The Atitia Center

Education, Culture, Environment
The Atitia Center, located at the southern end of the UC Berkeley Gump Station in Moorea, French Polynesia, is devoted to community outreach, cultural activities, conservation programs, education and training.

Mission
To document, preserve, and promote the biological and cultural heritage of Polynesia.  To build local scientific capacity for conservationand natural resource management.  To combine modern science and traditional knowledge in a common pedagogic framework

Objectives
Document and  inventory biocultural heritage
1. Describe nature and distribution of biodiversity
2. Assess status and evaluate threats
3. Document cultural traditions and language

Promote and educate
1. Explain the value of biocultural heritage and ways to preserve it
2. Develop educational materials for schools, public, and website
3. Conduct training in conservation practices

Outcomes
Increased public awareness of how human well being and sustainable development depend on the conservation of biocultural heritage and the maintenance of ecosystem services

Preservation of Polynesian traditional knowledge and biological diversity

Enhanced scientific capacity in Polynesian civil society and increased role of science in the local planning process