Issues
v15n1, 2026
Special Issue: The Present and Future of Island Cultural Diversity Guest editor Evangelia Papoutsaki SICRI / MIT-UNITEC, Auckland, New Zealand
-
Islands at the Crossroads: Biocultural Diversity, Heritage, and Sustainable Futures PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.01
islands, biocultural diversity, heritage, sustainable futures
-
Reimagining Island Culture: Beyond Ecology and Community toward New Boundary Thinking — Theory, Comparative Cases, and Future Directions PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.02AbstractKeywords
Islands have long been framed as peripheral, isolated, and vulnerable spaces. This paper argues instead that island cultures constitute central sites for rethinking human–environment relations in the twenty-first century. Drawing on six interconnected analytical lenses—biocultural diversity, islandness, social–ecological systems, commons and community resilience, archipelagic thinking, and place-based knowledge—the study synthesizes multidisciplinary scholarship and comparative regional cases from East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. The analysis demonstrates that islands are not marginal territories but relational and networked socio-ecological systems deeply embedded in global processes. At the same time, their ecological constraints and visible environmental feedback render them living laboratories of sustainability. Cases such as the Jeju haenyeo, commons-based tidal flat management in Korea, Bajau maritime practices, and Pacific navigation traditions illustrate how cultural systems evolve in dynamic dialogue with ecological conditions. The paper also identifies critical gaps in existing island studies scholarship, including regional imbalance, disciplinary fragmentation, limited engagement with power and inequality, and insufficient integration with broader theoretical debates such as the Anthropocene and the Blue Humanities. Moving beyond vulnerability-centered narratives, it calls for a decolonized, comparative, and glocal approach that recognizes islands as active producers of knowledge rather than passive recipients of global policy. By repositioning islands as nodal sites of relationality, resilience, and epistemological innovation, this study highlights their broader significance for sustainability transitions and planetary futures.
Archipelagic thinking, Biocultural diversity, Community resilience, Island culture, Place-based knowledge, Social–ecological systems
-
Cultural Diversity and Marine Biodiversity: Bridging what is already connected PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.03AbstractKeywords
Islands are disproportionate drivers of both cultural and ecological diversity. Yet, both forms of diversity face accelerating and compounding pressures and decline under the effects of globalization, climate change, and inflexible governance regimes. This paper argues that cultural diversity and marine biodiversity on islands are not merely co-located but fundamentally co-constitutive and bidirectional — each sustaining, shaping, and reinforcing the other through ‘biocultural’ feedback loops. The emphasis lies on the intrinsic linkages between cultural diversity and marine biodiversity, particularly in Pacific Island contexts. Drawing on the concept of 'biocultural diversity' and contributing to the framework of an island epistemology, the paper synthesizes coastal case studies from the South Pacific, as well as the Pacific Northwest. These cases demonstrate that Indigenous and local cultural practices — ceremonial systems, customary tenure, seasonal restrictions, and spiritual relationships with marine species and places — need to be in place, and can function as effective, adaptive marine management and stewardship systems with measurable ecological outcomes. The paper calls for a systematic literature review to examine the connections between cultural diversity and marine biodiversity from an island studies perspective, underscoring the fundamental research gap this contribution seeks to address. Together with the other papers in this special issue, this contribution centers interdependence, community resilience, and archipelagic thinking, and discusses how events such as the 2026 World Island Exhibition in Yeosu (South Korea) can amplify island voices and reshape global narratives about islands from sites of marginalization and vulnerability to sources of innovation for sustainable marine futures.
biocultural diversity, island epistemology, marine stewardship, cultural diversity, biodiversity, reef passages, clam gardens, archipelagic thinking, Indigenous and local knowledge
-
AbstractKeywords
Natural and cultural forces have changed the environment and land use of islands over time, producing multifunctional landscapes and seascapes rich in biocultural values. Most of these are biocultural islandscapes, consisting of particularly fragile ecosystems and historical artifacts that require thoughtful consideration in their management, as well as solid cooperation between public governance and local communities — something that is still lacking in many areas. Within this framework, the article aims to elucidate the concept of islandscape, i.e. the landscape of an island, and its biocultural diversity as linked to people’s perceptions and participation, and to contribute to its analysis through novel methods. Past and current research on the concept of islandscape is reviewed, definitions on the topic are advanced, global and local practices are illustrated through literature and case studies. Among these, the participatory approach adopted in Sardinia, Italy, serves to frame the concept within a European–Mediterranean context, considering ecosystem and cultural services, as well as green–blue infrastructures. The proposed methodology is grounded in a biocultural perspective and integrates active local participation and shared outcomes. While applied in the Sardinian target areas, it has broader applicability, with appropriate caveats. Data and findings have been analysed, and islandscape perception by local communities has been described. As a result, it has been argued that biocultural, transdisciplinary and collaborative approaches for resilient island cultures that combine preservation and revitalization should be pursued in the future to preserve islandscape biocultural diversity.
