Islands face one of the most pressing issues of our time: how to balance ecological integrity with economic development and collective quality of life, including the need for social and conservation space.

1 Introduction: On Island Futures.-2 The Futurability of Islands: A Japanese Reflection on the Harmonious Coexistence of Nature and Humankind.-3 Between International Law, Kastom and Sustainable Development: Cultural Heritage in Vanuatu.-4 Ensuring the Viability of Cultural Heritage: The Role of International Heritage Law for Pacific Island States.-5 A Fresh Consideration of Development Strategies for Smaller Island States and Territories.-6 Linking Livelihoods and Conservation: Challenges Facing the Galapagos Islands.-7 Managing Environmental Diversity for Sustainable Human Communities: Lessons from East Maui, Hawai‘i, USA.-8 Linking Conservation of Biodiversity and Community Livelihood in Komodo National Park, Indonesia.-9 Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors Among Jeju Islanders, South Korea.-10 Changing Coastal Commons in a Sub-Tropical Island Ecosystem, Yaeyama Islands, Japan.-11 A Future for Tradition: Cultural Preservation and Transmission on Taketomi Island, Okinawa, Japan.-12 Environmental Management in Tasmania: Better Off Dead?.-13 An Island Saved, At Least for Some Time? The Advent of Tourism to Rennell, Solomon Islands.-Index

Islands face one of the most pressing issues of our time: how to balance ecological integrity with economic development and collective quality of life, including the need for social and conservation space. Islands are sites of rich and varied human and ecological diversity, but they are also often characterized by narrow resource bases and dependency on links to the outside world, and by their limited ability to determine the actual character of those links. This volume reviews the challenges of island development and conservation in the Asia-Pacific region. With emphasis on nature reserves and UNESCO World Heritage sites, chapters describe the benefits, barriers, and potential pitfalls in preserving such sites, managing biota, and attracting and controlling tourism. The book also provides a provocative challenge to move beyond the typical concerns of “sustainability” to the more holistic concept of “futurability”, or “future potential” for convivial human–environmental interactions.

From the reviews:“The book highlights the interplay of conservation and development in or associated with island biosphere reserves across the Asia-Pacific Region. … For those who teach, this slim volume could be very valuable throughout a whole semester to invoke a broad range of … viewpoints and methods related to island studies and environmental sciences. … This is a volume that demands to be savoured for its gigantic scope as well as its grounded practicality derived from the local examples cited, making it well worth the read.” (Kathleen Stuart, Island Studies Journal, Vol. 7 (1), 2012)“This is the first volume in the Global Environmental Studies Book series under the aegis of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Kyoto, Japan. … A focus on islands in the Asia-Pacific region highlights both the specific nature of these ecosystems and commonalities with large continental settings. … the book should appeal to those who wish to learn more about the challenges and opportunities of development and conservation in the region.” (Frank R. Thomas, Asia Pacific Viewpoint, Vol. 53 (2), August, 2012)

An “island studies” approach with a fresh perspective on cultural and natural management issues A unique collection of critical scholarship from the Asia–Pacific region Futurability” as a holistic alternative to “sustainability” Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras