DOCSLIB.ORG

EXILE, CAMPS, and CAMELS Recovery and Adaptation of Subsistence Practices and Ethnobiological Knowledge Among Sahrawi Refugees

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
EXILE, CAMPS, and CAMELS Recovery and Adaptation of Subsistence Practices and Ethnobiological Knowledge Among Sahrawi Refugees EXILE, CAMPS, AND CAMELS Recovery and adaptation of subsistence practices and ethnobiological knowledge among Sahrawi refugees GABRIELE VOLPATO Exile, Camps, and Camels: Recovery and Adaptation of Subsistence Practices and Ethnobiological Knowledge among Sahrawi Refugees Gabriele Volpato Thesis committee Promotor Prof. Dr P. Howard Professor of Gender Studies in Agriculture, Wageningen University Honorary Professor in Biocultural Diversity and Ethnobiology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, UK Other members Prof. Dr J.W.M. van Dijk, Wageningen University Dr B.J. Jansen, Wageningen University Dr R. Puri, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK Prof. Dr C. Horst, The Peace Research Institute, Oslo, Norway This research was conducted under the auspices of the CERES Graduate School Exile, Camps, and Camels: Recovery and Adaptation of Subsistence Practices and Ethnobiological Knowledge among Sahrawi Refugees Gabriele Volpato Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of doctor at Wageningen University by the authority of the Rector Magnificus Prof. Dr M.J. Kropff, in the presence of the Thesis Committee appointed by the Academic Board to be defended in public on Monday 20 October 2014 at 11 a.m. in the Aula. Gabriele Volpato Exile, Camps, and Camels: Recovery and Adaptation of Subsistence Practices and Ethnobiological Knowledge among Sahrawi Refugees, 274 pages. PhD thesis, Wageningen University, Wageningen, NL (2014) With references, with summaries in Dutch and English ISBN 978-94-6257-081-8 To my mother Abstract Volpato, G. (2014). Exile, Camps, and Camels: Recovery and Adaptation of Subsistence Practices and Ethnobiological Knowledge among Sahrawi Refugees. PhD Thesis, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. With summaries in English and Dutch, 274 pp. The study of how people adapt to social and environmental change is central to current theoretical understandings of human-nature relationships. There are recurrent cases in human history in which entire populations have been uprooted from the environments in which they live, and where it becomes exceedingly difficult for them to maintain their ways of life including their modes of subsistence, social and ecological relations, knowledge, and culture. The ways in which such people exercise their collective and individual agency to recover and adapt their relations with nature and with each other must be addressed as the planet rapidly changes, given current prognoses about the emergence of environmental refugee populations on a massive scale. Refugees who have been forced to live in camps for long periods present important case studies of human agency and adaptation. Refugee camps are places where people must engage with whatever limited resources are available, and where people confront major complex problems when attempting to establish new relations with their camp environments and maintain or revive relations with their homelands. If they succeed, they can partly free themselves from dependence on food aid and take their lives back into their own hands. In spite of the intuitive importance of refugees’ subsistence practices, refugee studies have paid little attention to this process of recovery, which has also been overlooked in the disciplines of ethnobiology and human ecology. This study was informed by the disciplines of human ecology and ethnobiology, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods drawn from anthropology, biology, and ecology. The research also incorporated insights from refugee studies, which focus on the causes and consequences of forced migration but which generally lack reference to relations between refugees and their natural environments. The study aimed to understand Sahrawi refugees’ agency directed toward the recovery and adaptation of traditional subsistence and other related material and cultural practices, especially related to camel husbandry, medicinal plants, and wild foods (mushrooms). Within this, it sought to comprehend changes in the ecological and social relations associated with these practices, including access to, procurement and commodification of subsistence