Ethnoecology: Knowledge, Resources, and Rights (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780820321288)

Scholars studying the ecology of specific areas often fail to take into account the presence of humans in those environments. People not only are fundamental components of an ecosystem but possess a unique understanding of its nature. This book examines subjects ranging from pastoralism to the use of medicinal plants to show that understanding the knowledge system of any people is essential to understanding their relation to their environment. Using cases from the American Southwest and Pacific Northwest, the Highland Maya Region of Central America, and the Lowland and Andean regions of South America, the contributors examine the relation of humans and environment within the context of each local system's beliefs, values, and knowledge. All emphasize the practical and cultural significance of indigenous knowledge of the environment and the importance of comparing this knowledge to scientific understanding prior to initiating development or conservation programs. They also contribute to a theoretical approach that allows findings to be applied across studies, regardless of ethnographic differences.

Author: Ted L. Gragson
ISBN-10: 0820321281
ISBN-13: 9780820321288
Publisher: University of Georgia Press
Language: English
Published: 06/01/1999
Pages: 184
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.66lbs
Size: 8.89h x 5.89w x 0.51d