Geografisk Tidsskrift, Bind 76 (1977)CARRYING CAPACITY ON TIKOPIA ISLANDKIRSTEN HERVAD-JØRGENSEN Side 88
Hervad-Jørgensen,
Kirsten: Carrying Capacity on Tikopia On the basis of two aerial photographs of the island of Tikopia, information on population, standard energy consumption, knowledge of the food pattern, the agricultural system and yields/ha it has been attempted to estimate the areas necessary for food production. To verify the assessed values, they have been put into various formulas for estimation of carrying capacity. The consistency of the values turns out very well and the used methodology might be a possible way to estimate carrying capacity with limited means. Kirsten
Hervad-Jørgensen, M. Se. Geographical Institute,
University This paper is based on a M.Sc. thesis on Tikopia Island, a tiny Polynesian outlier in the British Solomon Islands. It is situated at about 168°, 48' E and 12°, 18' S according to the 'Pacific Islands Pilot'. The island is well-known from the classical ethnographical works by Professor Raymond Firth. The island was chosen for a theoretical investigation as the results could be compared with descriptions of the island. Furthermore, the Tikopia have for a long time been fully aware of the relation between area and population. According to that they have practised 'fakatau kite kai', which means 'making the population in accordance with the amount of food', i.e. practised birth control by variuos means. The results could therefore be put into formulas for estimating carrying capacity and be compared with the actual population in 1929, which could be assumed to be adjusted to the then available amount of food to some extent. The aim to make a quantitative estimate seemed from the beginning to be a quite impossible task, as the quantitative sources were only few. The ethnographical works on the island contained fascinating descriptions, but had no exact information regarding production and consumption. The sources for making quantitative estimates, were restricted to: 1. Two aerial photograps (at scale approx. 1:60,000) from 10-7-1962. They were analysed by means of a Zeiss Interpretoscope in order to distinguish the agricultural regions and their degree of utilization. One enlargement (scale approx. 1:15,000) was used to measure the total Side 89
area of the island and the various agricultural regions. An outline map was drawn on basis of this photo. The division of the land area into regions of which some are used for agricultural purposes, some probably not or only to a limited degree, may of course be a controversial matter as the divisions are basedon a synthesis of the information drawn from the literature on agricultural systems in that part of the world and from the aerial photographs, but not on personal investigation on the island. The elaboration of the outline map was complicated because it was necessary to transfer the threedimensional impression from the interpretoscope to the enlargement by means of transparent paper, which blurred the details. 2. Records of the
Tikopian population by age and sex 3. Values for
estimating these requirements, which Agricultural RegionsFrom the aerial photograph and fig. 1 it appears that Tikopia can roughly be divided into af few important regions: The crater area, the southern plateau and the coastal fringe with the village areas. The cultivated areas are found within the two first mentioned regions and according to Barrau (1962) within two types of ecological classifications. 1. The crater
area with tropical rainforest. This type is 2. The southern
part of the island with its calcareous The total crater area seems to be under cultivation to various degrees even in the northern and most inaccessible part of the island. According to R. Firth, the utilization of the crater slopes is named orchards, contrary to garden areas. The slope gradients vary from 20° to 45°. In an orchard the tree crops, as for example breadfruit, coconuts, papermulberry tree and areca palm will often be the primary resource and taro the secondary. Fig. 2 is given as an example of the utilization of a crater slope. The period of fallow in bush-f allowing rotation is usually from 10-15 years, which presumably is too long a period in relation to Tikopia realities and needs. The soils of the crater area have been developed on volcanics of andesitic composition, which should allow a more frequent cultivation. The crater area includes a minor area, Tumuaki, which seems to be under permanent cultivation. ![]() The southern part of the island includes orchards in Rotoaia and minor garden areas under supposed permanent cultivation. The garden areas are: Ropera, obviously waterlogged to some degree, and Rakisu, situated at the foot of the crater and therefore provided with a better soil and a more favourable water balance than the rest of the southern part of the island. Fig. 3 may serve as an illustration of the utilization of the southern part of the island. Furthermore there are some minor cultivated areas at the crater lake. Taro (Colocasia esculenta and Cyrtosperma chamissonis) is the predominant crop here and on the permanently cultivated areas. The coastal
fringe with village areas has been ![]() Fig. 2. Utilization of the crater slope. Fiq. 2. Udnyttelse af kraterskråningen. 1. Banana plant (Musa sp./ 2. Coconut palm (Cocos nuciferai 3. Breadfruit (Artocarpus sp.) 4. Yarr. 'Dioscorea sp., -„ Taro 'CyrtO'Sperr.a sp. 7. Trees for rerrainina s'afcsistenc'; productior.. Side 90