resources, as well as cultural change, including the loss, transmission, and revitalization of traditional knowledge, and the significance of camels and of other desert resources for refugees’ cultural and political identity. Five case studies were selected to analyse Sahrawi refugees’ recovery and adaptation of traditional practices in the desert environment: a study of camel husbandry, an ethnobiological study of traditional medicinal remedies and cosmetics, an ethnomedicinal study of the conceptualization of illness and change in related health beliefs, an ethnobotanical and cultural domain study of camel forage 6 plants, and an ethnomycological and commodity study of desert truffles. Data were collected in the Sahrawi refugee camps and in the liberated territories of Western Sahara. Instruments used included surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, the ‘walk-in-the-woods’ approach, free-listings, and ethnobiological voucher specimen collection. Data analysis methods included descriptive statistics, qualitative analysis, botanical and zoological identification, and cultural consensus and multidimensional scaling analysis. Results show that Sahrawi refugees have re-engaged in a variety of pre- exile subsistence practices by both using and transforming the desert’s biotic resources for their material and cultural values and to generate income. The conditions that permit this include access to cash and means of subsistence apart from food aid, physical mobility, personal safety, and access to the former homeland (the liberated territories) or neighbouring countries with similar environments (northern Mauritania), ethnobiological knowledge, and social networks. Renewed access to part of the former homeland was key to this process in that the procurement of subsistence products largely depends on access to the land where these products are found and where traditional knowledge can be applied. Recovery was informed by the past, when livestock and the desert’s natural resources constituted the material and cultural basis of Sahrawi’s lives, and by Sahrawi’s cultural and behavioural adaptations to desert conditions, as evident, for example, in food norms and health beliefs. With the material and political changes arising from the Ceasefire Agreement of 1991, many refugees pursued this recovery as a path toward food security and livelihood diversification, conditioned by the lack of alternative livelihood pathways in the camps and the desert environment. However, a further finding is that this recovery was accompanied by fundamental changes in social, ecological, and cultural relations around these practices and resources, especially with respect to modes of access to the desert territory, the commodification of desert subsistence resources, dormancy and revitalization of ethnobiological knowledge, and the renegotiation of cultural and political identity around the desert and its resources. Taken together, the case study results indicate that, far from being passive recipients of food aid, Sahrawi refugees struggle collectively and individually to improve their lives and their future prospects within the constraints and opportunities presented by the camps. These results are significant both in terms of our understanding of refugees’ individual and collective agency toward cultural and economic recovery, and of dispossessed pastoralists’ struggles to rebuild herds and livestock husbandry. From an ethnobiological perspective, this study advances our knowledge of how refugees procure subsistence products and how procurement patterns and networks change with displacement and migration. As well, it contributes to the growing body of research about ethnobiological knowledge change in such contexts. Finally, it contributes to the literature addressing the cultural significance of traditional subsistence products, as well as the associated knowledge, skills, and practices associated with these products that serve as vehicles of refugees’ shared heritage and cultural identity. All of the above is important 7 for comprehending the broader cultural, social, and economic processes that occur in refugee camps, as well as the role of food aid and international relief interventions within these processes, and can serve to formulate better means to address refugees’ problems and support their autochthonous initiatives. Keywords: Agency; Human Ecology; Ethnobiology; Refugees; Sahrawi; Western Sahara; Forced Displacement; Subsistence Practices; Ethnobiological