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The indigenous knowledge of ecological processes among peasants in the People's Republic of China

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  • Paul Chandler

Abstract

A decision-tree model of an indigenous forest management system centered around shamu (Cunninghamia lanceolata),an important timber species in China, was constructed from extensive interviews with peasants in two villages in Fujian Province, China. From this model additional interviews were conducted to elicit from these peasants their reasons for selecting among decision alternatives. Those reasons that were of an ecological nature were discussed in detail with the peasants to elicit indigenous interpretations of ecological processes in order to test an hypothesis that a strong analogy exists between traditional indigenous and scientific knowledge of ecological processes. Three cases are presented that test this hypothesis. These three cases concern the effect of intercrops on the growth of shamu,the relative merits of seedlings and root collar sprout cuttings for forest regeneration, and the effects of repeated plantings of shamuon soil chemistry. All three cases provide strong support for the research hypothesis and suggest that, even in the absence of a formalized scientific method, humans exercise mental processes typical of scientific thinking. This phenomenon is called proto-science. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1991

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Chandler, 1991. "The indigenous knowledge of ecological processes among peasants in the People's Republic of China," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 8(1), pages 59-66, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:8:y:1991:i:1:p:59-66
    DOI: 10.1007/BF01579657
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    1. Anonymous, 1957. "Food and Agriculture Organization," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 11(2), pages 385-387, April.
    2. Anonymous, 1957. "Food and Agriculture Organization," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 11(4), pages 674-675, October.
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    1. Ivan S. Adolwa & Stefan Schwarze & Imogen Bellwood-Howard & Nikolaus Schareika & Andreas Buerkert, 2017. "A comparative analysis of agricultural knowledge and innovation systems in Kenya and Ghana: sustainable agricultural intensification in the rural–urban interface," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 34(2), pages 453-472, June.

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