Traditional life on the atolls of the Tuamotu Archipelago did not rely solely on marine resources; terrestrial resources on the emerged coral crown were also utilised to ensure a continuous and diverse food supply. One of the most emblematic ancient practices was the use of cultivation pits (maite). A cultivation pit is an excavation dug by the community using pearl shell shovels to reach the top of the freshwater lens. The principle is to allow the planted crops to access freshwater through capillarity. The vegetation cover maintained above these maites helped limit evaporation, while fallen leaves and branches were collected to serve as compost. Birds nesting in large native trees also contributed fertiliser in the form of guano. Remnants of these pits still exist on many atolls, although the memory of their function has been largely forgotten. Rehabilitating the maite would enhance food security on these remote atolls while reviving traditional agricultural techniques through a nature-culture approach.
Duration: 24 months
