Adaptations to Thrive in Island

Ecosystems

Island Preservation Center

Presented by Tim Haigh

(Conger, 2012)
Table of Contents
Issues for Human Life on Islands 2

Human Culture on Islands 2

Evolution of Practices and Traditions 2

Challenges in Environment 3

How Islanders can Adapt to Overcome Vulnerabilities 3

Island Trade Economies 4

Effects of Island Globalization 5

Conclusion 5

References 6

1
Issues for Human Life on Islands
Early development of culture on islands formed through traditions specific to each island. The
separation from other people groups lead to stronger communities on islands (Royle 51).
Islanders often worked together to overcome challenges caused by their environment.

Human Culture on Islands

The isolation of islands keeps the culture from changing frequently. There is low immigration,
low ethnic diversity, and low political influence (Pungetti). Because of this, islanders maintain
the traditions of their ancestors throughout generations. Many cultures on islands are adaptations
of the culture of the people group. Islanders would bring traditions from their original countries
and territories, leading to a diverse set of cultures on different islands. Statues, such as those in
the image below, leave evidence of different practices of early islanders. Islanders sometimes use
their culture to cope together when dealing with their isolation and difficulty in the environment
(Royle 69).

Figure 1. Ancient statues built by early humans on islands (Davenport, 2018).

Evolution of Practices and Traditions

Islands often contain unique languages and styles of writing that are derived from their original
country. The isolation of islanders causes their traditions to be maintained throughout
generations, as they have little influence from other cultures (Pungetti). Some influence of other
cultures introduces itself into the islands through the limited connection they have to stronger
countries. The most common form of connection to other countries is through financial aid to
protect their livelihood and development (Royle 72).

2
Different islands are known for the myths that developed around them and their structures. These
myths were often reflections of the origin of the island (Royle 65). The myths attempt to explain
the geographic origins of the island, including shores, rock formations, volcanoes, and weather
patterns. For islanders, the stories and myths told brings them together culturally. While many
aspects of island culture are derived from their origin countries, these myths are original to the
people group that make up the island. Many outsiders to these islands are attracted to the
structures and figures that the islanders created years ago.

Challenges in Environment
The largest challenge in developing human society on islands is the scarcity of resources.
Inhabitants often choose to specialize in one resource or generalize by producing a variety of
resources at a smaller scale (Royle 41). However, specialization is not a sustainable strategy for
an island if there is no option to trade with surrounding territories. Also, islands do not have the
economies of scale to trade for good profits. Islands are still required to trade because they need
access to the resources that they cannot find on the island.

Another issue that islanders encounter is their small size. This prevents humans from spreading
out, which may lead to crowded living conditions (Boto; Biasca 8). This also ties into the
resource scarcity, as the resources will be spread thin across the islanders. As the sea level slowly
rises, the islands are losing available land for islanders to live on and use. The flooding forces
them to move central to islands, creating more dense areas. The image below shows the ocean
moving up into the island, which slowly increases flooding.

Figure 2. Coast moving on islands, reducing land (Swarzenski, 2017).

How Islanders Can Adapt to Overcome Vulnerabilities

Island Trade Economies
3
As most islands are surrounded by ocean water, the inhabitants have access to resources that are
favorable to land-locked countries. This provides an opportunity for international trade, between
continents and other islands. Some growing economic sectors on islands include agriculture,
fisheries, and sustainable energy (Boto; Biasca 18-19). Exports of these resources are crucial for
islands to make profits, as they are forced to import many resources because of their resource
vulnerabilities. As the picture in the figure below shows, some of the land on islands is converted
to ports specifically for trade.

Figure 3. Trade port on an island (Kramer, 2021).

Recently, tourism grew to be a large part of island economies. In the case of Mallorca, 85% of
the island’s GDP sources from tourism (Royle 165). Islands are a common vacation spot due to
their secluded location and access to beaches. One challenge raised by tourism is that of the loss
of traditional culture. Part of what makes island cultures unique is their ability to preserve the
culture of their ancestors (Pungetti). However, the tradeoff of overcoming resource scarcity and
vulnerabilities is often beneficial for the islanders.

