COMMUNICATIONS - PUBLICATIONS

Hans Carlier 1994 Himalayan agriculture: bibliography for development. pp. 37, NRs 50 for individuals and NRs 100 for institutions. This publication can be ordered from INSAN, P.O. Box 6716, Kathmandu, Nepal. Tel: +977-1-471448. Fax: + 977-1-524509 (Insan).
The bibliography contains 140 references to books and other publications about indigenous knowledge regarding sustainable agriculture and natural resource management in Nepal. Keywords are: indigenous (agro)forestry, herbal medicine, ecology, traditional pest control, animal husbandry, soil management systems, ethnobotany, gender in agriculture, RRA-PRA, wild vegetables, traditional irrigation systems and networking.
Most references indicate the library where the publication can be found. This bibliography is a rich source of information for people who work with rural populations in a participatory way.

Ann Waters-Bayer and Wolfgang Bayer 1994 Planning with pastoralists: PRA and more (A review of methods focused on Africa). pp. 153. This book can be obtained free of charge by writing to Annette von Lossau, GTZ Division 422, P.O. Box 5180, 65726 Eschborn, Germany. Fax: +49-6196-796103.
The book gives an overview of participatory approaches and methods for planning pastoral development projects. It contains an annotated and indexed bibliography of over 100 reports on participatory enquiry and planning, a description of rapid methods used in pastoral settings, and a critical analysis of experiences with these methods. The appendix contains names and addresses of individuals and organizations which are sources of further information about participatory planning methods related to livestock-farming.
The review was commissioned by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ, Germany Agency for Technical Cooperation) as part of its programme for the integrated planning of livestock development in marginal areas. This programme arose out of concern about the fact that conventional 'participatory' land-use planning based on village territories excludes pastoralists.
Since most of the literature on Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and similar approaches deals with settled crop farmers, GTZ supported a concerted effort to find and analyze reports, largely unpublished, of cases involving participatory situation analysis and planning specifically related to the mobile assets (livestock) of mobile people. The review focuses on Africa, but covers relevant experiences elsewhere in the world as well.
This state-of-the-art review will be of interest to both governmental and non-governmental development agency staff, policy-makers and training institutions, particularly but not only in Africa. A French version is in preparation.

Anoja Wickramasinghe 1994 Deforestation, women and forestry: The case of Sri Lanka. ISBN 90-6224-986-8, pp. 112 includes bibliography, figures and tables, pb US $ 15.95 and œ 10.95. International Books, Alexander Numankade 17, 3572 KP Utrecht, The Netherlands.
One of the most pressing challenges of today is to find strategic solutions to deforestation and to develop a sustainable management of forests. Deforestation, women and forestry examines the role of women in sustainable forestry management. Anoja Wickramasinghe succeeds in substantiating the linkage between women and forestry. Her in-depth research shows how women use the forests, and what their interest in protecting the forests is. Disconcertingly, the fieldwork reveals that women's priorities, the multiple use of natural resources, have been excluded from modern development sectors related to forestry and agriculture.
In two detailed village case studies, Ms Wickramasinghe explores historical trends that have led to deforestation and women's loss of control over resources in Sri Lanka. She goes on to examine the present-day structure, policies and strategies of the state forestry sector. This sector concentrates on timber production. Its interpretation of 'community forestry' is a strategy to obtain cheap labour, and does not address local needs. The author argues that rural women are potential planners and designers of forestry development, and could change the present negative situation.
The linkage between gender, environment and development is a new and urgent theme of research. Forestry is an important element in this.

Geneflow 1994 IPGRI (International Plant Genetic Resources Institute), P.O. Box 10079, 2130 CB Hoofddorp, The Netherlands. This publication focuses on 'WANA's (West Asia and North Africa) efforts to conserve its (plant) genetic heritage'. Monitor readers will be especially interested in several items, including an account of how Turkish farmers' knowledge of turnip diversity has aided scientists. Other items in this issue include descriptions of the following: the Kayapo Indians of Brazil, and how their knowledge 'provides essential information for effective plant genetic resources conservation and utilization'; grain storage among the Moru of southern Sudan; the use of a Chinese herb, Artemis annua, in combatting malaria; the role of 'the remarkable African soapberry, Phyltolacca dodecandra, in killing the bilharzia- carrying snails in Ethiopia'. (David Brokensha)

