The Mariana Islands, situated on the Eastern edges of
the broader Micronesian region, provide a compelling case study for examining
the intersections of population dynamics, consumer capitalism, ecological
vulnerability, and Indigenous stewardship. Drawing on a human ecology
framework, this paper analyzes how population change, global consumer supply
chains, militarization, and climate impacts interact to shape social and
environmental conditions in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. These
pressures manifest in coral reef decline, watershed degradation, invasive
species, waste accumulation, and heightened exposure to climate-related
hazards—revealing the limits of island ecosystems under conditions of rapid
globalization.
At the same time, the Mariana Islands demonstrate
remarkable reservoirs of resilience grounded in Chamorro cultural values,
traditional ecological knowledge, and community-based stewardship. Through
literature review, demographic assessment, and case examples from Micronesia,
the paper highlights how Indigenous frameworks of reciprocity, balance, and
ancestral responsibility offer alternative pathways for ecological
sustainability. By positioning Guam as both uniquely vulnerable and globally
instructive, this paper contributes to environmental sociology by showing how
small islands function as microcosms of planetary challenges while offering
culturally grounded models for navigating ecological limits.