Islandscape and biocultural islandscapes, community participation, islandscape perception and analysis, biocultural diversity, green-blue infrastructures, Sardinian islandscapes
-
The Fuganutu Tradition Connecting Remote Islands: An oral history of 15th century drifters from Jeju to Yonaguni PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.05AbstractKeywords
This article presents an examination of oral traditions concerning drifters that have been transmitted on Yonaguni Island, which marks Japan’s southwestern-most point. This oral history, recorded in Dunan munui—one of the endangered languages designated by the United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)—comprises a text of 80,000 characters written in katakana. The text chronicles interactions and friendships with three men belonging to a group known as the Fuganutu (people from elsewhere). These individuals arrived from a region that did not correspond to Japan, mainland China, Taiwan, Lan-yu, or the West. This period preceded the incorporation of Yonaguni Island under the Ryukyu Kingdom’s domain. Collaborative research with the last woman who memorized this heritage revealed detailed correspondences with accounts in the 1479 The Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty concerning a drift from Jeju Island to Yonaguni and the survivors’ six-month stay there. After creating a 4,000-word vocabulary list, recording the narrative to build a corpus, and translating it into Japanese, we proceeded with the visualization of key scenes. A picture book authored by the narrator-drawer was published in March 2025, four months prior to her demise. This oral history included numerous life-wisdom teachings passed down through Fuganutu. These encompassed new food sources and fiber materials, cooking methods, drying preservation techniques, and forecasting weather and tidal patterns. Cultural exchange with drifters from Jeju Island significantly influenced environmental governance on Yonaguni Island. The author wished for us to help preserve the memory of an era when the island lived autonomously under female leadership and traded peacefully with places like Taiwan, ensuring that no one suffered from hunger and neglect.
Yonaguni Island, Jeju Island, oral history, the Veritable Records of Joseon Dynasty, visualization
-
Narratives of Heritage, Tourism, and Community in Amami Ōshima: Reflections on an Animate Island and the Implications of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Inscription PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.06AbstractKeywords
This article examines UNESCO World Natural Heritage designation’s multifaceted impacts on Amami Ōshima, Japan, through perspectives from conservation advocates, media practitioners, officials, tour guides, and community members. Ethnographic research in 2025 combined stakeholder interviews, an anonymous tour guide survey, participant observation, and analysis of institutional documents, media coverage, and petitions. While the 2021 UNESCO inscription increased international recognition and strengthened conservation mandates, it also intensified concerns over overtourism, cultural commodification, and governance failures.
Findings indicate an emerging consensus around a “high-value, low-impact” tourism approach, the “Amami Model”, prioritizing ecological integrity, cultural authenticity, and community agency. However, implementation faces barriers including infrastructural deficits, limited community participation in planning, and tensions across municipal, prefectural, and national authorities. Tour guides play a central interpretive and stewardship role but remain economically vulnerable, often reporting inconsistent income.
UNESCO designation thus operates as a “double-edged sword,” enabling conservation while attracting pressures that may undermine heritage values. The currently modest tourism increase offers a window to establish proactive visitor management. Sustainable outcomes require governance reforms, investment in guide infrastructure, and prioritization of long-term ecological and cultural integrity over short-term growth.
Abram’s phenomenological work on the “more-than-human” world and the animate landscape offers a theoretical lens to articulate what’s at stake in these tensions.
