Biocultural Restoration for Community Food Security

Overview

Biocultural restoration in agriculture is an approach that integrates ecological restoration with the revitalization of cultural practices and relationships to the land. It is based on the concept that humans and nature are intimately linked, and that each can have a positive impact on the health of the other. From this lens, appropriate agricultural management not only procures food and resources, but also supports environmental and social outcomes. In Hawaiʻi, efforts have supported cultural revitalization, language preservation, health outcomes, spiritual and emotional well-being, landscape preservation, community bonding, and educational opportunities.

Past Projects

Biocultural Restoration in Hawai’i Special Issue

Highlights the publication of the largest collection of scientific papers by Native Hawaiians, focusing on biocultural restoration in Hawai‘i. This interdisciplinary work, involving nearly 100 authors, showcases Hawai‘i’s leadership in integrating cultural and ecological restoration practices, emphasizing the role of Native Hawaiian and female authors.

manoa

Breadfruit Agroforestry

Examines how cultivating breadfruit can address key sustainability challenges in Hawai‘i, including food security, environmental degradation, and public health. The study also highlights the potential of breadfruit to offer holistic benefits, emphasizing its role in enhancing both ecological and cultural resilience in Hawai‘i.

Agroecology of pre-contact Hawaiian dryland farming: the spatial extent, yield and social impact of Hawaiian breadfruit groves in Kona, Hawaiʻi

Analyzes the role of breadfruit plantations in the Kona region of Hawai‘i, highlighting their contribution to pre-contact Hawaiian agriculture. The authors model the extent, yield, and social impact of these agroforestry systems, estimating that breadfruit plantations produced a significant caloric surplus that supported socio-political developments. The study underscores the importance of understanding agricultural variability and its influence on the region's historical trajectory.



Related Publications

Lincoln, N. K., Rossen, J., Vitousek, P., Kahoonei, J., Shapiro, D., Kalawe, K., ... & Meheula, K. (2018). Restoration of ‘āina malo ‘o on Hawai ‘i Island: Expanding Biocultural Relationships. Sustainability, 10(11), 3985.


Langston, B. J., & Lincoln, N. K. (2018). The role of breadfruit in biocultural restoration and sustainability in Hawai ‘i. Sustainability, 10(11), 3965.

Kagawa-Viviani, A., Levin, P., Johnston, E., Ooka, J., Baker, J., Kantar, M., & Lincoln, N. K. (2018). I Ke Ēwe ʻĀina o Ke Kupuna: Hawaiian ancestral crops in perspective. Sustainability, 10(12), 4607.


Lee, T., & Lincoln, N. (2023). Forgotten forests: expanding potential land use in traditional Hawaiian agroecosystems, and the social-ecological implications. Ecology and Society, 28(4).


Winter, K. B., Lincoln, N. K., Berkes, F., Alegado, R. A., Kurashima, N., Frank, K. L., ... & Toonen, R. J. (2020). Ecomimicry in Indigenous resource management: Optimizing ecosystem services to achieve resource abundance, with examples from Hawaii.


Lincoln, N. K., Lee, T. M., Quintus, S., Haensel, T. P., & Chen, Q. (2023). Agroforestry Distribution and Contributions in Ancient Hawaiian Agriculture. Human Ecology, 51(6), 1113-1125.


Lincoln, N. K., Haensel, T. P., & Lee, T. M. (2023). Modeling Hawaiian Agroecology: Depicting traditional adaptation to the world's most diverse environment. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, 1116929.


Lincoln, N. K. (2020). Agroforestry form and ecological adaptation in ancient Hawai'i: extent of the pākukui swidden system of Hāmākua, Hawai'i Island. Agricultural Systems, 181, 102808.


Winter, K., Lincoln, N., Berkes, F., Alegado, R., Kurashima, N., Frank, K., ... & McClatchey, W. (2020). Ecomimicry in Indigenous resource management: optimizing ecosystem services to achieve resource abundance, with examples from Hawaiʻi. Ecology and Society, 25(2).


Mathews, L. (2023). Developing a Custom Agriculture System with a Focus on Fostering Community and Preserving Culture.