Christopher Joyce 1994 Earthly goods: Medicine-hunting in the rain forest. ISBN 0-316-47408-8, US $ 23.95. Little Brown and Company, Boston/New York/Toronto/London.
This is an excellent account of contemporary attempts to investigate the remedies used by rainforest dwellers, and to produce a 'miracle cure'. It provides a good overview of ethnobotany (a term that was first used just 100 years ago, in 1895) and of ethnobotanists, especially R.E. Schultes, who is described as 'the foremost hunter of medicinal and hallucinogenic plants'. The author also considers the rainforest people and their knowledge of plants. He approvingly quotes Schultes: '...when you go into the forest, the Indians are the professors and you are the student'. (David Brokensha)

Mark Plotkin 1994 Tales of a shaman's apprentice. US $ 22.00. Viking, New York.
The author visited Indian villages all over the north-east of South America, especially villages of the Tirio Indians. He has tried to record as much as possible of the rapidly disappearing botanical knowledge of the Indians. In doing so he also provides a well-rounded picture of their culture and of the changes it is undergoing. (David Brokensha)

John Noyce (ed) 1994 Indigenous Knowledge Index: Volume 1. John Noyce, Noyce Publishing, GPO Box 2222T, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3001.
There will be two issues in volume 2 (1995). A subscription cost AUD$ 95.00 or US $ 70.00 per volume, which includes worldwide shipping by surface post (US $ 90.00 for airmail).
This 78-page document has three parts. Part 1 has 13 subdivisions, most of them focused on the knowledge of specific indigenous populations by topic (biodiversity, traditional crafts, land, etc.). The 12 categories of Part 2 include agriculture, crop pest control, forests, soil, fishing, medicinal plants, and water conservation. Part 3 contains entries by geographical region and nation, as well as five indexes on indigenous peoples, authors, organizations, conferences and symposia, and subjects. There is also a list of the 150 periodicals that were searched. This is a most useful bibliography.
Subscribers who place a standing order for the IK INDEX will also receive, free of charge, a retrospective bibliography compiled as a pilot project and published in July 1994 under the title 'Indigenous knowledge: a bibliography'. This 32-page bibliography is divided into the following topical sections: general information, resources and networking, biological diversity, indigenous technology, agriculture, forestry (including agroforestry), soil and medicine. The bibliographical entries are also sorted according to region and country. (Mike Warren)

Nature and Resources
Two special issues of Volume 30 (1994) of the UNESCO-sponsored journal Nature and Resources focus on indigenous knowledge. The first issue is entitled 'Traditional knowledge in tropical environments'. The second is 'Traditional knowledge into the twenty-first century'. Most of the papers published in these two issues were presented in October 1992 at the World Congress on Education and Communication for Environment and Development (ECOED), which was held in Toronto, sponsored by UNESCO and organized by Julian Inglis, Executive Director of the Centre for Traditional Knowledge.
The first issue has a foreword by Dr Federico Mayor, director-general of UNESCO, an introduction by Julian Inglis and four papers on 'Applied ethnobotany', 'Biocultural diversity and integrated health care in Madagascar', Ecology and cosmology' and 'Local knowledge in the future management of inshore tropical marine resources and environments.
The second issue has a foreword by James Bourque, chair of the Centre for Traditional Knowledge, an introduction by Julian Inglis and three papers on 'Traditional health knowledge and public policy', 'Traditional ecological knowledge and the promise of emerging information technology' and 'Traditional knowledge research for sustainable development'.
Nature and Resources is published quarterly in English and French by The Parthenon Publishing Group, Casterton Hall, Carnforth, Lancs, LA62LA, UK, or One Blue Hill Plaza, P.O. Box 1564, Pearl River, New York 10965, USA. Annual subscriptions for individuals are œ 30 and œ 65 for institutions. Some readers in developing countries may qualify for reduced rates, please consult the editor of Nature and Resources, UNESCO, 7 place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP, France.
Mr Julian Inglis has a limited number of copies of both special issues which he will distribute for US $ 5.00 per copy to cover postage. Please make checks payable to the Centre for Traditional Knowledge: P.O. Box 3443 Stn D, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1P 6P4, tel:+1-613-566 4750, fax:+1-613-952 9693, E-mail:jtinglis@magi.com
These are landmark special issues, beautifully presented with numerous photos and figures. (Mike Warren)

