The Pacific Islands: Environment and Society

The exploration and settlement of the Pacific Island world is one of the most remarkable achievements of humanity.Early seafarers, skilled in navigation, discovered diverse habitats and biotas extending across a third of the globe.In this "sea of islands," they established thriving communities where they lived for thousands of years.Today, although island ecosystems and cultures are facing great change, Pacific Island peoples remain resilient. This new edition of a popular text reviews the diverse landforms, climates, ecosystems, societies, and cultures of the Pacific region.Seventy-five contributors-including numerous Indigenous scholars-address two key themes: (1) environmental dilemmas and possibilities, and (2) demographic, economic, and political challenges facing the people of the region. New chapters highlight hydrology, ecosystem disturbance, conservation, Indigenous origins and activism, social media, ethnography, kava, contemporary dance, theater, and the cultural impact of g