ISE Newsletter

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

ISE Newsletter ISE Newsletter Volume 5, Issue 1 April 2013 Looking Back, Reflections on the 13th ISE Congress Montpellier, France, May 2012 Inside this issue: Contributed by Edmond Dounias, Congress Coordinator Reflections on 1 history of the city, and The general public was the 13th ISE unable to take part in the Congress The UN took the decision to organize Rio + 20 just a few attractions proposed in the On the Ground 2 weeks after the Congress. stands due to the 20,000 in Montpellier overexcited supporters These first four events had a converging in the heart of The Main 4 fairly negative impact on the the city to watch the last Congress preparation and the running match of Montpellier’s Components of the Congress. soccer team on a giant Scientific 4 Inevitable Unforeseen The French elections and the screen (Sunday, May 20) and Colloquium economic crisis significantly then the 30,000 people When, in July 2008, we affected our capacity to raise giving an ovation to the Side Events 5 brought to Cusco the funding and institutional victorious players application of Montpellier to Educational 6 support from the French brandishing the cup host the 13th Congress of the Projects authorities. During the six (Monday, May 21). ISE in 2012, we did not months that preceded the For obvious security reasons, Indigenous 7 anticipate 5 major events: elections, the activities of the Forum we were strongly invited by The French presidential ministries drastically the police to close all the elections to fall in early decreased and nobody Pre- and Post- 10 stands in order to prevent May 2012, wanted to commit to a Congress vandalism and degradation decision concerning an event Workshops An unprecedented and by uncontrollable hooligans. that was going to happen just worldwide economic crisis, ISE Programs 15 after elections whose The fifth unexpected event and Prizes at The worst weather outcomes were uncertain. had a much more positive conditions for the season influence on the outcomes the Congress The unusual bad weather over the past 20 years of the Congress. (chilly with heavy rain) and Emerging Eth- 18 (May in Montpellier is the victory of the Montpellier In 2010, the UN made the nobiologists usually hot and sunny), soccer team severely affected decision to organize Rio+20. The soccer team of the “outdoor” stands of the Initially planned for early Upcoming 22 Montpellier winning the Congress that had been June 2012, the event was Ethnobiologist’s 24 2012 French championship installed on the main postponed for two weeks Bookshelf for the first time in the esplanade of the city. (continued on page 2) From the Editorial Team This issue highlights the 13th ISE Congress that took place in Montpellier, France, in May 2012. We hope you enjoy! Natasha Duarte, Liz Thompson, Sarah-Lan Mathez-Stiefel and Leslie Main Johnson Page 2 ISE Newsletter Reflections on the 13th ISE Congress (continued) and was eventually held one of a Montpellier statement. In the end, even if some month after the Congress. Its preparation was details inevitably did not run For further details as expected, the Congress about the congress, We obtained the support of enthusiastically initiated by came together and was the please visit the the Executive Secretary of ISE members Jan Salick website: the United Nations who (Missouri Botanical Garden) largest in ISE’s history, with http://congress- advertised the Congress on and Pablo Eyzaguirre over 700 people from 75 ise2012.agropolis.fr their website, and the (Bioversity International), and countries in attendance and perspective of this then coordinated and carried is considered by the Society worldwide conference forward by ISE Board Member as an immense success. stimulated the elaboration Gleb Raygorodetsky. On the Ground in Montpellier Contributed by Edmond Dounias, Congress Coordinator Congress Organizers & Sponsors Institute for Development], a research organization devoted to conducting research in, for and with the The aforementioned success wouldn’t have been countries of the South with the support of Agropolis possible without the efforts and contributions of the International, an association linking establishments of Congress organizers and sponsors. research and higher education in Montpellier and the The preparation of the 2012 Congress was headed by Languedoc-Roussillon region involved in the fields of scientists belonging to the two research units of agriculture, food, biodiversity and environment. Montpellier, which federates all researchers of Besides having the support of the United Nations, the Montpellier working in the field of ethnobiology: the Congress benefited from the considerable patronage of research unit “Biocultural interactions” of the Center for UNESCO. It was sponsored by: Functional and Evolutionary Ecology (CEFE), and the research unit “Governance, risk, environment and International organizations development” (GRED). This core group of approximately The Global Environment Facility 20 people worked in close and constant interaction with The Christensen Fund the ISE Board. The Center for International Forestry Research The local institutional organization of the Congress Bioversity International (linked to the ISE through a Memorandum of The International Union for Conservation of Nature Understanding) was coordinated by the Institut de Science and Technology Research Partnership for Recherche pour le Développement [the French Research Sustainable Development Volume 5, Issue 1 Page 3 On the Ground in Montpellier (continued) French institutions and universities Sister associations and NGOs Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial [The Biodiversité: