[Sun] In-depth analysis of the cultural, economic and sustainable development of Yupa?
One. Preface: Geographical, environmental and ecological characteristics of Koh Pa
Yupa is an archipelago of the Federation of Palau, located in the western Pacific Ocean, Yupa is a group of archipelagos of small islands surrounded by four main islands and sprawling coral reefs, located between eastern Indonesia and the southern Philippines.
The terrain of Yupa Island is mostly marine limestone area, and the height does not exceed 100 meters. The archipelago has a warm and humid climate, with average annual temperatures reaching around 28°C, accompanied by high humidity and heavy rainfall, with total rainfall ranging from 3,800 mm to 7,200 mm per year.
Yupa Island has a long coastline and is home to many beautiful bays, lagoons and rivers, home to one of the largest and oldest coral reef systems in the world.
At the same time, the island is rich in biodiversity, including a variety of fish, shellfish, turtles and more, which makes it a popular spot for diving and marine tourism all over the world.
Yupa Island has many rocky reefs, sandy beaches and primeval forests, rich vegetation and many endemic species. These include the ear of flesh, the coconuts, the rose tree and other common coastal and riverside plants.
2. Characteristics of Yupa Island culture
In Yupa culture, the family is the basic unit of society, and marriage, blood and religious beliefs mainly constitute the relationship between the Yupa people. At the same time, different counties (or tribes) also have rich social and economic ties between them.
Yupa is home to many mystical traditions and beliefs that in the past were important for the determination of clans and personal identity. Especially the inhabitants of modern villages are more accepting of beliefs as well as traditional institutions.
The inhabitants of Yupa Island use the only Chinese-Indonesian "Newnello" alphabet to write the local language. However, the Yupa people often use oral storytelling, songs and dances to describe their history, myths, legends, etc., which is a way for their culture to be preserved and passed on.
On Yupa, residents often carve and carve various strangely shaped woods and corals as ornaments. Traditional culture also includes dance, musical performances, painting, etc.
3. Economic development of Yupa Island
Yupa's economy is dominated by agriculture and fishing, but over the past few decades, the island's economy has transformed as tourism has grown.
The land of Yupa Island is fertile and grows a variety of fruits, vegetables and other crops, of which gem mango was once one of the main products for export.
At the same time, because it faces the Pacific Ocean, the surrounding sea area also provides a large number of fish, coral reef shellfish and other seafood resources, becoming an important food source for local residents.
Yupa Island has the world-famous stone money, which can be large, worth thousands or even millions of dollars.
They are still used for trade and exchange. In addition, Yupa has always been an economic and trade center with extensive economic contacts in the region.
Diving, surfing, fishing, beach vacations, etc. can be used here, which has gradually transformed from more traditional cultural tourism to tourist and commercial needs, and a large number of human resources and modern service equipment have also poured in, completely changing the development pattern of the island.
The limited quantity of minerals on Yupa Island consists mainly of coral meltstone, which can be used to make architectural glass, and phosphate ore buried in the ground. At the same time, with the financial support of the Palau State, the electricity, communications and transportation systems have been improved and progressed considerably.
Sustainable development of Yupa
The economy of Yupa Island is developing from a convergence of traditional agriculture and fishing to a larger number of tourism and budget small industrial production. This economic transition should also take environmental sustainability into account, and efforts are therefore being made towards sustainable economic development.
In order to protect local kiwi groves, coral reefs, and national parks, Yupa Island has adopted a series of measures, such as establishing marine protected areas, promoting organic recycling and treatment management, and persuading visitors to protect rural areas.
Yupa has very few natural resources, which makes the transformation of the local economy dependent on large imports of goods, and it needs to be used wisely to reduce its environmental impact.
Yupa therefore encourages innovative clean technology applications to make tourism tax revenue and export goods more energy efficient with the potential and capability.
As a community that pursues sustainable development, Yupa Island has made great efforts to protect and preserve the local traditional culture, language and ecological environment, while attaching great importance to local poverty alleviation projects and seeking to promote the combination of long-term local economic development and the welfare of residents.
V. The author's point of view
As a maritime nation, there are indeed many challenges that need to be balanced in terms of sustainability, but Yupa is taking action to transform its economy and develop conventional policies that meet the internal resource, cultural and environmental characteristics to improve the sustainability of business operations and reduce their negative impacts on natural and human resources.
Bibliography:
James Bassett, History of Yupa: The Power That Dominated the Western Pacific, 2016.
Bruce R. Hopkins and Marilyn J. Grell, Yupa Island Ecosystem Management: Waters, Coral Reefs and Land Conservation, 1992.
Marco Polo Appraisals, "Republic of Palau: Tourism Competitiveness Assessment Report", 2019.
Republic of Palau, Palau's Sustainable Development Strategy Report, 2018.