UNESCO World Natural Heritage, heritage governance, heritage tourism, Amami Ōshima, Japan
-
Revitalization at a Price? Intermittent Art Festivals on Peripheral Archipelagos PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.07AbstractKeywords
This study examines the role of Community-engaged Art Festival Tourism Revitalization (CAFTR) in the sustainable development of peripheral archipelagos, using Japan’s Setouchi Triennale as a primary case. While large-scale art Triennale festivals are promoted as catalysts for rural revitalization, this research critically addresses a key question: how can the intermittent cultural energy of these events be converted into long-term resilience? Drawing on ten years of mixed-methods fieldwork (2015–2025), including 128 business surveys and extensive interviews, the findings reveal a fundamental dilemma. The "intermittent festivalness" creates a precarious commercial structure that strains limited insular resources—a "socio-economic price" often overlooked in official narratives. While relational exchange satisfies the psychological needs of elderly residents, it simultaneously risks "social over-interaction" and the erosion of local autonomy, particularly where private art developers exert dominant influence. The study concludes that sustainable revitalization requires an "archipelagic perspective" that transcends temporary tourism spikes. By harnessing social entrepreneurship as a structural buffer, communities can internalize the side effects of "creative destruction" and foster endogenous resilience. This research provides a critical framework for evaluating art-based interventions in depopulated regions, shifting the focus from urban-centric growth to localized spatial justice and structural adaptability.
Intermittent Festival Tourism, Community-engaged Art Festival Tourism Revitalization (CAFTR), Peripheral Archipelagos, Social Entrepreneurship, Rural Revitalization
Research Articles
-
The La Palma Mini-Series, Mega-Tsunami Media-Lore and Island Volcano Tourism PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.08AbstractKeywords
This article analyses the potential for a so-called ‘mega-tsunami’ to be generated by volcanic eruptions on La Palma in the Canary Island archipelago. It analyses the intersection of scientific research and media representation that created the ‘media-lore’ of the mega-tsunami in the early 2000s, the scientific rebuttal and remodelling that followed and the persistence of the myth in popular media that peaked with the 2024 Netflix drama mini-series La Palma. The article identifies the series as a further recirculation of the modern myth of archipelagic disaster and considers the way that such stories become self-sustaining, affecting perceptions of islands in the process. The relationship between this accumulating discourse and the more grounded development of volcano tourism on La Palma is somewhat complex and our discussion involves consideration of the lure of geo-precarity and the manner in which official Spanish and Canarian agencies have successfully utilised interest in and publicity concerning volcanic activity on the island. The article thereby illustrates the complexities of volcanicity as a resource and intricacies of brand imaging La Palma as an appealing destination at the same time as fictional representations about it generating mega-tsunamis circulate in streaming services and on social media.
catastrophe, island volcanicity, tourism, tsunami, La Palma
-
Beyond Transmission: Heritage as Care in the Post-Transmission Condition of Korean Haenyeo PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.09AbstractKeywords
This article proposes heritage as care as a theoretical framework for understanding how cultural heritage persists under conditions of demographic aging, livelihood decline, and post-transmission precarity. While existing heritage studies have emphasized management, safeguarding, and participation, they remain limited in explaining how heritage is sustained when transmission has weakened and institutional support is insufficient. Drawing on long-term ethnographic research on ‘haenyeo’ (female divers) in island communities of South Korea, this study shifts analytical attention from heritage designation to everyday practices of endurance. It argues that haenyeo heritage survives not primarily through formal safeguarding measures, but through continuous acts of care—embodied, relational, and unevenly distributed labor largely borne by aging women. By conceptualizing heritage as care, the article foregrounds the ethical, temporal, and affective dimensions of heritage continuity that are obscured by management-oriented paradigms.
Empirically, the haenyeo case illustrates a post-transmission condition in which heritage persists beyond reproduction through sustained caregiving practices. Theoretically, the article contributes to heritage scholarship by reframing cultural heritage as a process of care rather than an object of management, and by positioning East Asian island contexts as critical sites for theory production rather than peripheral applications of Eurocentric heritage models.
Cultural heritage, Heritage as care, Intangible cultural heritage, Haenyeo, Island livelihood sustainability, post-transmission heritage
-
Carrying Capacity and Restricted Models in Marine Tourism: A Systematic Literature Review of Global Practices and Governance Implications PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.10AbstractKeywords
The rapid expansion of coastal and marine tourism has intensified ecological pressure on vulnerable marine ecosystems, highlighting the growing need for effective visitor regulation and carrying capacity management. Although Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and nature-based tourism initiatives have expanded globally, a systematic understanding of how visitor restriction frameworks are conceptualized and implemented remains limited. This study presents a systematic literature review (SLR) of 39 peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2025 that explicitly address restricted or limited-entry marine tourism. Following the PRISMA protocol, the review applies domain classification, frequency mapping, Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), and UpSet analysis to examine interactions among ecological, socio-cultural, economic, and governance dimensions. Results indicate that the vast majority of studies adopt a multidomain perspective, with Governance & Policy most frequently integrated with Ecological-Environmental approaches. Through qualitative synthesis, six recurring categories of visitor-management mechanisms are identified: spatial zoning, carrying capacity, behavioral-educational measures, governance and justice arrangements, economic incentives, and technological-adaptive systems. Spatial zoning and technological-adaptive approaches emerge as the most frequently discussed strategies, whereas quota-based and economic instruments remain comparatively underexplored. The findings reveal a persistent imbalance between ecological regulation and socio-economic integration, underscoring the need for adaptive cross domain governance frameworks that link ecological indicators with social, economic, and policy instruments.
