Biocultural Diversity Conservation

Biocultural Diversity Conservation
A Global Sourcebook
By Luisa Maffi and Ellen Woodley

'All of the world's cultures are utterly dependent upon the biodiversity among which they live. Each culture has developed ways of adapting to their biodiversity, drawing on nature for goods, services, inspiration, mythology, and much else besides. 'Biocultural Diversity Conservation' is a treasure trove of the many approaches that have been taken by the world's diverse cultures to maintain the biological systems upon which they depend. This invaluable resource will certainly find great utility in all parts of the world and among many disciplines. '
Jeffrey A. McNeely, Senior Science Advisor, IUCN

$155.00
Hardback

February 2010 • 304 pages • 234 x 156mm • ISBN 9781844079209

Other Editions	ISBN	Price
Paperback	9781844079216	$57.95

The field of biocultural diversity is emerging as a dynamic, integrative approach to understanding the links between nature and culture and the interrelationships between humans and the environment at scales from the global to the local. Its multifaceted contributions have ranged from theoretical elaborations, to mappings of the overlapping distributions of biological and cultural diversity, to the development of indicators as tools to measure, assess, and monitor the state and trends of biocultural diversity, to on-the-ground implementation in field projects.

This book is a unique compendium and analysis of projects from all around the world that take an integrated biocultural approach to sustaining cultures and biodiversity. The 45 projects reviewed exemplify a new focus in conservation: this is based on the emerging realization that protecting and restoring biodiversity and maintaining and revitalizing cultural diversity and cultural vitality are intimately, indeed inextricably, interrelated.

'Here is a treasure trove of a book, one that will truly make a difference in the world. It represents a key milestone in our global understanding of the profound and inextricable links between cultural and biological diversity. Written by two of the leading lights in this new and growing field, it is filled with important information, case studies and analyses on a global scale.'
Nancy J. Turner, University of Victoria, Canada

'At long last: an authoritative guide to biocultural conservation. This is a splendid illumination of the intermingled diversity of culture and nature ... revealing and revolutionary.'
Thomas E. Lovejoy, Biodiversity Chair, The Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, USA

CONTENTS (Expand Contents)

Foreword by Gonzalo Oviedo, IUCN

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Why a Sourcebook on Biocultural Diversity?

Part I: Biocultural Diversity: Conceptual Framework

1. What Is Biocultural Diversity?

2. Why Is a Biocultural Approach Relevant for Sustaining Life in Nature and Culture?

Part II: Sustaining Biocultural Diversity: The Projects

3. Surveying Biocultural Diversity Projects Around the World

4. Overview of the Projects

5. Cross-cutting Analysis of the Projects

6. Lessons Learned from the Projects

Part III: Sustaining Biocultural Diversity: Future Directions

7. Filling the Gaps and Connecting the Dots: Recommendations and Next Steps

8. Biocultural Diversity and the Future of Sustainability

References

Appendix 1: Analytical Tables

Appendix 2: Survey Details

Appendix 3: Survey Contributor Information

Appendix 4: Directory of Selected Resources on Biocultural Diversity

Appendix 5: About Terralingua

Appendix 6: About the Authors

ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)

Luisa Maffi, Ph.D., is a linguist and anthropologist, and one of the originators of the field of biocultural diversity. She is co-founder and Director of the international NGO Terralingua. She is based in British Columbia, Canada.

Ellen Woodley, Ph.D., works as an ecological consultant in environment and development, specializing in issues of local and traditional ecological knowledge. She is based in Ontario, Canada.

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