échanges et diffusion d’expériences French Global Environment Facility] (BEDE) [Biodiversity Exchange and Diffusion of Fondation pour la Recherche sur la Biodiversité [The Experiences] Foundation for Research on Biodiversity] Racines de Terriens [Earthling Roots] Institut de recherche pour le développement Forêts Tropicales Humides:Avenir [Tropical [French Research Institute for Development] Rainforests: Future] Le Centre de Coopération Internationale en Rencontres mémorables : Un lien et des ponts pour Recherche Agronomique pour le développement le monde [Memorable encounters: making links and [French Agricultural Research Centre for building bridges]. International Development] The Congress also benefited from the significant financial Agropolis International contribution of the following partners for the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique preparation of pre/post-Congress workshops: [French National Scientific Research Centre] University Montpellier 1, University Montpellier 2, The Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas University Montpellier 3 Consortium The French focal point of the Man and Biosphere The Global Diversity Foundation Programme of UNESCO The Rachel Carson Center For Environment and Society Territorial authorities and state bodies The Sentimiel Initiative The Languedoc-Roussillon Region The Missouri Botanical Garden The Hérault General Council The Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew The Montpellier Urban Area Community The Gaia Foundation The City of Montpellier The Ministry of Higher Education and Research The Regional Directorate for Food, Agricultural and Forests The Regional Directorate for Environment, Development and Housing The Academy of Montpellier The Montpellier Regional Centre for Pedagogical Resources Media Coverage Social Media at the Congress The Congress was well covered by the media at the local Social media capabilities were available at the 2012 and national levels. A webTV was prepared jointly by the Congress to engage participants as well as those who three universities of Montpellier, including live reports were unable to attend the live event. Please see the list every evening. All the media hits of the Congress (25 of sites where ISE had an online presence. We welcome videos, 1 TV news report, 3 radio news reports, and your tweets, likes, images and follows and look forward press review of 15 journal articles) are accessible on the to hearing from you! Agropolis International website. This page also gives access to the video of the Montpellier statement read Our sites Social Media WebTV by Mrs. Hélène Mandroux, Mayor of Montpellier, during Rio+20. Another interesting video was filmed and edited by Reka Komaromi and is also accessible on Youtube and Facebook. Page 4 ISE Newsletter On the Ground in Montpellier (continued) Congress Theme Cultural diversity and biological hosting region as a source of diversity for sustainable inspiration, we wished to question the The overarching theme for the 2012 development: Exploring the past to history of human-induced changes for ISE Congress was highly build up the future. a better understanding of the complementary with the historical components and dynamics of current background and the intrinsic The remarkable diversity in space and global biodiversity. dynamism of the Montpellier region. time of both natural environments and human societies has contributed Congress participants were Because this region has been to a complex structure of these encouraged to focus on their influenced by its long and coupled systems. Human societies understanding of past human multicultural traditions as well as have progressively shaped the various activities as a means to develop more recent development, we decided to landscapes of the Mediterranean sustainable patterns of natural include all these themes under the region. resource management
Recommended publications
  • An Introduction to Biocultural Diversity
    1 Biocultural Diversity To o l kit An Introduction to Biocultural Diversity Terralingua Biocultural Diversity: Earth’s Interwoven Variety he very reason our planet can be said to be T“alive” at all is because there exists here (and here alone, so far as we know) a profuse variety: of organisms, of divergent streams of human thought and behavior, and of geophysical features that provide a congenial setting for the workings of nature and culture. All three realms of difference have evolved so that they interact with and influence one another. Earth’s interwoven variety – what we call biocultural diversity - is nothing less than the pre-eminent fact of existence. David Harmon, Executive Director, The George Wright Society; Co-founder, Terralingua BIOCULTURAL DIVERSITY TOOLKIT Volume 1 - Introduction to Biocultural Diversity Copyright ©Terralingua 2014 Designed by Ortixia Dilts Edited by Luisa Maffi and Ortixia Dilts O 2 Biocultural Diversity Toolkit | BCD INTRO Table of Contents Introduction Biocultural Diversity: the True Web of Life Biocultural Diversity at a Glance The Biocultural Heritage of Mexico: a Case Study The World We Want: Ensuring Our Collective Bioculturally Resilient Future For More Information Image Credits: Cover and photo above © Cristina Mittermeier,2008; Montage left page © Cristina O Mittermeier , 2008 (photos 1, 2), © Anna Maffi, 2008 (photo 3), © Stanford Zent, 2008 (photo 4). BCD INTRO | Biocultural Diversity Toolkit 3 BIOCULTURAL DIVERSITY TOOLKIT VOL. 1. Introduction to Biocultural Diversity Introduction Luisa Maffi n the past few decades, people have become familiar Environmental degradation poses an especially Iwith the idea of biodiversity as the biological variety severe threat for these place-based societies.