restricted marine tourism, visitor management, carrying capacity, systematic literature review, marine protected areas, governance frameworks, adaptive management
-
Livelihood Capital Configurations and the Limits of Climate Adaptation among Elder Sama-Bajau Fishers in Wakatobi Island, Indonesia PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.11AbstractKeywords
Climate change intensifies livelihood vulnerability in small-island fishing communities, where environmental uncertainty intersects with economic marginality and demographic aging. This study examines how different configurations of livelihood capital shape climate adaptation among elder Sama-Bajau fishers in Wakatobi, Indonesia. Drawing on qualitative interviews and field observations and guided by the Sustainable Livelihood Approach, the analysis explores how human, social, financial, physical, and natural capital interact to influence adaptive capacity. The findings reveal that adaptation is organized around a portfolio of incremental, risk-management practices spanning household resource management, fishing diversification, asset maintenance, and operational preparedness. Human capital, particularly Traditional Ecological Knowledge, serves as the central coordinating resource, while strong social networks support collective risk-sharing. However, limited financial capital, aging-related physical constraints, and restricted institutional access constrain the convertibility of assets and prevent movement toward transformative adaptation. Adaptation thus remains continuity-oriented and bounded within a narrow adaptive space. By analyzing how livelihood capitals interact under conditions of aging, the study contributes to climate adaptation scholarship by demonstrating that resilience can coexist with structural limitations in small-island maritime contexts.
climate change adaptation, elder fishers, Sama-Bajau, small island communities, traditional ecological knowledge, Wakatobi
-
Institutionalizing Benefit-Sharing in an Island Energy Transition: The Case of Shinan County, South Korea PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.12AbstractKeywords
This study examines the legitimacy and institutional sustainability of Shinan County’s renewable energy benefit-sharing system in South Korea from the perspective of a just transition. Moving beyond viewing benefit-sharing as a mere compensatory or distributive policy, the study conceptualizes it as a rule-constituted governance mechanism grounded in commons-based resource use. By integrating institutional analysis with the three core dimensions of justice—distributive, procedural, and recognition justice—this research analyzes how ordinance-based rules, participation structures, and perceptions of fairness interact to shape policy sustainability and scalability. Using qualitative document analysis and secondary synthesis of empirical studies, the paper demonstrates that procedural justice exerts a stronger influence on resident satisfaction than the scale of monetary distribution. Recognition justice and locational conditions further mediate perceptions of legitimacy, particularly in geographically constrained island contexts. While Shinan’s distance-based differentiated compensation and resident participation model institutionalize distributive rationality, they may also generate boundary and equity debates if perceived as legitimizing devices rather than as substantively fair arrangements. The findings suggest that long-term sustainability depends less on financial magnitude than on participatory architecture, governance transparency, and capacity-building infrastructures. The study contributes to island studies and energy transition scholarship by proposing an integrated analytical framework for evaluating community-based benefit-sharing systems in vulnerable regions.
Renewable energy, Benefit-sharing, Just transition, Commons governance, Procedural justice, Island regions, Community participation
-
Navigating Livelihoods through Traditional Entrepreneurship: Survival Strategies of the Bajo Migrant Community in the Wuring Settlement, Flores, Indonesia PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.13AbstractKeywords
This study examines traditional entrepreneurship among the Bajo migrant community in the coastal settlement of Wuring, Flores, conceptualizing it as an economic practice generated and shaped by a distinct maritime cultural environment. Rather than being understood solely as market-oriented activity, Bajo entrepreneurship emerges from historically embedded relations between people, the sea, and socio-spiritual values. Employing a qualitative ethnographic approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 25 purposively selected key informants, three months of participatory observation, and visual documentation of coastal livelihoods. Thematic analysis reveals that entrepreneurial practices are structured by local ecological knowledge, seasonally adaptive livelihood strategies, and family-based divisions of labor rooted in maritime life. These practices are further sustained by communal norms emphasizing solidarity, moral responsibility, and ecological stewardship in the use of marine resources. Livelihood resilience is achieved through diversified maritime enterprises, inter-ethnic social networks, and the intergenerational transmission of seafaring and ecological knowledge. This study contributes to community-based entrepreneurship scholarship by demonstrating how culturally grounded maritime economies provide alternative models for sustainable and equitable coastal development.
