Sustainable development at the policy-practice nexus: insights from south West Bay, Malakula Island, Vanuatu

ABSTRACT

The attainment of sustainable development in many contexts remains challenging. In rural/peripheral parts of many developing countries, the situation is exacerbated by globalization. Using an example from Vanuatu (South West Bay, Malakula Island), this study explains how Government policy around sustainable development is disseminated and the impacts it has on practice. In the study area, there is little direct knowledge of policy although it is often well aligned with traditional (kastom) practice. Three case studies illustrate the policy-practice nexus here. The sengtau system ensures all clan members benefit from the use of clan lands, a system currently threatened by a shift from subsistence agriculture to cash cropping. A hybrid land-lease system involves leasing part of clan lands for commercial kava production, a situation concerning some who see it as a betrayal of customary practice. The use of taboo/closure of fishing grounds to allow regeneration of seafood capacity appears driven by dietary change and cash availability. While such traditions are rooted in cultural practice, the inroads made by globalization and the market economy pose threats to their sustainability. This shows the importance of having national policy guide on-ground practice alongside support for subsistence agriculture and associated social safety nets.

KEYWORDS:

• Sustainable development
• Pacific Island countries
• Vanuatu
• policy
• practice
• subsistence
• cash crops
• climate change
• markets
• agriculture

Acknowledgments

The cooperation and hospitality of people throughout South West Bay is gratefully acknowledged. JR was funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and by the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Nakamal is a Bislama word used properly to denote clan but also today often employed colloquially as a term for a kava bar. Kastom is the Bislama term for the Ni-Vanuatu way of doing things and is a commonly-used referend for a range of traditional (customary) practices.

2. The Constitution states that “All land in the Republic of Vanuatu belongs to the indigenous custom owners and their descendants” and that kastom rules govern land ownership and usage.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) [JR4002].