for research proposals:
Earthwatch
The Center for Field Research, at Earthwatch, invites researchers to submit proposals for field research on
indigenous knowledge systems worldwide. Earthwatch provides researchers with non-specialist, English-
speaking volunteers who will help them to collect data. The volunteers are selected to suit the needs of
the project. Field grants average $20,000; the exact amount is determined by the number of volunteers
engaged in the fieldwork. Proposals are reviewed monthly. They should be received one year in advance
of the date on which fieldwork would begin. To discuss your research goals and their appropriateness for
Earthwatch support, please contact:
Catherine J. Schlager, Programme officer, The Center for Field Research, 680 Mt. Auburn Street, Box
403, Watertown, MA 02272, USA. Tel: +1-617-962 8200. Fax: +1-617-926 8532.
E-mail: cschlager@earthwatch.org
for information:
Positive case studies
Many case studies in the literature on indigenous knowledge feature examples of projects that did not
work because they did not build on IK. The editorial board
of the Monitor welcomes all papers, articles, and references that present positive examples of projects
that did build on IK. Documents illustrating the economic viability of IK would be greatly appreciated as
well. Please send all relevant information to the editor, Ms Akke W. Tick, Nuffic-CIRAN, P.O. Box
29777, 2502 LT The Hague, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-70-4260321. Fax: +31-70-4260329. E-mail: ikdm@nuffic.nl
Wildlife harvests
Dr Hendrik Moller (Zoology Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand) has started a
review of wildlife harvests by indigenous peoples. He is particularly interested in the way western
ecological science is or is not being used alongside indigenous knowledge to guide harvests. He is also
interested in the political debates between Eurocentric conservation organizations and spokesmen
representing the wishes of local communities.
He would like your help with his review, first by contacting him with your name, address (including your
E-mail address if you have one), and a paragraph or so about your involvement in wildlife harvests (as a
researcher, manager, policy-maker, etc.). He will then post you a questionnaire requesting information
about local examples of indigenous people's harvest activities. Responses will be compiled and returned
to you for your own use and interpretation.
Any information on low or high intensity harvests, or on unregulated or highly regulated harvests is
welcome. Poorly researched examples are equally welcome. Dr Moller seeks a wide variety of examples
of harvests (fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, invertebrates and plants) from throughout the
world.
Reports and papers on current wildlife harvests or references to them would also be greatly appreciated.
Copies of management protocols or harvest policy documents are particularly difficult to locate, so copies
of those would be particularly welcome. Finally, names and addresses of colleagues working on wildlife
harvest issues would be most welcome.
Contact: Dr Hendrik Moller, Co-Director, Diploma in Wildlife Management, University of
Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. Tel: +64-3-4797991. Fax: +64-3-4797584. E-mail:
henrik.moller@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Indigenous endo-parasite control
Mr N.F. Omondi, research extension officer in livestock, would like to receive any information,
texts, papers, articles and case studies on endo-parasite control and treatment in the tropics using
indigenous remedies.
Anyone interested in the above field should kindly send their contributions to:
N.F. Omondi, research extension officer, P.O. Box 16, Kilgoris, Kenya.
for papers:
Human Dimensions Kiosk
To better understand human interactions in global environmental change, both researchers and policy
makers need a faster means to circulate research papers and reports and to promote interdisciplinary
interaction and discussion. The rapid pace of research, the global diffusion of this research, and the
growing number of working papers now being written, together with the slow pace of publication and
dissemination, mean that it often takes months and even years before the results of research reach others
doing similar types of work.
Using the model of on-line dissemination of scientific papers developed by Los Alamos national
laboratory for the physics community, the Consortium for International Earth Science Information
Network (CIESIN) is providing a service for rapid dissemination of human dimensions research. This
service, called the CIESIN Human Dimensions Kiosk, encompasses four types of--primarily textual--
materials:
Southern Africa region
SARCIK is compiling a database
of references on indigenous knowledge for the Southern Africa region. All references to
periodicals, books, theses, dissertations and research programmes will be appreciated, as well as any
unpublished materials.
Please send information to:
Hans Normann, SARCIK, 110 Long Street, 8001 Cape Town, South Africa. Tel: +27-21-242012. Fax:
+27-21-232168. E-mail: hansn@iaccess.za