Matematega o Kaumana is a traditional knowledge of reading clouds to locate school of fishes in the oceans and predict approaching disasters (strong wind, drought, waves etc.). Dept of Environment, 2007, and a presentation from Poni Faavae [2004],T\ivalu NAPA project, Ministry of Environment. Major investments are now planned in REDD schemes, carbon sequestration and other payments for environmental services; these have potential to make valuable contributions to local livelihoods or to place people in even greater difficulty. A major determinant of whether these investments produce outcomes that are favorable to local people or harmful to them will be the extent to which these programmes fully integrate traditional knowledge alongside modern scientific knowledge in their design. The challenge today is not to document and archive traditional knowledge but to build upon it and to use it as a basis for further development of modern knowledge and information systems.