Abstract
Traditional mountain societies are characterized by their close interconnection with nature and natural resources. They depend upon natural resources and biodiversity for their sustainable livelihood concerns (Ramakrishnan 1992a; Ramakrishnan et al. 1994; 1996). This linkage with nature and natural resources extends beyond the economic realm; social, cultural and spiritual dimensions also play a significant role (Ramakrishnan et al. 1998). Traditional mountain societies have a holistic view of the ecosystem and the social system. This relationship with nature is based on coexistence rather than competition, which results in agricultural strategies that are adapted to the natural environment and the sustainable use of natural resources. The result of this relationship is a set of institutional arrangements that evolved towards ecological prudence. The ultimate objective is the sustainable use of natural resources through compromises between environmental risks on the one hand, and productivity concerns on the other.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Agarwal, A., and Narain, S. (1997). “Dying wisdom. A state of India’s environment.” Centre for Science and Environment Report 4, New Delhi.
Bernbaum, E. (1997). The spiritual and cultural significance of mountains. In “Mountains of the world: A global priority.” (B. Messerli, and J. D. Ives, Eds.), pp. 39–60. Parthenon, Carnforth, Lanes.
Chokkalingam, U., Smith, J., de Jong, W., Sabogal, C., Dotzauer, H., and Savenije, H. (2000). “Towards sustainable management and development of Tropical secondary forests in Asia: The Samarinda proposal for action.” CIFOR, Bogor, Indonesia.
Ehrenfeld, D. (1991). The management of biodiversity: A conservation paradox. In “Ecology, economics, ethics: The broken circle.” (F. H. Bormann, and S. R. Kellert, Eds.), pp. 26–39. Yale University Press, New Haven.
Hladik, C. M, Hladik, A., Linares, O. F., Pagezy, H., Semple, A., and Hadley, M. (1993). “Tropical forests, people and food: Biocultural interactions and applications to development.” UNESCO-MAB Book Series 13, UNESCO, Paris, and Parthenon, Carnforth, Lanes.
Hughes, J. D. (1998). Sacred groves of the ancient mediterranean area: Early conservation of biological diversity. In “Conserving the sacred: For biodiversity management.” (P. S. Ramakrishnan, K. G. Saxena, and U. M. Chandrashekara, Eds.), pp. 101–121. UNESCO, Oxford, and IBH Publishers, New Delhi.
National Academy of Sciences (1975). “Underexploited Tropical plants with promising economic value.” National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.
NEPED and IRRR (1999). “Building upon traditional agriculture in Nagaland.” Nagaland Environmental Protection and Economic Development, Nagaland, India, and International Institute of Rural Reconstruction, Phillippines.
Partap, T, and Watson, H. R. (1994). “Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT): A regenerative option for sustainable mountain farming.” ICIMOD Occasional Paper 23, Kathmandu.
Patnaik, S. (2002). Sustainable non-timber forest products management: Challenges and opportunities. In “Managing traditional ecologcial knolwledge for biosphere management in South and Central Asia.” (P. S. Ramakrishnan, R. K. Rai, R. P. S. Katwal, and S. Mehndiratta, Eds.), pp. 97–127. UNESCO, Oxford, and IBH Publishers, New Delhi.
Ramakrishnan, P. S. (1992a). “Shifting agriculture and sustainable development: An interdisciplinary study from North-Eastern India.” UNESCO-MAB Series, Paris, Parthenon, Carnforth, Lanes (republished by Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1993).
Ramakrishnan, P. S. (1992b). Tropical forests: Exploitation, conservation and management. Impact of Science on Society 42, 149–162.
Ramakrishnan, P. S. (1994). The jhum agroecosystem in north-eastern India: A case study of the biological management of soils in a shifting agricultural system. In “The management of Tropical soil biology and fertility.” (P. L. Woomer, and M. J. Swift, Eds.), pp. 189–207. Wiley-Sayce, Exeter.
Ramakrishnan, P. S. (1999a). Ecological and human dimensions of ‘global change’ research. In “Global change in the mountains.” (M. Price, Ed.), pp. 176–179. Parthenon, Carnforth, Lanes.
Ramakrishnan, P. S. (1999b). The impact of globalisation on agricultural systems of traditional societies. In “Sustainable agriculture and environment: Globalization and the impact of trade liberalisation.” (A. K. Dragun, and C. Tisdell, Eds.), pp. 185–200. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.
Ramakrishnan, P. S. (2001). “Ecology and sustainable development.” National Book Trust of India, New Delhi.
Ramakrishnan, P. S., Campbell, J., Demierre, L., Gyi, A., Malhotra, K. C., Mehndiratta, S., Rai, S. N., and Sashidharan, E. M. (1994). Ecosystem rehabilitation of the rural landscape in South and Central Asia: An analysis of issues. Special Publication, UNESCO (ROSTCA), New Delhi.
Ramakrishnan, P. S., Das, A. K., and Saxena, K. G. (1996). “Conserving biodiversity for sustainable development.” Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi.
Ramakrishnan, P. S., Saxena, K. G., and Chandrashekara, U. M. (1998). “Conserving the sacred: For biodiversity management.” UNESCO, Oxford, and IBH Publishers, New Delhi.
Ramakrishnan, P. S., Chandrashekara, U. M., Elourd, C., Guilmoto, C. Z., Maikhuri, R. K., Rao, K. S., Sankar, S., and Saxena, K. G. (2000). “Mountain biodiversity, land use dynamics and traditional ecological knowledge.” UNESCO, Oxford, and IBH Publishers, New Delhi.
Ramakrishnan, P. S., Rai, R. K., Katwal, R. P. S., and Mehndiratta, S. (2002). “Managing traditional ecologcial knolwledge for biosphere management in South and Central Asia.” UNESCO, Oxford, and IBH, New Delhi.
Senapati, B. K., Naik, S., Lavelle, P., and Ramakrishnan, P. S. (2002). Earthworm-based technology application for status assessment and management of traditional agroforestry systems. In “Managing traditional ecological knowledge for biosphere management in South and Central Asia.” (P. S. Ramakrishnan, R. K. Rai, R. P. S. Katwal, and S. Mehndiratta, Eds.), pp. 139–169. UNESCO, Oxford, and IBH, New Delhi.
Swift, M. S., Vandermeer, J., Ramakrishnan, P. S., Anderson, J. M., Ong, C. K., and Hawkins, B. A. (1996). Biodiversity and agroecosystem function. In “Functional roles of biodiversity: A global perspective.” (H. A. Mooney et al., Eds.), pp. 261–298. J. Wiley and Sons, New York.
Tacio, H. D. (1993). Sloping agricultural land technology (SALT): A sustainable agroforestry scheme for the uplands. Agroforestry Systems 22, 145–152.
Vatsayan, K. (1993). “Prakriti.” Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi.
Walker, B. H., Steffen, W. L., and Langridge, J. (1999). Interactive and integrated effects of global change on terrestrial ecosystems. In “The terrestrial biosphere and global change: Implications for natural and managed ecosystems.” (B. Walker, W. Steffen, J. Canadell, and J. Ingram, Eds.), pp. 329–375. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2005 Springer
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ramakrishnan, P.S. (2005). Mountain Biodiversity, Land Use Dynamics and Traditional Ecological Knowledge. In: Huber, U.M., Bugmann, H.K.M., Reasoner, M.A. (eds) Global Change and Mountain Regions. Advances in Global Change Research, vol 23. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3508-X_55
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3508-X_55
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-3507-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-3508-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)