CULTURE AND ECOLOGY D. Narasimhan Centre for Floristic Research Department of Botany, Madras Christian College (Autonomous) Tambaram, Chennai – 600 059 [email_address]

A shift in the mode of obtaining food approximately 12,000 years ago has resulted in most of the ecological changes that have taken place on earth.

Human cultures have shifted from Gathering and Hunting mode of food to Production mode

Systematic destruction of forests and changing the different the ecosystems for cultivation began since then

Neolithic cultures were engaged in intense agriculture

Domestication of animals & plants Formation of civilizations Institutionalization of religions and systems of managements Ownership of land and territorial wars Development of literature and fine arts Growth of industries Agriculture has led to:

Domestication of animals & plants

Formation of civilizations

Institutionalization of religions and systems of managements

Ownership of land and territorial wars

Development of literature and fine arts

Growth of industries

THE ORIGIN OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS AND OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS

How do we assess the interference of human cultures on ecology?

Should we blame the cultures for raping, looting and destroying the nature?

Should we appreciate the role of cultures in taming, modifying and controlling the nature and making the earth a comfortable home for human progeny?

Shifting cultivation: How do we understand the practice?

Agricultural landscapes and biodiversity

45% of the species used by Malaiyali tribe comes agricultural landscapes

20% of the plants used in Siddha medicine Come from agricultural landscapes

Anthropogenic Biomes of the World * Mosaic : >25% tree cover mixed with > 25% pasture and/or cropland *

CULTURE & COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE Culturally Rich Papua New Guinea Nigeria Cameroon Bio – Culturally Rich Brazil Mexico Indonesia India Australia Zaire Biodiversity Rich Peru Malaysia Columbia Equator China Madagascar Bio – Culturally Rich Brazil Mexico Indonesia India Australia Zaire

Interaction between culture and ecology developed locale specific systems of knowledge with comparable parallels

Role of bio-cultural knowledge Helps to classify, understand and retrieve information on local resources Helps in the management of local resources Plays a major role in the manipulation of resources

Helps to classify, understand and retrieve information on local resources

Helps in the management of local resources

Plays a major role in the manipulation of resources

Latex trees, pastoral communities and milk Myths, Ecology and Culture Surrogates – Vanni tree, fire and Shiva

Culture and Conservation Sacred groves

Tinai or Global Culture Capsicum Tomato Potato

Special Economic Zones Culture, Development and Ecology

Thank you