    [Show full text]
  • Topics and Issues in Ethnoentomology with Some Suggestions for the Development of Hypothesis-Generation and Testing in Ethnobiology
    J. Ethnobiol. 6(1):99-120 Summer 1986 TOPICS AND ISSUES IN ETHNOENTOMOLOGY WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HYPOTHESIS-GENERATION AND TESTING IN ETHNOBIOLOGY DARRELL ADDISON POSEY Labotatbrio de Etnobiologia Departamento de Biologia Universidade Federal do Maranhao 65,000 Sao Luiz, Maranhao (Brazil) ABSTRACT.-This paper defines ethnoentornology, briefly traces the history of the field, surveys the literature in major subject areas and offers suggestions for continued research. Hypothesis-generation/testing is suggested as an important 1/ intellectual bridge" to a world science that builds upon knowledge systems of all human societies. Examples are presented. INTRODUCTION Definitions, even for ethnoentomology, are often difficult to formulate, and, once formulated, are usually unsatisfactory. Insight and understanding is sometimes increased through a comparison with a related term or concept, hence the juxtaposition of "cultural entomology" and "ethnoentomology" in the discussion that follows. Cultural entomology treats the influence of insects upon the "essence of humanity as expressed in the arts and humanities" (Hogue 1980). Cultural anthropologists usually restrict their studies to "advanced," industrialized, and literate societies, maintaining that entomological concerns of "primitive" or "noncivilized" societies are in the domain of ethnoentomology. They are principally interested in written forms of cultural expres­ sion and limit their studies to physically recorded sources of literate societies. It is well to note that
    [Show full text]
  • Intercultural Competence and Skills in the Biology Teachers Training from the Research Procedure of Ethnobiology
    Science Education International 30(4), 310-318 https://doi.org/10.33828/sei.v30.i4.8 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Intercultural Competence and Skills in the Biology Teachers Training from the Research Procedure of Ethnobiology Geilsa Costa Santos Baptista*, Geane Machado Araujo 1Department of Education, State University of Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana City, Bahia State, Brazil, 2Department of Biology, State University of Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana City, Bahia State, Brazil *Corresponding Author: [email protected] ABSTRACT We present and discuss the results of qualitative research based on a case study with biology undergraduate students from a public University of Bahia state, Brazil. The objective was to identify the influence of practical experiences involving ethnobiology applied to science teaching on intercultural dialogue into their initial training. To collect data, undergraduate students were asked to construct narratives revealing the influences of ethnobiology into their training as future teachers. Data were analyzed according to Bardin (1977) and supported by specific literature from the fields of science education and teaching. The thematic categories generated lead us to conclude that the undergraduates of biology teaching made reflections that allowed them to build opinions with meanings that should influence their pedagogical practices with intercultural dialogue. We recommend further studies involving ethnobiology and the training of biology teachers, with a larger sample of participants and the methodological and theoretical procedures of this science. Improvements could be made in biology teacher education curricula that encourage respect and consideration of cultural diversity. We highlight that it is imperative for teacher education courses to generate opportunities for on-site practical experience, in addition to the theory used in the classroom.
