinfishingactivitymayweakenthelocaleconomy,localcommunities,andthemultifacetedfunctionsoftheremoteisland’sfishingactivity.Inthispaper,IwilldiscussthecaseofToshima,avillageinKagoshimaPrefecture,wherethedistributionoffisheryproductshasbeenimprovedthroughtheintroductionoffreezingtechnology.PreviouslyinToshima,fisheryproductswereshippedfreshusingferries.However,theferriesrunonlytwiceaweekandarecancelledinbadweather.Further,ferryshipmentrequiresalargeamountoftimeandcostintransportingfisheryproductstotheCentralMarket.In2011,Toshimaintroducedstate-of-the-artfreezingfacilitiesandestablishedasystemwhereinaprivatecompanywouldundertakethefreezingandsellingoffisheryproducts.Thishasresultedinreliableshippingandlowtransportationcost,amongotherbenefits.AndrewTriggs,DepartmentofEnvironment,Water&NaturalResources,KIBiosecurity:protectingtheworld–oneislandatatimeBiosecurityistheprotectionofterrestrialandmarineenvironments,agriculturalindustriesandhumanhealthfromtheadverseimpactsofpestanimalsandplants,anddiseases.Smallislandsfacegreaterbiosecurityrisksashumanactivitycanresultininadvertentpestintroductions,whichtendtohaveasignificanteffectonisolatedecosystems,because,forexample,ofthelackofnaturalpredatorsandcompetitorstocontrolpestpopulations.


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Australiaimplementsbestbiosecuritypracticeandmeetsrelatedinternationalobligations.TheAustralianandStategovernmentscollaboratetodeliverbiosecurityfunctions,bothfundingregulatoryfunctionsandcapacitybuildingforcommunitiesandindustry.KangarooIsland’srelativepestanddiseasefreestatusisnoteworthy.TheTooGoodtoSpoilProjectisstrengtheningKangarooIsland’sbiosecuritysystemtosafeguarditsuniquestandingasabiodiversityrefuge–amajortourismdrawcard.Italsoseekstoprotecttheisland’sprimaryproductionindustries.Theprojecttakesamultiprongedapproachtominimisetheriskofpestincursions.Abiosecuritystrategyprovidestheframeworkforspecificsurveillanceprograms,emergencyresponseplans,atargetedvisitorawarenessprogram,capacitybuildingofindustriesandcommunity,andencouragingallstakeholderstoplayarole.TheKangarooIslandapproachtoeffectivebiosecuritymanagementcanbeappliedtoothersmallislandsandisolatedhabitats.MarinaWagner,FleurieuRegionalWasteAuthority,Goolwa,SouthAustraliaJustaloadofrubbish?’ThechallengeofprovidingwasteandrecyclingservicesonasmallislandTheFleurieuRegionalWasteAuthorityhasbeenformedbyfourlocalgovernmentauthorities,includingtheKangarooIslandCouncil(KIC),toprovidewasteandrecyclingservicesacrosstheFleurieuregionofSouthAustralia.Itskerbsidewastecollectionsystemisacriticalserviceprovidedtothecommunity,andisaconstantbalancingactbetweenstakeholderexpectations,feesforservices,stateGovernmenttaxesforlandfillwasteandthestrongdesiretodomoreandbetterforourenvironment.KICisfacingadditionalchallenges:mostcollectionroutesareonunsealedroads;alllandfillwasteandrecyclableshavetobetransportedoffislandviaferryfordisposalorprocessingonthemainland;andithasonlyasmallpopulationbasetopayforthecostofservices.Manyislandcommunitiesaroundtheworldarefacedwiththesamequestions:Howtobestmeetthechallengesofmanagingwaste,reducinglandfill,increasingrecyclingandfuture-proofingwasteservices?KIispreparingtotransitiontoanewkerbsidecollectionsystemwithanaddedgreen-wasteservice,aimingtokeepanestimated900tonnesofgreen-wasteontheislandandturningitintovaluablemulch,thusclosingtheloopandreducingtheecologicalfootprint.AnthonyWilson&AndrewWalsh,LordHoweIslandBoardWinningtheheartsandminds:proceedingtoimplementationoftheLordHoweIslandRodentEradicationProjectWorldHeritagelistedLordHoweIsland(LHI)ishometomanythreatenedendemicspecies,migratoryseabirdsandapermanentcommunityof350people.Theislandeconomyreliesheavilyontourism.Ratsandmicehavesignificantimpactsontheworldheritagevalues.Afeasibilitystudyin2001consideredtheeradicationofbothratsandmiceontheLHIGroupinasingleoperationasfeasibleandachievable.Sincethen,numerousenvironmentalandsocialstudiesandcommunityconsultationshavebeenundertaken.Themethodology,risksandbenefitshavebeencarefullyconsideredandevaluated.Theprojecthasalwaysbeentopicalinthecommunitywithbothardentsupportersandopposition.StateandFederalfundingfortheprojectwassecuredin2012.Howeverimplementationoftheprojectwasdelayedin2015toaddresslingeringconcernsinasmallbutvocalpartofthecommunityregardingpotentialimpactsonhealth,tourismandtheenvironment.Since2015,measurestoaddresstheseconcernshaveincludedemployingafull-timecommunityengagementmanagerontheIsland,completionofaneconomicevaluationstudy,anda


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furtherhumanhealthriskassessmentfortheproject.Thesemeasureshaveresultedinasteadyincreaseinsupportfortheprojectlocally.Thispaperinvestigatesthetechniquesthathavebeenengagedtotryandwintheheartsandmindsofthecommunityinordertobeabletoimplementtheprojectinwinterof2018.Itexaminessomefailuresandsuccessesduringtheprocess.Wesharesomeoftheinsightswehavegaineddealingwithscienceandhumanemotionsrelatingtolivelihoods,conservation,health,fearandmistrustandthelegacytobeleftforfuturegenerations.BenWilson,WPMConsulting,Adelaide,SouthAustraliaStrategiesforKangarooIslandbusinessestooperatedomesticallyandinternationallyKangarooIslandneedstofillagapinthemarketanddifferentiateitselffromhundredsofislandsaroundtheworldasauniquedestinationandexperience.Itneedstobuildasmalllocalplatformthatcanbereplicatedonalargerscale.Wemustaskourselves:“WhatisdifferentaboutKangarooIslandandwhatexperiencesdoesitofferthelocalcommunityanditsvisitorsthatnootherislandcan?”TheIslandalreadyoffersmanyuniqueexperienceswiththeabilitytoexpandandprosperwithnewemergingmarketslikesustainablepowersystems,eco-friendlytourism,andgloballyrecognisedproductsandservices.Ithasattractedsomeofworld’smostfamouspeopletoitsshores.Weneedtoembraceandconnectwiththesevisitorsandlistenandlearn.Ifwecansurroundourselveswiththebestpeopletohelpinnovate,providelocalemploymentandsustainablelong-termsolutions,everyonewillwin.Somekeyinnovativestrategiesmaybe:digitalandsocialmediastrategiesandpartnerships;strategicbusinessdevelopmentonanationalandglobalscale;traininganddevelopmentforlocalbusinesses;howtoconnectandnetworkwiththerightorganisationstobuildasustainablebusiness;andattractingandretainingthebestpeopletohelpgrowbusinesses.JillYuzwa,UniversityofWaterloo,Ontario,CanadaPlace,notpanacea:nurturingtheimportanceofdistinctplace,culture-ledandcreativeindustryinitiativesThisarchival,documentandprimaryresearchofGabriolaIsland,Canadaseekstoanswerthequestion,“Whatmakesaplace,aplacelikenoother?”(Bonner2002).Cultureandcreativityaskeystoqualityoflifeincommunitiesandasattractionfactorsforknowledgebasedworkershavebeentakenforgrantedasonlymetropolitan-basedorintheruralcontexthavebeencharacterisedasartistichavens.AnintrinsicrespectforartandculturequalifiesGabriolatobeexaminedthroughaculturallens,anapproachthatnoteverycommunityshouldexpecttohavetheappropriatefoundationfor,caninterpretorimplementsuccessfully.Iexploretheroleofhistoryandplace,culturalstrategies,anduniquelandusegovernanceofthisBritishColumbiaGulfIsland,aselementsthatfacilitatethepotentialforasustainableculturalecosystem.Whileinformalconsultationswithcommunitygate-keeperscommencedinwinterandlatespring2016,IwillexplorethistensionwithGabriolaindividualsinvolvedinthearts,creativeindustries,culturalinstitutionsandlocalgovernmentthroughoneononesemi-structuredinterviewsinspring2017.Iwillalsoinvestigatethenotionthatruralcommunitiesareoftenplaceswheretheland,itsstoriesandmeaningsarerevered,naturallyattractingartists,thinkersandthoseincreativevocations.

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