Calculation of the energy and protein requirements As it has not been possible to get any detailed information of the actual comsumption of food neither concerning quantity nor composition, it has been necessary to try to estimate the requirements by standard figures. According to those, corrections for temperature and age have been made. The activity is assumed to be moderate. Moderate activity was considered justified, as the Tikopia according to the descriptions seem to have a good deal of leisure time to spend on their social life. For the 1929 population of 1278 persons the total necessary energy requirement amounted to about 1,055 X 10.6 Meal and the total necessary protein requirement to 14,390 kg high quality protein, which gives an average of 2260 kcal/cap./day and 31 g high quality protein/cap./day. The year 1929 was chosen for the further calculations as the description of the society at that time (Firth, 1939) seems to reflect a stable agricultural system contrasting the description from 1952 (Firth, 1959), which reflects a society suffering from population pressure. In 1952 the necessary energy requirement amounted to about 1,462 X 106 Meal and the necessary protein requirement to 19,990 kg high quality protein. The population was 1753 persons, which according to FAO standards gives an average of 2285 kcal/cap./day and 31 g high quality protein/cap./day. It will later be shown by the formulas that the island could not support a population of that size. The main problem was to provide an ample calorie supply, while the protein production according to the calculations already in 1929 was nearly great enough to meet 1952 needs (table 1). Assessment of the composition of the dietThe common food items are edible root, coconuts, breadfruit, bananas, fish and wild fruits. Their relative importance for consumption is seen on fig. 4. It was found most reasonable to try to estimate the share (in %) of each food item in the daily requirement. By doing this it was possible to calculate the quantity necessary to cultivate and consequently the areas needed, taking into conside ![]() Fig. 3. Utilization of the southern plateau Fig. 3. Udnyttelse af det sydlige plateau. 8. Calophyllum sp. 9. Pandanus sp. 10. Casuarina sp. ![]() ration their degree of utilization. It must be noted that possible misjudgements in the assessment of the different food items' share of the daily consumption will influence all further calculations. The percentage composition of the calorie requirement for a Tikopia appears from fig. 5. The share of roots amounts to 60%. It is less than the estimated consumption in nearlying areas (Barrau, 1958). However, a higher percentage of taro would demand about 1/5 of the island's entire area (calculated on basis of the planting distance). With a daily consumption of two taros/cap., as suggested by R. Firth, the calorie percentage would amount to only 38% which is considered to be
an underestimate. Breadfruit constitutes a greater
wuantity of the food items than do coconuts, but The share of fish
in the diet might have been considered mentioned that the estimated gross production on Bellona (also in the Solomon Islands) amounts to 60 tons for a much smaller population. If one supposes that an active fisherman on Tikopia, as on Bellona, in the period September through March catches 100 kg, it would total a catch of about 40 tons for that period. This would correspond reasonably with a gross production of 52 tons for the whole year. Without direct samples it is not likely that much could be changed in the estimated composition of the diet. Apparently there seems to be a real background for R. Firth's statement on the healthy appearance of the ![]() Fig. 4. Quantitative Importance for consumption. (Firth, 1939). Fig. 4. Mængdemæssig betydning for forbrug. (Firth, 1939). Side 91
![]() Tabel 1. Beregning af totalt fødevareforbrug på basis af 1278 personers daglige kalorieforbrug og kaloriefordeling. Dagligt forbrug = 2260 kcal. Table 1. Calculation of total food requirement on the basis of 1278 persons' daily calorie consumption and calorie distribution. Daily consumption = 2260 kcal. Tikopia. The
limited land resources and the easy access to Calculation of the necessary amountsFrom different sources (U.S. Dept. for Agric. 1963 and 1975, Wissenschftl. Verlagsgesellsch. 1962) the nutritive values of the different food items were calculated and the results used to estimate a yearly necessary gross production. The calculations appear from table 1. This production, it must be stressed, represents only the adequate necessary daily intake of energy and is without a normal surplus, which could be of great importance on Tikopia. In 1929 the island relied totally on its own resources, as it probably still does. In this table also the dry matter content of the various food items appear, which was used to calculate the corresponding protein production. As the protein from roots is of a rather poor quality the calculations are given as 1.45 values. This means that to provide 1 kg high protein d.45 kg. root protein is needed. In the table only fish meat has been regarded as high quality protein. As some plant items are considered to have a protein content of higher quality than that of roots, it follows that the calculated protein production rather tens to be underestimated. Nevertheless the protein production more than met the requirements in 1929. To the supposed composition of the diet corresponds a daily protein intake as shown on fig. 6. The daily consumption equals 40 g high quality protein, while the necessary consumption only amounted to 31 g high quality protein. This might be due to errors in the percentage composition of the food items or the Tikopian diet might be well composed. In the composition of the diet it has, however, been taken into consideration that roots are 'staple food', as taro, yam, manioc and sago (palm) constitute 60% of the daily energy intake, where 60-80% are considered normal for the