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Lessons for the World at Large

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Indigenous Environmental Knowledge

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Abstract

For all its technical sophistication, the Western world can draw usefully on various techniques and concepts existing in traditional communities. In the context of climate change, there is scope for applying traditional low energy-input approaches to Western agriculture and architecture. Likewise, as climatic conditions change, traditional practices of seed conservation are finding a new relevance. Furthermore it has become timely to look again at traditional approaches to dietary balance, the treatment of psychosocial illnesses and the appropriate general attitude to adopt towards the natural world. Arguably these are all spheres where Western societies have drifted off course and could benefit from the re-introduction of some traditional elements.

It is scarcely surprising that the Western World, with all its economic strengths, advanced technologies and sophisticated science base, should be well placed to provide assistance to developing countries. What is less well appreciated is that considerable scope exists for transfers of expertise in the opposite direction. Where might these opportunities lie?

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  1. Environmental Studies Programme, University of Cardiff, Wales, UK

    John Edington

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Edington, J. (2017). Lessons for the World at Large. In: Indigenous Environmental Knowledge. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62491-4_9

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