Knowledge; Cultural Revitalization 8 Preface This thesis discusses how and why Sahrawi refugees who live in camps in western Algeria recovered their pre-exile subsistence strategies and associated knowledge after dispossession, war, and forced displacement. I hope that this study will bring increased attention to exiled Sahrawi refugees and their struggles, and that it will convey the importance of studying autochthonous initiatives of refugees living in camps in order to develop and implement policy interventions that help them in this struggle. It all began in 2003, when I first travelled to the refugee camps of Tindouf under the auspices of the Italian NGO Africa 70 to carry out research on refugees’ use of medicinal plants. At the time, I knew little about the Sahrawi, or about nomads, refugees, or camels. When Africa 70 first
Load more

Recommended publications
  • War and Insurgency in the Western Sahara
    Visit our website for other free publication downloads http://www.StrategicStudiesInstitute.army.mil/ To rate this publication click here. STRATEGIC STUDIES INSTITUTE The Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) is part of the U.S. Army War College and is the strategic-level study agent for issues relat- ed to national security and military strategy with emphasis on geostrategic analysis. The mission of SSI is to use independent analysis to conduct strategic studies that develop policy recommendations on: • Strategy, planning, and policy for joint and combined employment of military forces; • Regional strategic appraisals; • The nature of land warfare; • Matters affecting the Army’s future; • The concepts, philosophy, and theory of strategy; and, • Other issues of importance to the leadership of the Army. Studies produced by civilian and military analysts concern topics having strategic implications for the Army, the Department of Defense, and the larger national security community. In addition to its studies, SSI publishes special reports on topics of special or immediate interest. These include edited proceedings of conferences and topically-oriented roundtables, expanded trip reports, and quick-reaction responses to senior Army leaders. The Institute provides a valuable analytical capability within the Army to address strategic and other issues in support of Army participation in national security policy formulation. Strategic Studies Institute and U.S. Army War College Press WAR AND INSURGENCY IN THE WESTERN SAHARA Geoffrey Jensen May 2013 The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Tuareg Music and Capitalist Reckonings in Niger a Dissertation Submitted
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Los Angeles Rhythms of Value: Tuareg Music and Capitalist Reckonings in Niger A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Ethnomusicology by Eric James Schmidt 2018 © Copyright by Eric James Schmidt 2018 ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Rhythms of Value: Tuareg Music and Capitalist Reckonings in Niger by Eric James Schmidt Doctor of Philosophy in Ethnomusicology University of California, Los Angeles, 2018 Professor Timothy D. Taylor, Chair This dissertation examines how Tuareg people in Niger use music to reckon with their increasing but incomplete entanglement in global neoliberal capitalism. I argue that a variety of social actors—Tuareg musicians, fans, festival organizers, and government officials, as well as music producers from Europe and North America—have come to regard Tuareg music as a resource by which to realize economic, political, and other social ambitions. Such treatment of culture-as-resource is intimately linked to the global expansion of neoliberal capitalism, which has led individual and collective subjects around the world to take on a more entrepreneurial nature by exploiting representations of their identities for a variety of ends. While Tuareg collective identity has strongly been tied to an economy of pastoralism and caravan trade, the contemporary moment demands a reimagining of what it means to be, and to survive as, Tuareg. Since the 1970s, cycles of drought, entrenched poverty, and periodic conflicts have pushed more and more Tuaregs to pursue wage labor in cities across northwestern Africa or to work as trans- ii Saharan smugglers; meanwhile, tourism expanded from the 1980s into one of the region’s biggest industries by drawing on pastoralist skills while capitalizing on strategic essentialisms of Tuareg culture and identity.
