Introduction to Ethnobiology

This book covers teaching ethnobiology at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Providing an explanation of the historical and conceptual aspects of ethnobiology, the work addresses relatively new or little debated approaches which will interest even the most experienced researcher in the field of ethnobiology.

The appropriation of nature, in various forms, may be perceived by mankind in certain ways. This work specifically addresses this initial stage of the relationship between humans and nature, along with the classic debate and the major theoretical contributions regarding how humanity classifies nature. This discussion is expanded upon, addressing the consequences of a utilitarian relationship with nature, the extractivism of forest products, and plant and animal domestication. The work then provides a synthesis of which variables affect local biological knowledge (LBK). The text includes a reference list in each chapter as well as a small glossary of ethnobiology terms and related areas, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of the covered topics.