Valuing culture in Oceania: Methodology and indicators for valuing culture, including traditional knowledge, in Oceania

This report aims to show that culture is integral to achieving all objectives across the four pillars of the Pacific Plan.

Culture is fundamental to sustainable development, and in the current climate of global economic recession it has the potential to contribute to economic growth and security through employment linked to services (d'Almeida 2009:2). Promoting cultural values and identities also has the potential to improve social cohesion and wellbeing and to contribute to good governance in a time of crisis. The main objective of this project was to develop a methodology and to propose indicators for valuing culture, including traditional knowledge, in Oceania. The methodology and indicators comprise the first essential step in formulating a regional cultural strategy, to maintain and strengthen Pacific cultural identity for the consideration of Pacific leaders in 2010.