    [Show full text]
  • Gender Mainstreaming in State-Building: a Case Study of Saharawi Refugees and Their Foreign Representatives Sonia Rossetti University of Wollongong
    University of Wollongong Research Online University of Wollongong Thesis Collection University of Wollongong Thesis Collections 2011 Gender mainstreaming in state-building: a case study of Saharawi refugees and their foreign representatives Sonia Rossetti University of Wollongong Recommended Citation Rossetti, Sonia, Gender mainstreaming in state-building: a case study of Saharawi refugees and their foreign representatives, Master of Arts (Research) thesis, School of History and Politics, University of Wollongong, 2011. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/3295 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact Manager Repository Services: [email protected]. Erratum by author Page 61 Senia Bachir Abderahman is not the former president of the Saharawi Women Union, but a Saharawi student at the Mount Holyoke College in Norway. Gender mainstreaming in state-building: a case study of Saharawi refugees and their foreign representatives A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Arts (Research) from UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG by Sonia Rossetti (Dott.ssa Giurisprudenza, University of Bologna Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice, ANU) Faculty of Arts School of History and Politics 2011 Table of Contents Table of Contents iii List of Figures vi List of Tables vi Acronyms vii Glossary vii Abstract ix Acknowledgements xiii Chapter One: Introduction to the case study and methodology 1 1.1 Outlining the approach
    [Show full text]
  • Mr. Sidi Omar (Frente Polisario) (Western Sahara)
    \ \ \ United Nations Nations Unies HEADQUARTERS . SIEGE NEW YORK, NY 10017 TELl 1 (212) 963.1234 . FAX: 1 (212) 963.4879 Distr. RESTRICTED PRSI2018/CRR12 ORIGINAL: ENGLISH THIRD INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR THE ERADICATION OF COLONIALISM Pacific regional seminar on the implementation of the Third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism: towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Non-Self-Governing Territories: social, economic and environmental challenges Saiÿ George's, Grenada to 11 May 2018 STATEMENT BY MR. SIDI MOHAMED OMAR (FRENTE POLISARIO (WESTERN SAHARA)) Statement of the Frente POLISARIO (Western Sahara) Sidi Mohamed Omar C-24 2018 Pacific Regional Seminar St. George's, Grenada, 9-11 May 2018 Mr Chair, Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address this Special Committee on behalf of the Frente POLISARIO; the legitimate representative of the people of the Non-Self- Governing Territory of Western Sahara. Our delegation would also like to thank the Government and people of Grenada for their warm hospitality and support for this seminar. The theme of the seminar dealing with the challenges facing Non-Self-Governing Territories in achieving the SDGs is particularly relevant to the case of Western Sahara especially as regards the plunder of the resources of the Territory by the occupying power, Morocco, and its social, economic, political and environmental consequences on our people, which all deserve to be broughtto the attention of this Special Committee. Before expanding on this issue, I would like to underline some fundamental facts regarding the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Western Sahara, and to brief you on the latest development concerning this last decolonisation case in Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • Humanitarian Needs of Sahrawi Refugees in Algeria 2016 – 2017
    Humanitarian Needs of Sahrawi Refugees in Algeria 2016 – 2017 1 July 2016 Caption cover page: A Sahrawi refugee, here with her children, lost her house due to the heavy rains in October 2015 and now is living in a tent, in Awserd camp, in Tindouf, Algeria. UNHCR/M.Redondo 2 Overview Financial Requirements 2016: USD 60,698,012 2017: USD 74,701,684 3 Executive Summary The Sahrawi refugee situation is one of the most protracted refugee situations in the world. Refugees from Western Sahara have been living in camps near Tindouf in southwest Algeria since 1975. The Government of Algeria recognized them as prima facie refugees, and has been hosting them in five camps, enabling access to public services, and providing infrastructure such as roads and electricity. In 1986, the host government requested the United Nations to assist Sahrawi refugees until a durable solution was found. Humanitarian assistance provided by UN agencies, international and national NGOs is based on a population planning figure of 90,000 vulnerable Sahrawi refugees. An additional 35,000 food rations are provided to persons with poor nutritional status. Pending a political solution, and due to the harsh conditions and remote location of the five refugee camps, the refugee population remains extremely vulnerable and entirely dependent on international assistance for their basic needs and survival. Due to the protracted situation of Sahrawi refugees and emergence of other large-scale humanitarian emergencies, funding levels have greatly decreased in recent years but humanitarian needs remain as pressing as ever. Lack of funding has severely affected the delivery of life-saving assistance to Sahrawi refugees by all organizations operating in the camps.