traditional entrepreneurship, Bajo community, livelihood resilience, local ecological knowledge, community-based economy, coastal adaptation
-
Assessing Livelihood Vulnerability and Socioeconomic Impact of Climate Change on Women Fish Processors in Depok Beach, Parangtritis Village, Southern Coast of Yogyakarta PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.14AbstractKeywords
Women fish processors in Depok Beach, Parangtritis village, on the southern coast of Yogyakarta, rely heavily on fisheries as their primary and often sole source of income. Most earn less than Rp 2 million per month, which is below the regional minimum wage, underscoring their economic dependency on fisheries and their heightened vulnerability to livelihood shocks. This study assesses the potential livelihood vulnerability of these groups to climate change-related livelihood impacts, focusing on exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. It also examines their socioeconomic conditions and the specific challenges they face within the fish processing sector. The widely recognized Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) model was adapted by adding and modifying subcomponents tailored to the specific study area. Data collection was conducted through a household census along Depok Beach. A total of 75 samples were selected for this study. The findings indicated that women fish processors along the south coast of Yogyakarta were classified as vulnerable (0.52) and evaluated by LVI-IPCC as moderately vulnerable (-0.001). The elevated vulnerability stems from socioeconomic factors, including heightened reliance on fisheries, rising production costs, and fluctuations in climate conditions. However, socioeconomic exposure affects adaptive capacity. The primary factor affecting the sensitivity was the type of food. Despite the elevated vulnerability level, the women fish processors demonstrated remarkable resilience, which can be attributed to their significant capacity for learning. This study has the potential to assist the government in making informed decisions to improve the adaptive capacity of female fish processors in response to climate change.
Climate change, livelihood, resiliency, vulnerability, women fish processors
-
Safeguarding Shores, Strengthening Livelihoods: An Empirically Grounded Theory of Change for Sustainable Coastal Livelihoods in Luna, La Union, Philippines PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.15AbstractKeywords
This study examines how shoreline gravel extraction in Luna, La Union, Philippines, is shaped by the interaction between household livelihood dependence and coastal erosion risks. Prolonged manual extraction has altered shoreline dynamics while providing immediate income for coastal households. Using a qualitative approach, the study draws on semi-structured interviews with coastal residents and institutional stakeholders, supported by field observations, document analysis, and triangulated estimates of shoreline change and extraction activity. Reflexive thematic analysis identifies four interrelated drivers sustaining extraction: immediate income needs; resilience constraints associated with poverty, limited education, and exposure to hazards; financial insecurity and limited market access; and weak governance combined with low ecosystem awareness. Existing interventions have not produced sustained livelihood transitions because they fail to address these constraints in combination. In response, the study develops the Sustainable Alternative Livelihoods Framework (SALF), an empirically grounded Theory-of-Change model that establishes an evidence-based linkage between coordinated institutional and economic conditions and livelihood diversification. While grounded in Luna, the framework is analytically applicable to small-island and coastal municipalities facing similar social–ecological constraints.
coastal livelihoods, gravel extraction, social–ecological systems, Theory of Change, coastal governance, coastal sustainability
-
From Codification to Conservation: Community-Led Strategies for Revitalizing the Enggano Island Endangered Language and Biocultural Diversity PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.16AbstractKeywords
The Enggano language, spoken by a minority ethnic group on a remote island off the coast of Sumatra, has drawn attention from various stakeholders, including the Indonesian government and both national and international scholars. Numerous studies have been conducted in an effort to preserve the language. The government has officially categorized Enggano as an endangered language and, through its language institutions, has launched initiatives for revitalization—such as integrating the language into school curricula and developing language policies. Scholars, both domestic and foreign, have also produced linguistic learning materials, including dictionaries, as part of these preservation efforts. However, such initiatives have largely fallen short. The number of Enggano speakers continues to decline. A key reason for this failure appears to be the minimal involvement of local communities in the knowledge production processes surrounding language preservation. Local residents are often treated merely as data sources rather than active participants in revitalization. From the community’s perspective, preservation efforts have functioned more as bureaucratic exercises than as genuine attempts to safeguard the language. This article aims to foreground local voices in the conversation on Enggano language preservation. The preservation of language impacts the biocultural diversity sustainability. It also highlights the importance of their creative, micro-level initiatives as essential components of the preservation process itself. Using the vignette method, this article critically examines the linguistic expressions of informants.
