Hans Brouwer, Erik M. Stokhof and Joske F.G. Bunders (eds)
1992. Biotechnology and farmer's rights: opportunities
and threats for small-scale farmers in developing
countries. VU University Press, De Boelelaan 1105,
1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ISBN 90-5383-193-2. 122
pp.
Small-scale farmers in developing countries are likely to face
negative consequences of biotechnological developments that
are directed mainly by the interests of industrialized
countries. However, biotechnology can also be used to solve
several of their problems. A public debate on this subject was
held at the Free University, Amsterdam in 1991. Participants
included scientists, and representatives of governments and
NGOs of developing and developed countries, international
organizations and multinationals. This book contains the
debate proceedings and the results of discussions in various
forums and workshops. They are presented in three sections:
case studies, appropriate research and legal instruments.
Daniel Querol 1992. Genetic resources: our forgotten
treasure. Technical and socio-economic aspects. Third
World Network, 87 Cantonment Road, 10250 Penang, Malaysia.
ISBN 983-9747-01-0. 252 pp.
This book analyzes the problems connected with utilizing
genetic resources. It is written in clear language and from
the point of view of developing countries. The practical
problems and technical processes for the collection,
conservation and use of genetic resources are described. At
the end of the book is an appendix with practical information,
including a glossary of terms related to the subject.
Ian Scoones, Mary Melnyk and Jules N. Pretty 1992. The
hidden harvest; wild foods and agricultural systems.
Sustainable Agriculture Programme, IIED. œ12.95 + p&p.
Literature review and annotated bibliography of close to 1000
references. It highlights the following issues of agricultural
and forestry policy: conventional agricultural and forestry
research has paid too little attention to the wide range of
products used by rural people; wildfoods are important in all
agricultural systems, and are not just the preserve of hunter-
gatherer societies; wild foods especially are important for
women, children and the poor; sustainable management of wild
resources means preserving local management and control over
resources; wild foods have economic value which must be
accounted for in planning; wild genetic resources are critical
for the future of agricultural production so that their
conservation by farmers will help ensure the maintenance of
biodiversity.
The bibliography is organized into 11 thematic sections, each
containing review essays and annotated references. Extensive
referencing refers to numbered entries in the
bibliography.
Available from: Marilyn John, Publications Department, IIED, 3
Endsleigh Street, London WC1H 0DD, UK.
Rosalyn M. Rappaport 1992 (reprint 1993). Controlling
Crop Pests and Diseases. Macmillan Publishers Ltd,
Education, Professional & Reference Division Houndmills,
Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 2XS, UK. ISBN 0-333-57216-5
This field manual of pest control has been written for people
in agricultural extension services but can also be used by
teachers, trainers and others who act under similar
circumstances. The book gives basic information about pests
and diseases, causative agents, and methods of combating them.
It also describes practical methods of pest and disease
control in detail. Finally, it gives examples of, and
solutions to, problems in a village context. At the end of
each section examples are presented in the form of cartoons.
Dharam Ghai and Jessica M. Vivian (eds) 1992.
Grassroots Environmental Action: People's
Participation in Sustainable Development.
UNRISD/Routledge, 351 pp. ISBN 0-415-07762-1.
This book emphasizes the potential of local environmental
initiatives in analysing the social dynamics of local level
resource use. This on the one hand in situations where
encouragement and support are supplied from external agents,
such as the state and international organizations, and on the
other hand where local communities are forced to formulate
their own plans in spite of neglect, resistance or even active
external opposition.
Order from Routledge, 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE,
UK.
or:
Routledge, 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001, USA.
Johan A. van Dijk and Mohamed Hassan Ahmed 1993.
Opportunities for Expanding Water Harvesting in Sub
Saharan Africa: The Case of the Teras of Kassala.
International Institute for Environment and Development
(IIED), Gatekeeper series No. 40. IIED, 3 Endsleigh Street,
London WC1H 0DD, UK.
This paper discusses the technique of teras rainwater
harvesting as practised in the Kassala Border Area of Sudan.
Ritza V. Tjahjadi (ed) 1993. Nature and farming:
Biodynamic Agriculture and Communal Resources Adaptation
Systems, Selected cases in Indonesia. PAN Indonesia,
Jl. Persada Raya No. 1, Menteng Dalam, Jakarta 12870,
Indonesia.
This book contains papers by various scholars on different
subjects. It is an attempt to serve as a healthy reminder that
indigenous agricultural systems are sophisticated adaptations
to the environment. The most important objective is to come
closer to the critical question of what is really meant by
people's participation and partnership with indigenous people.
In no way is an attempt made to develop a conclusive answer.
Rick Riewe (ed) 1992. Nunavut Atlas. The
circumpolar research series, No. 2, jointly published by the
Canadian Circumpolar Institute and the Tungavik Federation of
Nunavut. ISBN 0-919058-80-9. ISSN 0838-133X. 150 black and
white maps, 130 pages text, and 112 black and white photos,
259 pp.