    [Show full text]
  • Document Version Pre-Print
    Kent Academic Repository Full text document (pdf) Citation for published version Volpato, Gabriele and Waldstein, Anna (2014) Eghindi Among Sahrawi Refugees of Western Sahara. Medical Anthropology, 33 (2). pp. 160-177. ISSN 0145-9740. DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/01459740.2013.844129 Link to record in KAR https://kar.kent.ac.uk/37519/ Document Version Pre-print Copyright & reuse Content in the Kent Academic Repository is made available for research purposes. Unless otherwise stated all content is protected by copyright and in the absence of an open licence (eg Creative Commons), permissions for further reuse of content should be sought from the publisher, author or other copyright holder. Versions of research The version in the Kent Academic Repository may differ from the final published version. Users are advised to check http://kar.kent.ac.uk for the status of the paper. Users should always cite the published version of record. Enquiries For any further enquiries regarding the licence status of this document, please contact: [email protected] If you believe this document infringes copyright then please contact the KAR admin team with the take-down information provided at http://kar.kent.ac.uk/contact.html Illness and sickness in contexts of change: Eghindi among Sahrawi refugees of Western Sahara Gabriele Volpatoa*, Anna Waldsteinb a Department of Social Sciences, Wageningen University, The Netherlands b School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, UK * Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (G. Volpato) Media teaser: How are illnesses and sicknesses modified with displacement and cultural change? We discuss the fate of the illness eghindi among Sahrawi refugees of Western Sahara This paper, based on primary research in Sahrawi refugee camps, explores the modification of illness and sickness experiences in response to cultural and environmental change.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Rights in Western Sahara and in the Tindouf Refugee Camps
    Morocco/Western Sahara/Algeria HUMAN Human Rights in Western Sahara RIGHTS and in the Tindouf Refugee Camps WATCH Human Rights in Western Sahara and in the Tindouf Refugee Camps Morocco/Western Sahara/Algeria Copyright © 2008 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 1-56432-420-6 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor New York, NY 10118-3299 USA Tel: +1 212 290 4700, Fax: +1 212 736 1300 [email protected] Poststraße 4-5 10178 Berlin, Germany Tel: +49 30 2593 06-10, Fax: +49 30 2593 0629 [email protected] Avenue des Gaulois, 7 1040 Brussels, Belgium Tel: + 32 (2) 732 2009, Fax: + 32 (2) 732 0471 [email protected] 64-66 Rue de Lausanne 1202 Geneva, Switzerland Tel: +41 22 738 0481, Fax: +41 22 738 1791 [email protected] 2-12 Pentonville Road, 2nd Floor London N1 9HF, UK Tel: +44 20 7713 1995, Fax: +44 20 7713 1800 [email protected] 27 Rue de Lisbonne 75008 Paris, France Tel: +33 (1)43 59 55 35, Fax: +33 (1) 43 59 55 22 [email protected] 1630 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 500 Washington, DC 20009 USA Tel: +1 202 612 4321, Fax: +1 202 612 4333 [email protected] Web Site Address: http://www.hrw.org December 2008 1-56432-420-6 Human Rights in Western Sahara and in the Tindouf Refugee Camps Map Of North Africa ....................................................................................................... 1 Summary...................................................................................................................... 2 Western Sahara ....................................................................................................... 3 Refugee Camps near Tindouf, Algeria ...................................................................... 8 Recommendations ...................................................................................................... 12 To the UN Security Council ....................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Three Challenges to Contemporaneous Taxonomy from a Licheno-Mycological Perspective
    Megataxa 001 (1): 078–103 ISSN 2703-3082 (print edition) https://www.mapress.com/j/mt/ MEGATAXA Copyright © 2020 Magnolia Press Review ISSN 2703-3090 (online edition) https://doi.org/10.11646/megataxa.1.1.16 Three challenges to contemporaneous taxonomy from a licheno-mycological perspective ROBERT LÜCKING Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 6–8, 14195 Berlin, Germany �[email protected]; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3431-4636 Abstract Nagoya Protocol, and does not need additional “policing”. Indeed, the Nagoya Protocol puts the heaviest burden on This paper discusses three issues that challenge contempora- taxonomy and researchers cataloguing biodiversity, whereas neous taxonomy, with examples from the fields of mycology for the intended target group, namely those seeking revenue and lichenology, formulated as three questions: (1) What is gain from nature, the protocol may not actually work effec- the importance of taxonomy in contemporaneous and future tively. The notion of currently freely accessible digital se- science and society? (2) An increasing methodological gap in quence information (DSI) to become subject to the protocol, alpha taxonomy: challenge or opportunity? (3) The Nagoya even after previous publication, is misguided and conflicts Protocol: improvement or impediment to the science of tax- with the guidelines for ethical scientific conduct. Through onomy? The importance of taxonomy in society is illustrated its implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, Colombia has using the example of popular field guides and digital me- set a welcome precedence how to exempt taxonomic and dia, a billion-dollar business, arguing that the desire to name systematic research from “access to genetic resources”, and species is an intrinsic feature of the cognitive component of hopefully other biodiversity-rich countries will follow this nature connectedness of humans.