Enggano, island, preservation, endangered, language
-
Citizen Science for Marine Mammal Conservation: A Case Study of Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri) Monitoring in Hallyeo Marine National Park PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.17AbstractKeywords
This study is an examination of the multifaceted role of citizen science in endangered marine mammal conservation and environmental education, focusing on monitoring activities for the finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri) in Hallyeo Marine National Park, South Korea. Drawing on in-depth interviews, participant observation, and media content analysis, the experiences of three citizen scientists and one program coordinator were explored. The findings indicate that participation was initially motivated by personal curiosity, nature-based experiences, and emotional ties to the local community but evolved into sustained conservation practices and educational outreach. Citizen scientists systematically documented individual porpoises, behavioral patterns, and environmental conditions, generating scientifically valuable data that bridged the gap between expert and public knowledge. Their engagement also fostered heightened environmental awareness and an emotional connection to marine life, prompting tangible actions such as marine debris removal and pollution reporting. Moreover, citizen-led initiatives have expanded into public exhibitions, ecotourism programs, and community-led ecological monitoring, exemplifying how grassroots participation can inform local ecological governance. Overall, this study highlights citizen science as a dynamic platform for experiential and social learning with significant implications for marine conservation and environmental education.
Citizen Science, Community Engagement, Environmental Education, Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri), Marine Conservation
-
Macroplastic Accumulation in Coastal Communities of Iligan Bay, Philippines: A Reflection of the Municipal Solid Waste Management PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.18AbstractKeywords
Marine plastic pollution has become a growing environmental concern, particularly in coastal regions where plastic waste directly threatens marine ecosystems and the socio-economic conditions of coastal communities. Despite this, limited studies have focused on macroplastic litter in the coastal areas of Southern Philippines, particularly the factors contributing to its accumulation, such as local waste management practices and community behaviors. This study assessed the prevalence, types, and density of macroplastics in three coastal municipalities along Iligan Bay: Naawan, Manticao, and Lugait. Results showed that macroplastic litter was abundant in all sites, with Lugait recording the highest density (1.04/m²), followed by Naawan (0.83/m²), and Manticao (0.80/m²). The most common waste items were food packaging (25%), plastic bottles (22%), and plastic bags (17%), resulting in Multilayers (30%), PET (25%), and PP (20%) as the most prevalent polymer types. Clean-coast-index (CCI) classified Lugait as an extremely dirty coast, while Naawan and Manticao were classified as dirty. The focus group discussion revealed that poor waste management and residents' disposal practices can be attributed to the abundance of macroplastics. Overall, this study highlights the critical need for targeted interventions by Local Government Units to improve waste management and mitigate macroplastic accumulation in Iligan Bay.
