Palau

Palau blends rich reef knowledge with the bai meeting houses, storyboards and a strong tradition of marine conservation.

Building & habitat Crafts Nature & herbalism Music & dance

Knowledge in this place

Bai meeting house

Bai meeting house

Gabled community houses with painted gables and beams that record clan history and legends.

Building & habitat

Storyboard carving

Storyboard carving

Carved wooden panels that depict legends and oral histories once painted on bai houses.

Bul reef closure

Bul reef closure

A customary practice of temporarily closing reefs and species to fishing so stocks can recover.

Nature & herbalism

Palauan chant dance

Palauan chant dance

Group dances accompanied by chant that recount legends and honour events in the life of a village.