    [Show full text]
  • Anthropology of Food and Nutrition Spring 2017 Syllabus Provisional Update
    Nutrition 330: Anthropology of Food and Nutrition Spring 2017 Syllabus Provisional Update Class Meetings: Wednesday, 3:15-6:15 pm in Jaharis 155 Instructor: Ellen Messer, PhD (http://www.nutrition.tufts.edu/faculty/messer-ellen) Contact: [email protected] Office Hours: TBA Tufts Graduate Credit: 1 cr. Prerequisites: Some social science background Course Description: This course provides an advanced introduction to anthropological theory and methods designed for food and nutrition science and policy graduate students. Section 1 covers anthropology's four-field modes of inquiry, cross-cutting theoretical approaches and thematic interest groups, their respective institutions and intellectual concerns. Section 2 demonstrates applications of these concepts and methods to cutting-edge food and nutrition issues. Assignments and activities incorporate background readings, related discussions, and short writing assignments, plus an anthropological literature review on a focused food and nutrition project, relevant to their particular interests. The course overall encourages critical thinking and scientific assessment of anthropology's evidence base, analytical tools, logic, and meaning-making, in the context of contributions to multi-disciplinary research and policy teams. Weekly 3-hour sessions feature an introductory overview lecture, student-facilitated discussion of readings, and professor-moderated debate or exercise illustrating that week's themes. Throughout the term, participants keep a written reading log (critical response diary), to be handed in week 3 and 6. In lieu of a mid-term exam, there are two 2-page graded written essay assignments, due weeks 4 and 8. The term-long food-and nutrition proposal- writing project will explore anthropological literature on a focused food and nutrition question, with an outline due week 9, and a short literature review and annotated bibliography due week 12.
    [Show full text]
  • Canary Islands) by Per Sunding Botanical Garden, University of Oslo, Norway
    Notes on the Flora of La Graciosa (Canary Islands) By Per Sunding Botanical Garden, University of Oslo, Norway RESUMEN Notas sobre la flora de La Graciosa (Islas Canarias): Enume- ración de 80 especies de fanerógamas, anotadas y colectadas du- rante una breve visita en dicha isla. Se considera citas florísticas poco conocidas y se presenta algunos datos sobre la vegetación en general. During field work in the eastern part of the Canary Is- lands archipelago in February-March 1969 the author made an one-day excursion to the island of Graciosa, north of Lanzarote. The flora of this 27km2 of mainly desert seems to be ~nlyscarcely known. There may well be material de- posited in various herbclria from the island, but what have bcen brought to common knowledge through publications have, so far, been only a few short plant lists or brief des- criptions of the vegetation. The first list of species from Graciosa was given by Berthelot (1836), who, however, included many doubtful cases and questionmarks. Further contributions to the flora of the island were given by Christ (1888), Bolle (1892, 1893), Pitard & Proust (1908), and Bannerman (1922). In the flora of Pitard & Proust were listed 35 species from Graciosa. The vegetation of the island is - where the landscape .S not completely devoid of plants - marked by open plant conimunities of the classes Ammophiletea and Salicornietea fruticosae (cp. Esteve Chueca 1968, and Sunding, in press). Some of the more common plant communities are the Cy- perus kalli - Euphorbia paralias comrnunity on unstable sand (the sand dune forming Traganum moquini community) and the Salsola vermiculata community on more stabilizcd sand or rocky ground.
