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Resilience episode 11 - Jewels to save

Episode 11 of the TV magazine show "Resilience" is broadcast this Sunday, October 9, at 6pm on Caledonia, in New Caledonia

Oceanian jewels to save

In this new issue of Resilience, we focus on the development of two Oceanian jewels: the coconut and the pandanus leaves. In order to safeguard these products, which are at the heart of Oceanian cultures, the PROTEGE project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Pacific Community, is setting up actions to promote them.

The coconut is drunk, eaten, used to make cosmetics and braided. Beyond its cultural aspect, the coconut is a means of subsistence, particularly in French Polynesia and Ouvéa in New Caledonia. But today several threats weigh on it: climate change, invasive exotic species or the ageing of the trees. We will follow Roland Bourdeix, a genetic researcher and coconut specialist who recently conducted a varietal inventory of coconut trees in the Loyalty Islands. The aim is to draw up a catalogue to safeguard endangered species or to identify the best varieties for a given use.

Then we head for Wallis and Futuna where, for the third year, this tree is honoured during the World Coconut Festival. Weaving competitions, tastings of coconut-based products, meetings with craftsmenthat use the tree for weaving or sculpting... a colourful day that awakens our taste buds!

Pandanus leaves are used for weaving, especially in French Polynesia and more particularly in the Austral Islands where this know-how is passed on from mother to daughter. Some craftswomen use pigments to colour the leaves. These processes are often complex and time-consuming to implement.

In order to optimise them, the PROTEGE project is conducting a study on the use of new dye plants. We will follow Emilie Stierlin, a researcher at the University of French Polynesia, who is in charge of this study. Whether it is candlenuts, pawpawleaves, turmeric extracts or pine bark, Emilie has drawn up technical sheets for each of these pigments. She also determined their physical and sanitary properties, which make pandanus leaves more resistant to mold and bacteria.

Watch the "Resilience" programmes on:

the CPS "RESILIENCE" You Tube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCq-WnF3HdrjkSwcmAiva62Ed2OfbyBJm

This programme was created by the Pacific Community as part of the PROTEGE project, in co-production with Bluegreen production nc.

The videos have been produced with the financial support of the European Union. The contents are the sole responsibility of the Pacific Community and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

 

Oceanian jewels to save - Resilience TV Show - PROTEGE Programme, funded by European Union
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