Ethnoecology : Knowledge, Resources, and Rights

Gragson, Ted L. (EDT); Blount, Ben G. (EDT)

ISBN 10: 0820321281 / ISBN 13: 9780820321288

Published by University of Georgia Press, 1999

Unread book in perfect condition. Seller Inventory # 204701

Synopsis:

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.

About the Author: Ted L. Gragson (Editor)
TED L. GRAGSON is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Georgia.

Ben G. Blount (Editor)
BEN G. BLOUNT is an environmental anthropologist who is retired from the University of Georgia and the University of Texas San Antonio

Bibliographic Details

Title: Ethnoecology : Knowledge, Resources, and ...
Publisher: University of Georgia Press
Publication Date: 1999
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: As New