Preserving and transmitting craftsmanship for centuries, a yurt is not a mere dwelling, but also a creative workshop for folk art. Yurt embodied all kinds of decorative and applied arts. Meeting all the demands of everyday life, it carries both aesthetic and ritual functions.

In the rugged landscapes of Timor-Leste, where dry seasons can stretch long and food insecurity remains a reality for many, the people have long relied on their deep knowledge of wild, resilient crops. Among them is Koto-Tisi—a hard, dark wild bean that offers vital sustenance but must be carefully prepared to remove its natural toxins. What might appear at first glance to be just another seed is, in fact, a symbol of survival, ecological wisdom, and ancestral resilience.\n\nThe bean is typically found growing on hardy, thorny shrubs or climbing vines in semi-wild areas. It is gathered primarily by women, who know when the pods are ready to be picked and how to handle them safely. The challenge lies not in harvesting but in transforming Koto-Tisi into something edible—an intricate cooking process that has been passed down through generations.\n\nPreparation begins with repeated boiling and rinsing, sometimes up to five or six times. Each round helps to leach out the toxic compounds present in the bean. The water must be discarded each time, and the beans carefully watched to ensure that they soften without disintegrating. After boiling, the beans are often sun-dried and stored for later use, to be boiled again before eating or ground into a starchy paste.\n\nThe process is labor-intensive and demands both patience and precision. Elders in the community emphasize that the knowledge of how to process Koto-Tisi is not written in books—it lives in memory, movement, and the rhythms of daily life. To rush the process or ignore the sequence could lead to poisoning. For this reason, children are taught to observe closely, assisting their mothers or grandmothers and gradually learning the delicate balance between danger and nourishment.\n\nIn times of drought, scarcity, or natural disaster, Koto-Tisi becomes a lifeline. Its ability to grow in harsh conditions, with little water or care, makes it a dependable fallback when cultivated crops fail. But it is more than a survival food—it is also a testament to how culture and ecology intertwine. The knowledge required to use it safely reflects a deep respect for the land, a skillset honed through centuries of careful experimentation and oral transmission.\n\nToday, as dietary patterns change and imported food becomes more available, the practice of preparing Koto-Tisi is fading in some areas. But in others, it remains a respected tradition—especially among elders who see it not only as food but as a story, a ritual, and a reminder of community strength in the face of adversity.

Felt making is one of the oldest traditions, bearing an artistic and aesthetic value and symbolism closely associated with folk customs and rituals. The process of collecting wool is twice a year—in autumn and in spring. A story about the historical value and ubiquitous use of rams’ skins. The process and the staged technique of felting. One way to preserve traditional felt making. It is a question of the ecological value of felt, the methods of extraction from natural materials (plants and stones), and the use of certain ornaments associated with nature and animals.

Samoa is a country of great natural beauty with a rich and distinguished cultural heritage. Living in seeming isolation from the rest of the world in the vast Pacific Ocean, Sāmoans have developed over several millennia, an extensive body of traditional ecological knowledge giving rise to a wide range of artisanal skills enabling them to create all they need to live in comfort and safety.\n\nTrailer: O le `Afa Sāmoa - Exploring the use of Samoan Coconut Sennit.\nThe coconut tree is the penultimate symbol of the Pacific Islands

Samoa is a country of great natural beauty with a rich and distinguished cultural heritage. Living in seeming isolation from the rest of the world in the vast Pacific Ocean, Sāmoans have developed over several millennia, an extensive body of traditional ecological knowledge giving rise to a wide range of artisanal skills enabling them to create all they need to live in comfort and safety.\n\n2015 1 Ie Siapo.\nThe fine mats made by the women of Apai on the island of Manono, are greatly admired for their white colour that turns coppery over time.

How research on the indigenous understanding of nature and methods of co-existence in the Pacific regions crossed over into the humanities-examining intangible cultural heritage in the human-nature relationship through the field of ecological humanities.

William Jeffery highlighted the value of the Yapese fish weirs and how they, and the associated intangible cultural heritage can be used to assist modern-day approaches to marine ecological conservation, in addition to keeping traditional sustainable fishing practices alive.

Discussing the importance of the ecological turn, rising to prominence in the post-corona discourse. Emphasizing the importance of nature as well as co-existence of humanity and other forms of life in nature. Presenting a social ecology perspective on the direction for human intangible cultural heritage which has a long-shared history with nature.