And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: X-Sender: earlec@cd-eso X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.5 (32) Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 10:20:45 -0800 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Earle Cummings <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Listserver readers may be interested in the following session of the Society for Ecological Restoration Conference in San Francisco: Traditional Ecological Knowledge Co-chair: David Self, Zentner and Zentner 530.676.1054; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Co-chair: Susan Maxwell 530.676.1054; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is a shorthand for the ecologically oriented facets of whole biodiversity-based cultures. In these cultures the careful tending and use of a wide variety of native plants and animals for food, medicine and materials is intimately linked and inseparable from functional and often beautiful craft, stories, song, celebration, respectful attitudes, and spiritual beliefs. And this 'whole' reinforces the careful, long-term tending, use and management of the broad landscape with attention to all habitats and the perpetuation of many, many species. Further, the ecological knowledge is widely shared and is learned from an early age, with 'hands-on' involvement that reinforces the skills, knowledge and attitudes of respectful use and sustainability. In contrast, with modern occidental land management the decision making and knowledge are commonly held by relatively few narrowly focused professionals. And the 'ecological' training of these professionals is typically only a small part of a mere 4-6 years of college that largely ignores related disciplines, and that often includes no exposure to the rich land care traditions and conservation knowledge of other cultures. The resulting simplistic management is then carried out by a tiny handful of people to maximize one or a few 'products' or 'values', often to considerable detriment of other species, habitats, ecological functions and traditional cultures. At the same time, most of the 'new neighbors' remain (even after several centuries) largely ignorant of the flawed rationale and damaging consequences of such narrowly focused management - they know of no alternatives, and they devalue the ecological knowledge, skills and management practices of those displaced cultures that often practiced or approached sustainability and conservation of natural diversity (including genetic diversity of crop plants and their wild relatives. At SER'99 our TEK sessions will focus on these contrasting 'native' and occidental approaches: to 'land use', to knowledge and education, to community involvement, and to the roles of culture in sustaining biodiversity and ecological functions. We'll explore models and projects that combine restoration ecology and TEK. And we'll give particular attention to the importance of traditional cultures as stewards of natural diversity, to the survival of traditional cultures, to the potential for eco-cultural restoration to help sustain and revive traditional cultures; to TEK and traditional cultures as guides toward culturally enriching, biodiversity conserving, and sustainable modes of ecological restoration and land use / landcare; and to issues of environmental justice as they relate to restoration. A number of TEK discussions will also be inter-woven into 'science-focused' sessions on fire ecology, fisheries restoration, education and other diverse topics. And we also plan to have a few traditional craft, food and related demonstrations to enliven and deepen the event. More information is available at http://208.147.33.8:80/ser99 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
