Indigenous cultures care for nearly one-quarter of the earth’s terrestrial surface, but face challenges ranging from natural disasters, to environmental degradation, to loss of cultures and languages. Vanuatu, a biodiversity and language hotspot, is one of the few remaining countries on earth that maintains strong customary stewardship of its biodiversity resources and nature-dependent culture. These volumes are the fruit of a decade of field studies and strong partnerships with governmental agencies, communities and international participants in Tafea Province, Vanuatu, a project known locally as Ol Plant, Pipol, mo Kalja blong Tafea. They contain the scientific names, local language names and/or uses of 852 plants, based on nearly 4,000 interviews involving over 200 local experts carried out from 2013-2024. The project team worked to document and conserve biodiversity, preserve cultural knowledge, practices and languages in order to enhance traditional livelihoods, support social and environmental resilience, contribute to a sustainable, regenerative lifestyle, and serve local communities. We hope this work serves as a foundation for continued studies of this very special nation and its remarkable people.

The entries from this book also appear in our free digital dictionary app Lingua Nabanga

Click to download the Volume 1

Click to download the Volume 2