Biocultural Rights and Protocols in the Pacific 207
Vanuatu
Vanuatu is an archipelago of over 80 islands in the Melanesian Pacific. The
Melanesian grouping also includes the Nation States of Solomon Islands, Fiji and
Papua New Guinea, and the French Territory of New Caledonia. Vanuatu is
located 1,750 kilometres east of Australia, and 1,200 kilometres west of Fiji. The
Ni-Vanuatu (Indigenous peoples of Vanuatu) make up over 98% of the population.
Vanuatu is also extremely culturally and linguistically diverse with an estimated
138 languages spoken in a population of 300,000 people (Van Trease, 1987). A
series of European colonial powers visited, what was then called by C aptain James
Cook the New Hebrides in 1774, with both the United Kingdom and France
claiming ownership in the 1880s which eventually led to the “condominium”
division of control of the country between the two (Van Trease, 1987). This caused
disruptions to kastom (customary/traditional) systems of governance and law, as well
as land tenure, throughout the colonial period. Vanuatu has become independent
in 1980 and its Constitution has recognised kastom rules, rights and responsibilities
in regard to land and natural resources (Tonkinson, 1982).
We have worked in the islands of Malekula and Santo in the North, Tanna
and Aneityum in the South, to discuss whether those communities have existing
research or commercial biotrade activity that could benefit from clearly established community protocols. This has also involved discussions with the V anuatu
Government to establish the possibility of government recognition of those protocols within formal permit approvals processes under the Nagoya Protocol.
Cook Islands
Cook Islands are a group of 15 islands located in Polynesia. It is an i ndependent
state in free association with the “Realm of New Zealand”. The Polynesian
grouping includes 15 nation states such as New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti, Tonga,
Samoa and Tuvalu. Cook Islands are located about 3,500 km northeast of New
Zealand. The Maori (Cook Island Maori people) make up the majority of the
population; however, a large number of Cook Islands people reside in New
Zealand either permanently or as dual residents. Named after Captain James
Cook who landed in the islands in 1773, the islands received British missionaries
in the 1820s, became a British Protectorate in 1888 and was then annexed to
New Zealand in 1901. The islands have been independent but in “free association with New Zealand” since 1965 (Stone, 1966).
Australia
The Australian continent is composed of a plateau (with deserts and rangelands
in the northern, southern, western and central parts), and mountain ranges in
the east and southeast. The west tropics (with forests in eastern Australia) and the
southwest (in Western Australia) are recognised as two of the 35 international
global biodiversity hotspots in the world.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu is an archipelago of over 80 islands in the Melanesian Pacific. The
Melanesian grouping also includes the Nation States of Solomon Islands, Fiji and
Papua New Guinea, and the French Territory of New Caledonia. Vanuatu is
located 1,750 kilometres east of Australia, and 1,200 kilometres west of Fiji. The
Ni-Vanuatu (Indigenous peoples of Vanuatu) make up over 98% of the population.
Vanuatu is also extremely culturally and linguistically diverse with an estimated
138 languages spoken in a population of 300,000 people (Van Trease, 1987). A
series of European colonial powers visited, what was then called by C aptain James
Cook the New Hebrides in 1774, with both the United Kingdom and France
claiming ownership in the 1880s which eventually led to the “condominium”
division of control of the country between the two (Van Trease, 1987). This caused
disruptions to kastom (customary/traditional) systems of governance and law, as well
as land tenure, throughout the colonial period. Vanuatu has become independent
in 1980 and its Constitution has recognised kastom rules, rights and responsibilities
in regard to land and natural resources (Tonkinson, 1982).
We have worked in the islands of Malekula and Santo in the North, Tanna
and Aneityum in the South, to discuss whether those communities have existing
research or commercial biotrade activity that could benefit from clearly established community protocols. This has also involved discussions with the V anuatu
Government to establish the possibility of government recognition of those protocols within formal permit approvals processes under the Nagoya Protocol.
Cook Islands
Cook Islands are a group of 15 islands located in Polynesia. It is an i ndependent
state in free association with the “Realm of New Zealand”. The Polynesian
grouping includes 15 nation states such as New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti, Tonga,
Samoa and Tuvalu. Cook Islands are located about 3,500 km northeast of New
Zealand. The Maori (Cook Island Maori people) make up the majority of the
population; however, a large number of Cook Islands people reside in New
Zealand either permanently or as dual residents. Named after Captain James
Cook who landed in the islands in 1773, the islands received British missionaries
in the 1820s, became a British Protectorate in 1888 and was then annexed to
New Zealand in 1901. The islands have been independent but in “free association with New Zealand” since 1965 (Stone, 1966).
Australia
The Australian continent is composed of a plateau (with deserts and rangelands
in the northern, southern, western and central parts), and mountain ranges in
the east and southeast. The west tropics (with forests in eastern Australia) and the
southwest (in Western Australia) are recognised as two of the 35 international
global biodiversity hotspots in the world.