Bio-Cultural Diversity, Ethnicity, and Local Knowledge

This book explores the interconnections between biodiversity, cultural knowledge, and resource management in Lanna in Northern Thailand, and Northeast India. By examining traditional practices, economic activities, and gender roles, the book contributes to the repertoire of local knowledge concerning resource management which may lead to policies that balance conservation with sustainable development. Today, urban and rural communities worldwide, especially in tropical regions, face crises in economic, agricultural, environmental, and cultural dimensions. The breakdown of human-nature relationships has become an urgent issue that people globally are beginning to recognize. Crucial research questions in biodiversity studies are: how can we extract lessons from various field studies to restore local communities' capacity to manage biodiversity? How can we empower communities to regain control over production, utilization, and genetic resource development, including knowledge about food, medicine, and other natural resources? Relevant to scholars in anthropology, environmental social sciences, ethnic and cultural studies, this is a timely volume in sustainable development studies in Asia.