Nature and Culture (Earthscan,
2010) Sarah Pilgrim and Jules Pretty
Endorsements for
Nature and Culture
"This richly textured book tells vitally important
stories about how indigenous cultures are closely tied to the ecosystems
they inhabit. As their societies are harassed by encroaching and usually
hostile forces, those close links are being stretched and broken. Quite
apart from their right to continue to live as they choose, there is much
we can learn from them about how to live in harmony with nature.
Indeed, our very existence may depend upon our recognizing this."
Robin Hanbury-Tenison OBE, President Survival
International.
“People have been considered separate
from nature for far too long, and this book provides a welcome
antidote. With a group of experienced contributors, it provides a
kaleidoscope of the unity of people with the rest of nature. These
perspectives have immediate application for anyone seeking a more
sustainable future for both biological and cultural diversity, which
this book shows to be part of the same unity.”
Dr Jeffrey A. McNeely, Senior Science
Advisor, IUCN
"This fascinating, insightful book brings together an
array of distinguished scholars highlighting the inter-connectedness of
humans and nature which underpins social, ecological and cultural
resilience in the face of current global crises. An outstanding and
original contribution to sustainability science."
Professor Katrina Brown, School of International
Development, University of East Anglia
“Nature and Culture is an inspiring and deeply
informative collection that probes nature/culture interconnections in
fascinating international cases. It revitalizes and refines our
commitment to a new paradigm for human relations with the earth. A gem
of a book.”
Professor Peggy F. Barlett, Goodrich C. White Professor
of Anthropology, Emory University
“This collection provides a glimpse of
paradise re-gained, when our mis-judged separation from and ambition to
master Nature can be repaired. If we are to survive and prosper in the
decades to come, we must knit ourselves back into the web of life,
recognising the resilience which stems from investing in diverse social,
dietary and eco-systems.”
Dr Camilla Toulmin, Director,
International Institute for Environment and Development
“Nature and Culture moves beyond
dichotomies and boundaries, bringing together philosophical, linguistic,
socio-cultural, biological, and agricultural livelihood perspectives to
document the inextricable co-evolution of ecosystems and cultures.
Whether it is through the sacred cosmologies that shape and maintain
mosaic landscapes, or the food cultures that promote health and
sustainable diets, or the languages that encode our diverse interactions
with nature, the authors provide pathways to reconnect people with
ecosystems to ensure their resilience and prospects for improving human
welfare. This book belongs on the desk of all concerned with improving
the ways we manage our social and ecological systems to sustain life.”
Dr Pablo B. Eyzaguirre,
Senior Scientist, Bioversity International