area. In R. Firth's descriptions it is stated that breadfruit and bananas were eaten in rather considerable quantities and furthermore they were stored as pastes for periods of scarcity. Cocos was used for the daily meals as cream and there was no export of copra from Tikopia. In times of scarcity the different wild fruits, some with high nutritive values, played a considerable role. Fish made op 7% of the daily energy requirement, while its high protein content made the item constitute as much as 42% of the protein intake. ![]() af dagligt energibehov. Estimations of the area necessary for agriculture productionThe land area of Tikopia was by R. Firth stated to be something less than 3 sq.miles (~7 km2) corresponding to a population density (1929) of more than 400/sq.m. or 165/km2. The area measured of the island is about 4,42 km2, which corresponds to a population density of 290/km2 in 1929. It raised the question whether the agricultural system could be in balance at that time, as there is no possible way to extend the available area. Nothing in the description from 1928-29 indicated in any way it should not be, although, as will be shown later, it must have been a delicate balance and food was not abundant. In the traditional way it was part of all rituals and feasts and no restrictions were observed in the traditional ![]() composition cf daily intake, af daglig tilførsel. Side 92
right to use
the land of other people. The 'fakatau From the amount of necessary production of the different food items, yields/ha and minimum rotation length, the area necessary per cap. amounts to 0.27 ha (table 2). The area necessary/cap./year amounts to 0.075 ha, which is in no way contrasting the estimated values in nearlying areas(Barrau, 1961, Christiansen, 1975). From this follows that the total necessary area for agricultural production to feed a population of 1278 persons amounts to about 345 ha. This means that only about 95 ha will be left for wild fruits, for materials to be used in the remaining subsistence production and for village areas. In order to find the actual areas it was tried to estimate the cultivation intensity of the different areas. The necessary area was 0.075 ha/cap./year. Rakisu and Ropera were assumed to be permanently cultivated, whereas Rotoaia had a rotation length of 3 years. There were minor cultivated areas at the lake and on the top of the ridge at Tumuaki. Together those areas contributed with about 0.02 ha/cap. The rest must be taken from the crater slope. Under the assumption that it was cultivated under bush-fallowing rotation with a rotation length of at least 10 years, the crater area would contribute only about 0.02 ha/cap. If the figure 0.075 ha/cap, should be fulfilled it indicates a much shorter rotation in the crater area. In order to provide the necessary areas, the rotation length should not exceed 5 years. Owing to the fertile soils derived from the andesitic rocks of the crater area, it is likely that the agricultural system may be stable even with a so short fallow period. Taro being the predominant crop with a rotation length of at least 4 years, all calculations point in the direction that the island was already in 1929 exploited to a maximum degree and that the population size, too, was near its maximum if there should not be a deterioration of the agricultural system. With pieces taken from the different works by R. Firth it was tried to make a jigsaw puzzle. 345 ha or 0.27 ha/cap, turned out to be an interesting figure. The pieces were provided from a table of group membership of the four chiefly houses, a statement on area relationship between the four chiefs 1:6:6:3 (Fangarere, Taumako, Tafua, Kafika) (Firth, 1939) a sketch map of Rasiku (Firth, 1959) and an information that Ariki Fangarere commanded 6 orchards of 4 ha each (Firth, 1936). The total land area of the Fangarere clan amounted to 24 ha plus a little more than 0.2 ha measured in Rasiku. That provides each member of the clan (89 persons) with 0.27 ha. Regarding the area relation between the clans the total area commanded by them will be 387 ha. The total island minus the coastal fringe with village areas amounts to about 390 ha. As the area requirement to feed the whole population in 1929 was 345 ha this indicates that the Fangarere clan was a little worse off than the other clans and that the Tikopia were fully aware of the man/land ratio necessary to provide an adequate food supply. It can be mentioned that R. Firth's statement on the island's area to be something less than 3 sqm. (approx. 7 km2) could have been suspected to be wrong by using the figures concerning the area relationship between the four clans. ![]() Table 2. Area requirements. Tabel 2. Arealbehov. Estimation of carrying capacityIn order to try the reliability of the calculated values from Tikopia (table 1, 2 and set up below), formulas put forward by variuos authors have been used. The aim of using different formulas has been to test the consistency of the found values. In whatever formula they are put, the results point in the same direction. The original formulas are used and the variables mentioned with Tikopia values in parantheses. It will be mentioned in the following text if the formulas are alike or deviate from one another in the use of variables. The data used
are: Normal surplus
![]() Side 93
With the 1952
![]() If the rotation length for the whole area is 4 years it corresponds with yields of 16 t/ha and 23 t/ha. Both yields are high and 23 t/ha for the entire area seems quite impossible to attain. Anyhow only a very small surplus is likely to be incorporated in the Tikopian agricultural system. To find the area
necessary for a person in a given area, P = cultivable
percentage _ „. .. e .