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring Biocultural Diversity Through Art
    Copyright © 2017 by the author(s). Published here under license by the Resilience Alliance. Polfus, J. L., D. Simmons, M. Neyelle, W. Bayha, F. Andrew, L. Andrew, B. G. Merkle, K. Rice, and M. Manseau. 2017. Creative convergence: exploring biocultural diversity through art. Ecology and Society 22(2):4. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-08711-220204 Research, part of a Special Feature on Reconciling Art and Science for Sustainability Creative convergence: exploring biocultural diversity through art Jean L. Polfus 1, Deborah Simmons 2,3, Michael Neyelle 2,4, Walter Bayha 5, Frederick Andrew 2, Leon Andrew 2, Bethann G. Merkle 6, Keren Rice 7 and Micheline Manseau 1,8 ABSTRACT. Interdisciplinary approaches are necessary for exploring the complex research questions that stem from interdependence in social-ecological systems. For example, the concept of biocultural diversity, which highlights the interactions between human diversity and the diversity of biological systems, bridges multiple knowledge systems and disciplines and can reveal historical, existing, and emergent patterns of variation that are essential to ecosystem dynamics. Identifying biocultural diversity requires a flexible, creative, and collaborative approach to research. We demonstrate how visual art can be used in combination with scientific and social science methods to examine the biocultural landscape of the Sahtú region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Specifically, we focus on the intersection of Dene cultural diversity and caribou (Rangifer tarandus) intraspecific variation. We developed original illustrations, diagrams, and other visual aids to increase the effectiveness of communication, improve the organization of research results, and promote intellectual creativity. For example, we used scientific visualization and drawings to explain complex genetic data and clarify research priorities.
    [Show full text]
  • Hunting Shrines in the Guatemalan Highlands
    J Archaeol Method Theory (2008) 15:300–337 DOI 10.1007/s10816-008-9055-7 Negotiations with the Animate Forest: Hunting Shrines in the Guatemalan Highlands Linda A. Brown & Kitty F. Emery Published online: 10 October 2008 # Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2008 Abstract Ethnoarchaeological research at highland Maya hunting shrines docu- ments the material remains of interactions between two types of animate beings: humans and the forest. When either active agent enters the others’ domain there are accompanying ceremonial activities to assuage the inherent danger, often leaving physical traces in the material record. These traces, if found in the archaeological record, might reveal similar ancient interactions. Using the material correlates of modern hunting rituals, we explore the utility of ethnoarchaeological research in identifying negotiations with non-human agents associated with the animate forest – an active agent in many societies. Keywords Maya . Ethnoarchaeology . Hunting ceremonialism . Zooarchaeology Introduction Ethnoarchaeology, the study of modern material remains as analogs for ancient activities, can provide valuable data for inferring agency from the archaeological record. This is particularly true in the case of animistic religious practices, where one or more actors are non-physical entities or material objects not afforded agency in our own culture but active participants in other societies. In the pursuit of evidence for interactions between human and non-human agents, the material remains of repeated ceremonial negotiations are valuable. As these negotiations often occur at the boundaries between agent realms, they physically mark important thresholds where human and non-human actors interact. L. A. Brown (*) Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA e-mail: [email protected] K.
    [Show full text]
  • A Global Index of Biocultural Diversity
    A Global Index of Biocultural Diversity Discussion Paper for the International Congress on Ethnobiology University of Kent, U.K., June 2004 David Harmon and Jonathan Loh DRAFT DISCUSSION PAPER: DO NOT CITE OR QUOTE The purpose of this paper is to draw comments from as wide a range of reviewers as possible. Terralingua welcomes your critiques, leads for additional sources of information, and other suggestions for improvements. Address for comments: David Harmon c/o The George Wright Society P.O. Box 65 Hancock, Michigan 49930-0065 USA [email protected] or Jonathan Loh [email protected] CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 BACKGROUND 6 Conservation in concert 6 What is biocultural diversity? 6 The Index of Biocultural Diversity: overview 6 Purpose of the IBCD 8 Limitations of the IBCD 8 Indicators of BCD 9 Scoring and weighting of indicators 10 Measuring diversity: some technical and theoretical considerations 11 METHODS 13 Overview 13 Cultural diversity indicators 14 Biological diversity indicators 16 Calculating the IBCD components 16 RESULTS 22 DISCUSSION 25 Differences among the three index components 25 The world’s “core regions” of BCD 29 Deepening the analysis: trend data 29 Deepening the analysis: endemism 32 CONCLUSION 33 Uses of the IBCD 33 Acknowledgments 33 APPENDIX: MEASURING CULTURAL DIVERSITY—GREENBERG’S 35 INDICES AND ELFs REFERENCES 42 2 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. IBCD-RICH, a biocultural diversity richness index. 46 Table 2. IBCD-AREA, an areal biocultural diversity index. 51 Table 3. IBCD-POP, a per capita biocultural diversity index. 56 Table 4. Highest 15 countries in IBCD-RICH and its component 61 indicators.
