1 / - / 2 / B107 Cultural Ecology (1st Semester / Mon.

3 & 4 / 2 credits / B107)

Lecturer: SUN Xiaogang

Email: sunxgang@envr.tsukuba.ac.jp
http://www.envr.tsukuba.ac.jp/~sunxgang

Ofce: A306 / Tel: 6997

 What is cultural ecology

A multi-disciplinary scientic study Integrate cultural anthropology with ecology A sub-discipline of anthropology Also called ecological anthropology

 What is culture?

Edward B. Tylor Primitive Culture (1871) Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society

 What is culture?

Exists only in our minds Appear as the full range of behavior patterns (language, morals, custom, materials...) Through social learning


Culture is an adaptive mechanism to the environment

Culture is a powerful tool that human beings create to survive in different environment Culture is constantly changing
Living environment change Culture exchange Change in knowledge and technology

 What is ecology?
Scientic study of how living organisms interact with each other and their physical environment. individual population biotic community ecosystem

 What do ecology study?

Interactions within and among species

individual and population society: life of intra-species population social structure: relations among individuals of a society relation of inter-species population neutralism, competition, symbiosis, predation, parasitism

 What do ecology study? Ecosystem

The community living in an area and its physical environment food chain producer, consumer, and decomposer of biotic community energy ow within the ecosystem

Broad meaning of and ecology

ecology = livingappearance 1999

ecology: interaction with the environment

human ecology, cultural ecology, social ecology, etc. ecological anthropology, ecological psychology, ecological footprint, etc.

What do cultural ecology study?

Previous static view: Nature v.s. Culture Cultural ecology (or ecological anthropology): Interaction between nature and culture Nature shapes the core features of culture, including technology and economics. The meaning or value system that human recognize nature affect their behavior in contact with nature

Interaction between nature and culture eg: nomadic pastoralism

arid ecosystem vegetation topography climate rainy and dry season rainfall water resource natural disaster etc.

carrying capacity

Nature

family social organization ownership livestock: production system right camels right of natural resources regulation cattle utilization of resources use of goats and sheep mobility resources rangeland technology and natural resources living condition livestock distribution of products products access to market value of livestock etc.

Culture

Cultural-ecological Approach (1)

Fieldwork 5W1H Study culture (language, social system, production system, etc.) Understand the ecosystem Analyze the relation between nature and culture

Cultural-ecological Approach (2)

Comparative study Same society in different time Different societies and culture living in same environment Different societies and culture living in different environment

Why cultural-ecological study on environmental problems is important?

In the broadest sense, every environmental problem is related to human activities, i.e., it is a problem concerns the way we live and the culture we have. Reveal the reality of problems through eldwork, question the commonly-held view. Build up a comprehensive understanding on humannature relation through comparative studies. Integrate local knowledge and practice with science and technology for future development

 Purpose of This Course

Understand the objective, method, theory and application of ecological anthropology. Learn how to conduct eldwork from case studies. ! Think how to integrate local knowledge and practice with scientic technologies in deal with environmental problems. (

Key concept of the course of Cultural Ecology

Human adaptability, culture, and social organizations in various environments Global and local perspectives in environmental problems: resource, production, development, and conservation Indigenous knowledge and scientic technology Methodology and practice of eldwork

Schedule and contents of this course (1)

1st week: ! Ecological anthropological approach to environmental problems; theory, methodology, and application 2nd week: !Human adaptations and social organizations in various environments 3rd week:! Environment and culture I: Subsistence of foragers ! ! !

Schedule and contents of this course (2)

4th week:! Environment and culture II: Subsistence of pastoralists 5th week:! Environment and culture III: Subsistence of agriculturalists 6th week:! Environment and culture IV: Diversity of nature and culture in Africa ! ! !

Schedule and contents of this course (3)

7th week: Resource management; communal use or privatization of resources

8th week:Production system; sustainability or productivity 9th week:Development process; way of life or modernization 10th week: Sustainable development; integrating local knowledge with scientic technology 7! 8! 9! 10!