Global Involvement of Islands

Islands can be formally recognized by their classification as Small Island Developing States,
which is abbreviated as SIDS. They are classified as islands that face social, economic, and
environmental issues because of their location and size (Boto; Biasca 6). By this recognition, the
islands are able to receive help from the rest of society, specifically through the United Nations.
With the exception of tourism, it is not common for many people to migrate between countries
and islands. This means that the islands have limited influence from outside of their own people,
leading to little political influence.

Without high populations and strong economies, islands face the issue of competing in the global
market. SIDS are not able to export resources at low prices due to transportation costs and

4
production costs (Boto; Biasca 10). Nearby countries with larger economies have tried to assist
SIDS by using foreign aid to support the islands and by introducing taxes on imports to their
countries (Boto; Biasca 11). The involvement of larger countries helps the islands manage their
geographic and economic limitations so that the people living there can thrive.

Effects of Island Globalization

Islands began to lose the high level of isolation that they traditionally kept with the introduction
of accessible water and air travel. Many tourists are attracted to islands, as they typically receive
labels referring to them as a form of paradise (Royle 154). Some examples of a tourist island are
the larger islands of the Caribbean and the Mediterranean islands, which strongly associate with
tourists and vacation resorts.

Occasionally, islands are used to performed experiments or conduct research. One example of
these experiments tested how a Utopian society would be organized on an island (Royle 92). The
idea stems from the way that islanders live communally due to their circumstances. This
provides evidence of islanders finding success when dealing with the challenges described, as
they are willing to create an identity for their people that allows them to work well with each
other.

Ultimately, the people living on islands should be helped by those in countries that are better
protected from their environments because they have the capital resources to make a difference.
The islanders who are struggling to adapt to modern society should not be punished for their lack
of economy or resources. They sacrifice some of their traditional practices and isolated
communities to overcome natural vulnerabilities and should be aided in their efforts.

Conclusion
Islands face with geographic isolation and resource scarcity that bring challenges for human
development. However, the cooperation between islanders and the development of culture and
traditions lead to success in this environment. Human life on islands is unique from the rest of
the world, as they create original traditions, styles, and languages that derive from their original
ethnicities. Islanders have adapted well to the modern economy and succeed in trading and
tourism. Modern islanders have sacrificed part of their isolation in favor of tourism and foreign
aid. The development of islanders in scarce and isolated societies demonstrates a strong
endurance and care for people in need.

5
References
Boto, Isolina, and Biasca, Ronalee. “Small Island Economies: Vulnerabilities and
Opportunities.” Brussels Briefings, 4 Apr. 2012,
https://brusselsbriefings.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/

reader-br-27-small-island-economies-vulnerabilities-and-opportunities.pdf.

Evers, Jeannie. “Island.” National Geographic Society, 9 Oct. 2012,

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/island/.

Gibbons, Helen. “In Next Decades, Frequency of Coastal Flooding Will Double Globally.” U.S.
Geological Survey, 18 May 2017, https://www.usgs.gov/news/next-decades-frequency-
coastal-flooding-will-double-globally.

Heaton, Thomas. “Fish and Power Shifts: How the Marshall Islands Became a Fshery
Superpower.” Honolulu Civil Beat, 19 Oct. 2021, https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/10/fish-
and-power-shifts-how-marshall-islands-became-a-fishery-superpower/.

Pungetti, Gloria. “Islands, Culture, Landscape and Seascape.” Journal of Marine and Island
Cultures, vol. 1, no. 2, 2012, pp. 51–54., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imic.2012.11.007.

Royle, Stephen A. Islands. Reaktion Books Ltd, 2014.

Taylor, Phoebe. “What Are Jeju Island's Dol Hareubang?” Culture Trip, The Culture Trip, 23
July 2018, https://theculturetrip.com/asia/south-korea/articles/what-are-jeju-islands-dol-
hareubang/.