clean-coast-index, macroplastics, solid waste management, focus group discussion, Iligan Bay
-
Efficiency Matrix Framework Enhancement of Waste Management System in Small Island Developing States: Case Study in Kepulauan Seribu, Indonesia PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.19AbstractKeywords
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face persistent waste management challenges arising from geographic fragmentation, limited infrastructure, and tourism pressures. This study develops an integrated assessment framework combining the Efficiency Matrix and Distance-to-Target (DTT) methodology to support evidence-based prioritization across 11 inhabited islands in Kepulauan Seribu, Indonesia. Analysis of 2024 monthly data (mean DTT = 101.42 ± 19.74) identified three statistically distinct performance tiers (Kruskal–Wallis H = 8.65, p = 0.0132, η² = 0.74): High Priority islands requiring major investment, Medium Priority systems suitable for optimization, and Stable islands serving as best-practice models. Time-series decomposition indicated that seasonal variation accounted for 43.29% of performance fluctuation. Integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge through fisheries cooperatives, women-led waste banks, and community-based practices enhanced resilience and operational efficiency. The findings highlight that differentiated, context-specific interventions outperform uniform approaches, achieving greater cost-effectiveness and cultural legitimacy. This framework offers a replicable tool for adaptive waste governance, supporting strategic resource allocation and sustainable development in resource-constrained archipelagic contexts.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Waste management performance, Efficiency matrix framework, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), Distance-to-Target (DTT)
-
Bibliographic Analysis of Mangrove Conservation in Southeast Asia: Insights, Trends and Future Direction PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.20AbstractKeywords
The mangrove ecosystems in Southeast Asia are essential for biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and coastal protection. However, these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by escalating anthropogenic pressures. This study aims to identify research trends, challenges and collaboration patterns in mangrove conservation in Southeast Asia via bibliometric techniques. A total of 572 peer-reviewed papers from 1982 to 2024 were evaluated using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny (R) to discern publication trends, co-authorship networks, theme developments, and citation impact. The result indicates a significant increase in mangrove studies, particularly post-2010. Indonesia leads in publication volume, whereas Singapore and the USA demonstrate higher citation impact and international collaboration. Prominent emergent themes encompass blue carbon, restoration, governance, and ecological services. Thematic evolution indicates a transition from ecological research to transdisciplinary and policy-oriented investigations. To enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of the mangrove conservation efforts, the future research should prioritize integrated approaches, boost international collaboration, and adopt advanced spatial technology for the monitoring and management of mangroves to enhance sustainability.
mangrove conservation, Southeast Asia, bibliometric assessment, blue carbon, ecosystem services
-
Bridged or Isolated? Life Satisfaction and Industrial Perceptions in Connected vs. Unconnected Islands: Regional Revitalization Implications PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.21AbstractKeywords
This study examines how fixed-link connections influence island residents’ life satisfaction and perceptions of preferred future industries in Shinan County, Jeollanam-do, South Korea. Based on a survey of 344 residents from connected and unconnected islands, the study compares overall life satisfaction, satisfaction with health-care services and cultural life, and preferred future industries. The results show statistically significant differences in overall life satisfaction and health-care service satisfaction by fixed-link status, while cultural life satisfaction shows only marginal significance at the 10 percent level. Preferred future industries also differ significantly by fixed-link status. However, both groups commonly show high preferences for accommodation and food services and tourism and leisure services. These findings suggest that fixed-link status is an important structural factor shaping island residents’ quality of life and perceptions of preferred future industries, but its effects are selective and complex rather than uniform. The study concludes that island policy should move beyond one-dimensional assumptions about fixed-link effects and adopt differentiated strategies that reflect the specific characteristics of connected and unconnected islands.
island connectivity, fixed-link infrastructure, regional revitalization, rural development, infrastructure-led growth, infrastructure impact, resident perceptions, industrial diversification, accessibility effects
-
Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in Marine and Island Social-Ecological Systems: A PRISMA-Guided SLR 2014–2024 PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.22AbstractKeywords
Understanding the interactions between human and natural systems is crucial for building sustainable futures in marine and island social-ecological systems, especially in response to ecological crises such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) provide a pathway to strengthen and complement existing protected areas, acknowledging that conservation can occur in areas managed by Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Local Communities (LCs), and private-sector actors. This study aims to provide a systematic synthesis of the evolution of studies on Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in marine and island social-ecological systems between 2014 and June 2024 through a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-guided systematic literature review of Scopus-indexed, English-language journal articles structured by the Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) framework and complemented by bibliometric analysis. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines for study identification, screening, and inclusion and was applied to Scopus-indexed articles, identifying 162 eligible publications, of which 20 papers on OECMs were selected for qualitative synthesis. These 20 papers comprise conceptual or policy-framing articles, guidance and criteria-setting documents, and case studies situated within, or linked to, the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Aichi Target 11, SDG 14.5, and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) target 3 (30×30). Governance, rights, and social safeguards emerged as the most frequently discussed theme, alongside conceptualization and relationships to protected areas, marine, coastal, and island applications, and contributions to global conservation targets. Taken together, the evidence suggests that effective OECMs in marine and island social-ecological systems function as complementary governance configurations that integrate biodiversity outcomes, equity, and context-specific seascapes rather than serving as additional polygons for meeting coverage targets.
