Japan’s traditional and fragile satoyama landscape system was developed over centuries of human life on mountainous island terrain in a monsoon climate. The carefully managed coppice woodlands on the hillsides, the villages strung along the base of the hills, and the carefully tended paddy fields of rural Japan made possible the sustainable interaction of nature and humans. Radical changes in the middle of the twentieth century led to the abandonment of satoyama landscapes which now are being rediscovered. There is a new realization that these woodlands still play a vital role in the management of the Japanese landscape and a new determination to manage them for the future. This multifaceted book explores the history, nature, biodiversity, current conservation measures, and future uses of satoyama. The information presented here will be of interest in all parts of the world where patterns of sustainable development are being sought.  

Japan s traditional and fragile satoyama landscape system was developed over centuries of human life on mountainous island terrain in a monsoon climate. The carefully managed coppice woodlands on the hillsides, the villages strung along the base of the hills, and the carefully tended paddy fields of rural Japan made possible the sustainable interaction of nature and humans. Radical changes in the middle of the twentieth century led to the abandonment of satoyama landscapes which now are being rediscovered. There is a new realization that these woodlands still play a vital role in the management of the Japanese landscape and a new determination to manage them for the future. This multifaceted book explores the history, nature, biodiversity, current conservation measures, and future uses of satoyama. The information presented here will be of interest in all parts of the world where patterns of sustainable development are being sought.

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Every four years since 1972, the Pacific Islands' best dancers and cultural practitioners gather to perform. The Festival of Pacific Arts, as this amazing event is known, is a celebration unlike any other held in Oceania. The Festival is a two-week showcase of the finest dancers, singers, carvers and other cultural masters from across the Pacific. This book, the first published about the Festival of Pacific Arts, tells the story of the 10th Festival that was held in American Samoa in mid-2008. More than 2,000 cultural practitioners traveled to Tutuila Island for the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts. Hundreds of visitors from around the world, plus thousands of resident Samoans, gathered on the shores of Pago Pago Harbor to watch performance after performance. This book is the story of that special gathering of the best of the Pacific Islands.

Seven essays and accompanying photographs about the Marshall Islands, one of the undiscovered destinations for travelers looking for unique experiences in the Pacific. The stories look at contemporary life in the Marshall Islands: handicraft arts and culture; the revival of a traditional canoe culture; the growing use of local foods on restaurant menus; some of the best deep-sea sport fishing anywhere; the strength of local churches; private and affordable "get away islands;" and portraits of islanders. The authors, both with deep experience in Oceania, share the unique charms and attractions of the little known Marshall Islands.

Xavier High School in the Federated States of Micronesia has trained many of the Western Pacific's top leaders since 1952. It has been successful, despite having few resources, when so many others have failed. This book, the first about this remarkable Jesuit boarding school, shows how dedicated priests and lay educators, along with bright young Pacific Islanders, have developed an exceptional learning community.