    [Show full text]
  • Ethnobiology Spring Semester 2011
    Anthropology 477: Special Topics – Ethnobiology Spring Semester 2011 Instructor: Karol Chandler-Ezell—Department of Social & Cultural Analysis, Stephen F. Austin State University E-mail: [email protected] Office: 351 Liberal Arts North, Dept. of Social & Cultural Analysis Office hours: M 10-11:30, T 10-11, W 9:30-11:30, 2-4, Th 3:30-4:30, F 10-11:30, 2-3 & by appt. Please call or email me at [email protected] (NOT through the course webpage) to schedule an appointment. Also feel free to talk to me before or after class. Phone: 936-468-2078, Dept. Social & Cultural Analysis. 936-468-4405 Class location and meeting time: T/Th 2:00-3:15 – Ferguson Liberal Arts 482 Required Textbook: 1. Davis, Wade. 1988. Passage of Darkness. The Ethnobiology of the Haitian Zombie. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. * Other readings and media materials will be posted on the course website or given in class. Course website & Other Media: Assignments, study guides, schedules, and other lecture materials will be posted on the course website. The class schedule is tentative, as we may go faster or slower on lecture to accommodate class discussions. Website materials are not complete and are not a substitute for attendance. If you have difficulties with the website, you may ask for printed copies of the materials. Course Description: This special topics course is a seminar in ethnobiology, the study of the interrelations between humans and the natural world. Ethnobiology includes ethnobotany, the study of human-plant relationships; ethnozoology, the study of human-animal relationships; and ethnoecology, the study of human- environment interrelations.
    [Show full text]
  • Empowering Indigenous Agency Through Community-Driven Collaborative Management to Achieve Effective Conservation: Hawai‘I As an Example
    SPECIAL ISSUE CSIRO PUBLISHING Pacific Conservation Biology Perspective https://doi.org/10.1071/PC20009 Empowering Indigenous agency through community-driven collaborative management to achieve effective conservation: Hawai‘i as an example Kawika B. Winter A,B,C,D,N, Mehana Blaich VaughanB,E,F, Natalie KurashimaD,G, Christian GiardinaD,H, Kalani Quiocho B,I, Kevin ChangD,J, Malia AkutagawaE,K,L, Kamanamaikalani BeamerE,K and Fikret BerkesM AHawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Ma¯noa, Ka¯ne‘ohe, HI, USA. BNatural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawai‘i at Ma¯noa, Honolulu, HI, USA. CNational Tropical Botanical Garden, Kala¯heo, HI, USA. DHawai‘i Conservation Alliance, Honolulu, HI, USA. EHui ‘Aina¯ Momona Program, University of Hawai‘i at Ma¯noa, Honolulu, HI, USA. FUniversity of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawai‘i at Ma¯noa, Honolulu, HI, USA. GNatural and Cultural Ecosystems, Kamehameha Schools, Kailua-Kona, HI, USA. HInstitute of Pacific Island Forestry, US Forest Service, Hilo, HI, USA. IPapaha¯naumokua¯kea Marine National Monument, Honolulu, HI, USA. JKua‘a¯ina Ulu Auamo, Ka¯ne‘ohe, HI, USA. KHawai‘inuia¯kea School of Hawaiian Knowledge – Kamakakuokalani% Center for Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Ma¯noa, Honolulu, HI, USA. LWilliam S. Richardson School of Law – Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law, University of Hawai‘i at Ma¯noa, Honolulu, HI, USA. MNatural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. NCorresponding author. Email: [email protected] Abstract. Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) around the world are increasingly asserting ‘Indigenous agency’ to engage with government institutions and other partners to collaboratively steward ancestral Places.
    [Show full text]
  • Culture and Sustainability: Environmental Anthropology in the Anthropocene
    PERSPECTIVES: AN OPEN INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY SECOND EDITION Nina Brown, Thomas McIlwraith, Laura Tubelle de González 2020 American Anthropological Association 2300 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 1301 Arlington, VA 22201 ISBN Print: 978-1-931303-67-5 ISBN Digital: 978-1-931303-66-8 http://perspectives.americananthro.org/ This book is a project of the Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges (SACC) http://sacc.americananthro.org/ and our parent organization, the American Anthropological Association (AAA). Please refer to the website for a complete table of contents and more information about the book. Perspectives: An Open Introduction to Cultural Anthropology by Nina Brown, Thomas McIlwraith, Laura Tubelle de González is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted. Under this CC BY-NC 4.0 copyright license you are free to: Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material Under the following terms: Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. 1414 CULTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY: ENVIRONMENTAL ANTHROPOLOGY IN THE ANTHROPOCENE Christian T. Palmer, Windward Community College [email protected] Learning Objectives • Identify the methods and theories anthropologists use to examine human interactions with the environment. • Define political ecology and explain its relationship to anthropology. • Describe the Anthropocene and discuss how anthropology contributes to understanding the human role in environmental destruction.