OECMs, Marine and island, Biodiversity conservation, Governance and rights, PRISMA
-
Local reuse of damaged fishing nets as a preventive strategy against ghost gear formation and cetacean entanglement in central Ecuador PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.23AbstractKeywords
Entanglement in abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear represents a significant threat to cetaceans worldwide, particularly in coastal regions dominated by artisanal fisheries. Preventive strategies that reduce the availability of damaged fishing gear before it enters the marine environment remain limited, especially in small-scale coastal communities. This study documents and analyzes a locally developed practice in Puerto Cayo, central Ecuador, consisting of the direct reuse of damaged nylon fishing nets as reinforcement material in cement-based plastering for bamboo wall structures. The nets, primarily monofilament nylon commonly used in artisanal fisheries, retain sufficient structural integrity to substitute conventional metallic mesh used in bamboo-based construction. Based on direct field observations, this practice is described as a low-cost, accessible, and context-specific solution that extends the functional lifespan of fishing nets on land. From a marine conservation perspective, this reuse reduces the likelihood that damaged nets become ghost gear, thereby indirectly lowering the risk of cetacean entanglement in adjacent coastal waters used seasonally by multiple species, including humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). This practice is further interpreted within a biocultural framework, where local ecological knowledge, material reuse, and livelihood strategies intersect to produce adaptive, community-based responses to environmental challenges. Although no quantitative assessment of mechanical performance was conducted, this study highlights the potential of locally grounded preventive approaches to contribute to marine conservation, circular economy practices, and the recognition of community knowledge in data-poor contexts.
Artisanal fisheries, bamboo construction, cetacean entanglement, biocultural systems, community-based conservation, fishing net reuse
-
Anthropocene Era, Comparative Studies on Island Biocultural Diversity and Island Biocultural Landscape PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.24AbstractKeywords
This study explores the link between island biocultural diversity and biocultural landscapes within the context of the Anthropocene. It offers a conceptual framework for understanding sustainability transitions in island regions. Moving beyond traditional island studies that view islands mainly as peripheral and vulnerable, this paper suggests that islands should be seen as strategic social–ecological spaces where changes in human–nature relationships are most evident. Through a comparative and critical review, the study combines interdisciplinary discussions on biocultural diversity, landscapes, resilience, and sustainability, with a focus on East Asian islands. The findings indicate that biocultural diversity is more than just the coexistence of biological and cultural elements; it is a historically developed adaptive system where species, knowledge, livelihoods, social norms, and institutions are closely connected. This diversity is expressed in landscapes, and biocultural landscapes serve not as static heritage but as dynamic systems that sustain ecological functions, community identity, and cultural practices. The paper further emphasizes that the multifunctionality and diversity of these landscapes enhance social–ecological resilience, while the loss of biocultural diversity causes landscape simplification, lowers adaptive capacity, and increases vulnerability. The study concludes that island biocultural landscapes should be viewed not as relics of the past but as vital assets for advancing sustainability during the Anthropocene.
Anthropocene transition, island biocultural diversity, biocultural landscape, social–ecological resilience, sustainability transition, East Asian islands
-
A Closer Look at the Ulot Watershed in Samar Island Natural Park (SINP): Physical Characteristics and Anthropogenic Impacts PDF 10.21463/jmic.2026.15.1.25AbstractKeywords
The Ulot Watershed, situated in Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) Philippines, yields critical ecosystem services to the communities surrounding it. This study assessed the physical characteristics, natural landscapes, anthropogenic features and political boundaries of Ulot Watershed which prove crucial to the overall functionality of the watershed. Covering approximately 87,986 hectares, the watershed bounded by the municipalities of San Jose de Buan, Maslog and Dolores in the north, by Hinabangan and Taft in the south, by Can-avid in the east, and by San Jorge in the west, features a diverse range of physical characteristics, including significant elevation gradients (0 to 798.04 meters) and a complex hydrological network with a total stream length of 2,611 km. The analysis of slope distribution reveals a predominance of steep terrains, necessitating effective land management strategies to mitigate erosion risks. Rainfall data over 21 years indicates a moderately wet climate, influencing water availability and vegetation dynamics. Despite its ecological significance, the watershed faces pressures from anthropogenic activities of around 12,600 people, notably unsustainable farming practices and deforestation, leading to biodiversity loss and compromised water quality. This study underscores the urgent need for integrated conservation and management strategies to safeguard the Ulot Watershed’s natural landscapes and ecological integrity, ensuring it continues to provide essential ecosystem services to local communities.
Samar Island, watershed conservation, GIS, Ulot watershed, watershed characterization