/allow period + cultivation period^ L = cultivated
area/cap. ![]() In order to find
the critical population size (Cs) and the /\ — mill, ciccticu aica/uap./ycai \\j.\ju
naj ![]() 333/km2 are for cultivable land. It corresponds to a poulation density of the total area of 293/km2, matching very favourably with the 291/km2 on the total area and the 328/km2 on cultivable land found in 1929. Derived from the
first formula the min. length of rotation ![]() The min. length
of rotation with a population of 1753 ![]() A = the
cultivable area/the total area (0.88) B= rotation
length (4 ) C =
inhabitants/ha cleared/year (l : 0.075 ~ 13) n oo V 1 7 Beguin uses his
formulas to calculate the maximum Potential
production v — maximum agricultural ![]() P= production on
the cultivated area/year (taro 8.89 t/ha) c = cultivated
area/year (1 ha ) j = the
corresponding fallow (3 ha ) ![]() Beguin estimates
the necessary area 5 for a population p ![]() In order to
calculate the population size p in a limited ![]() For calculation
of the maximum population density d_, given ![]() Beguin's more
sophisticated formulas have not been The last method to calculate carrying capacity to be mentioned is Carneiro's, who also calculates whether the agricultural system can be permanent within the given area or not. His variables are: A = area/year for
the production of food for one person Side 94
Y = cultivation
period T = total
cultivable area within walking distance from the habitations
L = the time the
habitations can be permanent accor ding to the
demands of the cultivation system. On these
suppositions the population that can live permanently
![]() To calculate the
smallest area of cultivable land for a ![]() To know how long
time a society can stay in the same ![]() The rotation length for the predominant crop on Tikopia is 4 years. If the population is 1753 as it was on Tikopia in 1952, L~3 years. If L (R +Y) the area can be occupied indefinitely. On Tikopia R + Y are estimated and according to Carneiro's formula it gives a delicate balance. The population in 1952 will be too numerous to stay in the area under a stable agricultural system. It can be remarked that this calculation equals the derived formula to estimate the necessary rotation length, which is in no way surprising as the rotation length is of decisive importance in this respect. Formulas regarding total population, area and population densityConsidering the formulas regarding the total possible population of an area, those set up by Conklin and Carneiro are identical. They put cultivable area in relation to necessary area/cap., while Beguin finds the population by means of a potential production/ha i relation to consumption/cap., which is a refinement, but does not contrast with the former, as the potential production versus consumption is closely connected with the necessary area/cap.. A further look at the formulas regarding the area and population density will show the same features as the formulas regarding total population. What is interesting is that the calculated values for Tikopia are put into new connexions, which show that they, though independently calculated, are consistent. The formulas as a
whole can be said to be derived from Regarding area
calculation also a rotation factor and a land The conclusion to be drawn, after having controlled the calculated values in the expressions regarding carrying capacity, is that in the year 1929 Tikopia had a population near its possible maximum if it was to be fed properly. Having no further area resources, a population of 1753 (1952) would mean a severe strain on the agricultural system. The area necessary to feed the population to the same standard would then amount to ~ 475 ha, which is more than the island's entire area. The very short rotation length that is obviously incorporated in the Tikopian agricultural system, can be explained by the fact that most of the soils in the island are of volcanic origin. Later changesThe growth in population from 1929 to 1952 amounted to 37%. Besides the changes that followed in the agricultural system, the situation became critical in 1952 when Tikopia was severe struck by a hurricane, which caused great damage to the crops and soon created an acute hunger situation. Probably this critical situation contributed to an extremely high infant death rate. The pressure on ressources had since 1929 changed the cropping patterns, especially did manioc and sweet potatoes replace taro. In the long run this will lead to a depreciation in the diet with regard to protein supply, which will affect especially the young generation. After the hurricane food production was not back to normal until after a year and then shortly afterwards the island was struck by another hurricane. During a part of the year 1952 Tikopia was in need of supplies from the outside