    [Show full text]
  • June 29~ 1979
    June 29~ 1979 Dear Friends: Enclosed is a report of my recent trip to the Western Sahara, the .former Spanish Sahara. This is an area which is only beginning to be known more widely in the United States. I hope that my report will add to some understanding in what is happening there. If you have not seen the report of my colleague, Rich Knight, who was in the area for the 3rd Anniversary of the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic in late February and early March, we would be glad to· send one to you. Sincerely yours~ George M. Houser Executive Director GMH/jwb Ene. Pa~llrish/Research Executive Director: George M. Houser/Associate Director: Director: Jennifer Davis/Literature: Richard Knight ~412 \) CANARY ISLANDS rY ~d jJ MOROCCO ALGERIA t(l. o, ~Tindouf ...... ..,..;t / - o EL AAIUN / _/ iL' _ ... __ • Semara / ,/ "\ "1'..... ':11 -.....-:::-"':1- ,/ _~ ,/ I \... " /' . '" Bu Craa _ _ ./ --~_--0 'Ii f)Amgala-~()-1'ifariti ATLANTIC o CE AN WESTERN SAHARA M A U R I T A N I A La Guera . ~P..----_..-....--.... l June 1979 WITH POLISARIO IN THE WESTERN SAHARA George M. Houser I returned only recently from a visit to the Western Sahara, the former colonial Spanish Sahara. I was there two weeks (May S- 20, 1979) under the auspice of POLISARIO, the liberation movement in the territory. This was the most recent of frequent trips to Africa covering 2S years. I consider the two weeks spent with POLISARIO among the most memorable trips I have had over all these years. It was adventure in a political context.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogenetics of the Pezizaceae, with an Emphasis on Peziza
    Mycologia, 93(5), 2001, pp. 958-990. © 2001 by The Mycological Society of America, Lawrence, KS 66044-8897 Phylogenetics of the Pezizaceae, with an emphasis on Peziza Karen Hansen' tions were found to support different rDNA lineages, Thomas Laess0e e.g., a distinct amyloid ring zone at the apex is a syn- Department of Mycology, University of Copenhagen, apomorphy for group IV, an intense and unrestricted 0ster Farimagsgade 2 D, DK-1353 Copenhagen K, amyloid reaction of the apex is mostly found in Denmark group VI, and asci that are weakly or diffusely amy- Donald H. Pfister loid in the entire length are present in group II. Oth- Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, er morphological features, such as spore surface re- Massachusetts, 02138 USA lief, guttulation, excipulum structure and pigments, while not free from homoplasy, do support the groupings. Anamorphs likewise provide clues to high- Abstract: Phylogenetic relationships among mem- er-order relationships within the Pezizaceae. Several bers of the Pezizaceae were studied using 90 partial macro- and micromorphological features, however, LSU rDNA sequences from 51 species of Peziza and appear to have evolved several times independently, 20 species from 8 additional epigeous genera of the including ascomatal form and habit (epigeous, se- Pezizaceae, viz. Boudiera, Iodophanus, Iodowynnea, mihypogeous or hypogeous), spore discharge mech- Kimbropezia, Pachyella, Plicaria, Sarcosphaera and Sca- anisms, and spore shape. Parsimony-based optimiza- bropezia, and 5 hypogeous genera, viz. Amylascus, Ca- tion of character states on our phylogenetic trees sug- zia, Hydnotryopsis, Ruhlandiella and Tirmania. To gested that transitions to truffle and truffle-like forms test the monophyly of the Pezizaceae and the rela- evolved at least three times within the Pezizaceae (in tionships to the genera Marcelleina and Pfistera (Py- group III, V and VI).
    [Show full text]