The information contained in the Nunavut Atlas helped the
Inuit to select the lands they retained after the settlement
of the Nunavut claim, and will assist communities with future
land-use planning activities. It is a useful resource to
anyone interested in the Arctic, particularly those who wish
to better understand the age-old relationship between Inuit
and the natural environment. It can be ordered from Canadian
Circumpolar Institute (CCI), Book Distribution, G-213
Biological Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton,
Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada. Tel: +1-403-492 4512. Fax: +1-403-
4921153.
Rick Riewe and Jill Oakes (eds) 1992. Human Ecology:
Issues in the North. Occasional Publication No. 30,
Canadian Circumpolar Institute (CCI) and Faculty of Home
Economics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 216 pp.,
figures, tables, illustrations, photos, references. ISBN 0-
919058-78-7 ISSN 0068-0303-30.
The papers in this volume reflect different perspectives and
varied topics, but a shared dedication to the North. Authors
address traditional native nutrition; native spirituality;
health issues; social problems; government housing programmes;
Inuit bird-skin clothing; and environmental and social impacts
upon the aboriginal peoples of the Soviet Far East. It can be
ordered from Canadian Circumpolar Institute (CCI), Book
Distribution, G-213 Biological Sciences Building, University
of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada. Tel: +1-403-492
4512. Fax: +1-403-492 1153.
Julian T. Inglis (ed) 1993. Traditional Ecological
Knowledge; Concepts and Cases. International Program
on Traditional Ecological Knowledge and International
Development Research Centre Canada. ISBN 1-895926-00-9. ISBN
0-88936-683-7.
The papers selected for this volume represent a wide range of
perspectives on the nature of Traditional Ecological Knowledge
(TEK). They explore the underlying concepts, provide case
studies, and confirm once again the importance and, as yet,
unrealized potential of TEK in resource and environmental
management. The papers reinforce the conviction that TEK can
make a major contribution to the delivery of Agenda 21 and to
sustainable development. The papers also reinforce the point
that indigenous and local peoples have themselves lived in
harmony with their environments for many hundreds of years, a
relationship which is evident in many of their activities
today. The book can be ordered from:
Distribution Unit IDRC, 250 Albert Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1G
3H9, Canada. Fax: +1-613-563 0815. Orders should include ISBN
683-7.
Indigenous Knowledge special. The July/August
issue of International Agricultural Development is an IK
special including an overview of IK in Third World
agriculture, plus several articles with specific examples of
how IK is working in practice. It contains contributions from
Dr. D.M. Warren, B. Rajasekaran, John Thompson and others.
Contact: International Agricultural Development, John
Madeley (editor), 19 Woodford Close, Caversham, Reading,
Berskshire RG4 7HN, UK. Tel: +44-734-476063. Fax: +44-734-
470367.
Laurent H.M. Umans 1993. Analysis and typology of
indigenous forest management in the humid tropics of
Asia. National Reference Centre for Nature, Forests
and Landscape (IKC-NBLF) and Stichting BOS.
This is a report of a desk study which was initiated to obtain
a general survey and analysis of knowledge on indigenous
natural forest management, including problems and solutions.
For practical reasons the area was limited to humid tropical
Asia. The reader is led towards a typology of indigenous
forest management, in which anthropological, social, cultural
and technical factors are structurally combined. The report is
a working document to stimulate discussion. Readers are kindly
invited to forward their comments to the author and
publishers.
Contact: IKC-NBLF, P.O. Box 30, 6700 AA Wageningen,
The Netherlands. Tel: +31-8370-74800. Fax: +31-8370-27561.
Robert Pool 1993. Indigenous Interpretations And
Biomedical Definitions In Cameroon Dialogue and the
Interpretation of Illness: Conversations in a Cameroon
Village: Berg Publishers, 150 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4
1JJ, UK. ISBN 0-85496-873-3.
The way the Wimbum people in the Western Grassfields of
Cameroon interpret and explain illness and other forms of
misfortune is continually produced and reproduced in everyday
communication. The book is a medical anthropological study of
explanations of illness, an ethnography of traditional African
cosmology and witchcraft, and a reflective examination of the
process of ethnographic fieldwork and knowledge production.
(SISWO Research Notes, 1992/2)
International Institute for Sustainable Development
1992. Sourcebook on Sustainable Development.
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD),
161 Portage Avenue East, 6th floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
R3B OY4. ISBN 1-895536-04-9.
All major sources of information on sustainable development
are listed in this book. It includes (1) a bibliography, (2)
names, addresses and telephone and fax numbers of
organizations, (3) a list of audio-visual sources. Information
is also given about computer networks, conferencing systems
and online databases. The book itself is available online as
an interactive conference called iisd.sourcebk. Readers are
invited to upload their responses. For further information
please E-mail iisd@web.apc.org.
Etnologica
A new international journal concerned with the study of
traditional management and conservation of nature. It is
edited by Victor M. Toledo, and aimed at creating a bridge
between the academic world and social sectors, as well as
between scholars from the natural sciences on the one hand and
the social and human sciences on the other. The articles are
published either in English, Spanish or French. Abstracts of
the articles are given in all three languages.
More information (subscriptions, guidelines for manuscripts)
can be obtained from:
Victor M. Toledo (editor), Apdo. Postal 41-H, Sta. Ma. de
Guido, Morelia, Michoacán 58090 Mexico. Fax: +52-43-
241655.