world and only their strong social organisation prevented a total breakdown of their system. In that situation the introduction of manioc and sweet potatoes helped to make the food situation less catastrophic, as the first could be stored in the ground and the latter could give quick yields, while the taro leaves were spoiled and new planting material had to be provided from outside the island. The situation was of course severely aggravated by the hurricane, but from the description from 1952 it appears that there had been a great reduction in the fallow areas compared with 1929. In addition, in 1952 owner and cultivator was to a much greater extent the same person. There had not been a change in the formal rights, but in the exercise of them. Those changes were not a result of the hurricanes, but of a strong population pressure on resources. As also the calculations show, the agricultural system cannot remain stable with a population of about 1700 persons as the available resources are extremely Side 95
limited. The stability of a system of this kind is dependent on a refined selection of the plant material of any kind. Tikopia's transformed ecosystem can probably support about 250 persons/km2 given the fertile soil, the amount of precipitation, permanent cultivation in minor areas and an appropiate fallow length in the remaining areas. Information from 1965 state that this year about 1000 persons were living on Tikopia, while about 500 were working in coconut plantations in the Rüssel Islands and in the Solomon Islands. The reduction in population of about 200 persons since 1952 was brought about by a severe influenza and malaria epidemic in the mid-fifties. ConclusionFrom a known population, estimated yields (standard figures might be established), consumption calculated by FAO standard figures and a total area derived from aerial photographs, it has been possible to find the areas necessary for cultivation and following the carrying capacity of the island under the given agricultural system. This leads to the thought that the methodology (maybe with some refinements) might be a possible way to estimate carrying capacity in areas with different agricultural systems too, without detailed and expensive investigations on the place. Tikopia problems were found especially workable as the descriptions to a certain degree made it possible to compare the estimated values with realities. RESUMEArtiklen er et sammendrag af en opgave fra sommeren 1976. Tikopia tilhører Salomon øerne og er beliggende på 168°48' østlig længde og 12°18' sydlig bredde. Øen er velkendt fra professor Raymond Firth's klassiske etnografiske værker. Tikopianerne har igennem lang tid på grund af øens begrænsede areal taget hensyn til forholdet mellem areal og befolkning ved at praktisere fødselskontrol. Det var vanskeligt at foretage en kvantitativ beskrivelse, da kilderne hertil var få: To luftfotografier fra 1962, en artikel med befolkningsopgørelse på køn og alder i 1929 og 1952 og FAO standard tal til beregning af kalorie- og proteinbehov. På basis af luftbillederne blev øens totale areal og størrelsen af de enkelte landbrugsregioner beregnet. Inddelingen fremgår af fig. 1. Befolkningens nødvendige kalorie- og proteinforsyning blev beregnet og derudfra et gennemsnitsforbrug. Sammensætningen af dette antoges at være som det fremgår af fig. 5. Herudfra beregnedes de nødvendige mængder for hele 1929 befolkningen. Beregningerne fremgår af tabel 1. Det fremgår heraf, at med den antagne sammensætning af diæten er proteinforsyningen for 1929 næsten stor nok til at dække 1952behovet. Af fig. 6 fremgår det at diæten synes godt sammensat med hensyn til animalsk protein, hvilket kan forklares ved begrænsede landressourcer og let adgang til havet. Udfra den nødvendige produktion af fødevarer beregnedes arealet til at dyrke denne mængde. Resultatet var at 0.27 ha/cap. og 0.075 ha/cap./år var nødvendigt (tabel 2). For at skaffe de nødvendige arealer må rotationslængden i kraterområdet ikke overstige 5 år, hvilket er en kort periode og formentlig kun er muligt på grund af en frugtbar jordbund. For at prøve at beregne værdiers sammenhæng blev de indsat i forskellige bæreevneformler. Alle resultater pegede henimod at Tikopia i 1929 havde en næsten maksimal befolkning, mens befolkningen i 1952 var så stor, at den ikke kunne ernæres på øen uden en forringelse i dyrkningssystemet. Den på øen bosiddende befolkning er senere stabiliseret på ca. 1000 personer, mens omkring 500 arbejder i kokosplantager på andre øer. Den gode overensstemmelse, der er imellem de beregnede værdier og de indtryk der kan fås fra de etnografiske beskrivelser, kunne betyde, at det vil være muligt med disse afgrænsede midler at beregne bæreevne også i andre områder. REFERENCESAgriculture
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