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring Biocultural Approaches to Education Terralingua Langscape Volume 3, Issue 1 Exploring Biocultural Approaches to Education
    VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 | SUMMER 2014 Langscape WITH GUEST EDITOR | YVONNE VIZINA Exploring Biocultural Approaches to Education Terralingua Langscape Volume 3, issue 1 Exploring Biocultural Approaches to Education here was a time with no schools—a time when nature and community were our teachers, and they taught us everything we needed to know Tin order to live respectfully and care for one another and for the land. We Langscape is an extension of the voice of Terralingua. It have come a long way from that. With the rise and spread of formal learning institutions, over time our concepts of “knowledge” and “education” have supports our mission by educating the minds and hearts become less and less associated with everyday-life, hands-on, holistic about the importance and value of biocultural diversity. experience and more and more with academic study and research—the body of systematic thought and inquiry that we call “science”. We aim to promote a paradigm shift by illustrating Science and its countless applications have permeated all realms of biocultural diversity through scientific and traditional human life. But, enclosed inside the walls of our learning institutions, knowledge, within an elegant sensory context of articles, compartmentalized within the silos of different, specialized disciplines, we have become insular and disconnected. We have lost sight of ourselves as stories and art. a part of—not separate from and dominant over—the natural world, and as inextricably linked with all other peoples and all other species on earth in a global web of interdependence: the web of life in nature and culture Langscape is a Terralingua publication that is now known as “biocultural diversity”.
    [Show full text]
  • From Ethical Codes to Ethics As Praxis: an Invitation
    Perspectives Special Issue on Ethics in Ethnobiology From Ethical Codes to Ethics as Praxis: An Invitation Kelly Bannister1* 1POLIS Project on Ecological Governance, Centre for Global Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada. *[email protected] Abstract Ethical guidance for research involving Indigenous and traditional communities, cultural knowledge, and associated biological resources has evolved significantly over recent decades. Formal guidance for ethnobiological research has been thoughtfully articulated and codified in many helpful ways, including but by no means limited to the Code of Ethics of the International Society of Ethnobiology. We have witnessed a successful and necessary era of “research ethics codification” with ethical awareness raised, fora established for debate and policy development, and new tools evolving to assist us in treating one another as we agree we ought to within the research endeavor. Yet most of us still struggle with ethical dilemmas, conflicts, and differences that arise as part of the inevitable uncertainties and lived realities of our cross- cultural work. Is it time to ask what more (or what else) might we do, to lift the words on a page that describe how we should conduct ourselves, to connecting with the relational intention of those ethical principles and practices in concrete, meaningful ways? How might we discover ethics as relationship and practice while we necessarily aspire to follow adopted ethical codes as prescription? This paper brings together Willie Ermine’s concept of “ethical space” and Darrell Posey’s recognition of the spiritual values of biodiversity with a unique selection of insights from other fields of practice, such as intercultural communication, conflict resolution and martial arts, to invite a new conceptualization of research ethics in ethnobiology as ethical praxis.
    [Show full text]
  • An Earthly Cosmology
    Forum on Religion and Ecology Indigenous Traditions and Ecology Annotated Bibliography Abram, David. Becoming Animal: An Earthly Cosmology. New York and Canada: Vintage Books, 2011. As the climate veers toward catastrophe, the innumerable losses cascading through the biosphere make vividly evident the need for a metamorphosis in our relation to the living land. For too long we’ve ignored the wild intelligence of our bodies, taking our primary truths from technologies that hold the living world at a distance. Abram’s writing subverts this distance, drawing readers ever closer to their animal senses in order to explore, from within, the elemental kinship between the human body and the breathing Earth. The shape-shifting of ravens, the erotic nature of gravity, the eloquence of thunder, the pleasures of being edible: all have their place in this book. --------. The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-than-Human World. New York: Vintage, 1997. Abram argues that “we are human only in contact, and conviviality, with what is not human” (p. ix). He supports this premise with empirical information, sensorial experience, philosophical reflection, and the theoretical discipline of phenomenology and draws on Merleau-Ponty’s philosophy of perception as reciprocal exchange in order to illuminate the sensuous nature of language. Additionally, he explores how Western civilization has lost this perception and provides examples of cultures in which the “landscape of language” has not been forgotten. The environmental crisis is central to Abram’s purpose and despite his critique of the consequences of a written culture, he maintains the importance of literacy and encourages the release of its true potency.
    [Show full text]