Akwe:kon Journal
A special issue of Akwe:kon Journal 9(2), pp. 112 and entitled 'Indigenous economics: toward a natural world order', is a publication made available by the Akwe:kon Press, a division of the American Indian Program at Cornell University. The name Akwe:kon is Mohawk for 'all of us'. Annual subscriptions (four issues) for individuals are available for US $ 18.00 in the USA, US $ 20.00 in Canada and US $ 22.00 overseas. Institutions pay US $ 35.00. The special issue alone is available for US $ 10.00, plus US $ 2.00 for postage within the USA, and US $ 3.00 for international orders. Please write to Akwe:kon, 300 Caldwell Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. Tel: +1-607-255 4308. Fax: +1-607-255 0185.
This excellent special issue focuses on the analysis of environmental and developmental issues from indigenous perspectives and includes articles prepared for the Rio Summit (UNCED '92). The authors incorporate indigenous knowledge into their discussion of potential solutions for environmental and economic problems. Articles include 'Indigenous perspectives on international development', 'Indian economic development: the US experience of an evolving Indian sovereignty', 'Investing in indigenous knowledge', 'Indigenous environmental perspectives: a North American primer', 'Documenting Dene traditional environmental knowledge', and 'American Indian systems for natural resource management.'
Numerous issues of Akwe:kon Journal have articles on indigenous knowledge, such as 'Native American perceptions of the environment' in 7(2), 'Native Americans and environmental thought' in 9(3), and 'Economic development and intellectual property rights' in 10(4).

Etnologica
This is an international journal concerned with the study of traditional methods for managing and conserving nature. It is edited by Victor M. Toledo, and aimed at creating a bridge between the academic world and the world of government and non-government agencies, 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. Guido, Morelia, Michoacán 58090 Mexico. Fax: +52- 43-241655.

Paul Starkey, Emmanual Mwenya and Johns Stares (eds) 1994 Improving animal traction technology: Animal traction network for Eastern and Southern Africa. ISBN 92-9081-127- 7, Worldwide sales IT Publications, 103-105 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4HH, UK. Tel: +44-171-4369761. Fax: + 44-171-4362013.
This book is derived from the first ATNESA workshop, held in Lusaka (Zambia). It contains some 85 edited papers written by 105 authors from 30 countries. The text is accompanied by more than 400 illustrations, including 175 photographs.
Within the theme of improving animal traction technology, the papers focus on several important topics, including profitability, animal management, tillage and weeding, implement supply, gender issues, technology transfer, transport, and diversifying operations. This book presents a wealth of ideas and experiences concerning animal traction in many countries and will be valuable to anyone who is interested in this important field of agricultural development, especially those involved in training, extension, research, development, planning, gender issues and infrastructural support.

Edward C. Green 1994 AIDS and STDs in Africa: bridging the gap between traditional healing and modern medicine. ISBN 0-8133-7847-8, pp. 288 including tables, notes, bibliography and index, US $ 35.00, published in South Africa by University of Natal Press. To order the publication and for other information, please write to: Westview press, 5500 Central Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80301-2877, USA.
Traditional healers are the de facto providers of health care for most Africans, urban as well as rural. Yet they are almost always overlooked in the planning and implementation of health programmes in Africa. This volume discusses the problems encountered when attempting to introduce modern medical practices in countries that remain faithful to and rely predominantly on traditional healers for health care. Drawing from his own research and programme experience in Africa, Edward Green argues that for the benefits of modern medicine to reach most Africans, cooperation rather than competition between traditional healers and modern medical practitioners is necessary. In a balanced and well-constructed argument, he confronts the many real problems inherent in traditional practices, rigorously sifts through the risks involved in inter-sectoral cooperation, and offers some realistic prospects for future health care development in Africa.

Mary Ann Beavis (ed) 1994 Environmental stewardship: history, theory and practice: Workshop proceedings. Occasional Paper 32, ISBN 1-896023-10-X, pp. 182 + iv, US $ 25.00. Institute of Urban Studies, The University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2E9, Canada.
This volume contains the proceedings of a two-day workshop, 'Environmental stewardship: history, theory and practice', held on 11 and 12 March 1994 at the University of Winnipeg and coordinated by Mary Ann Beavis of the Institute of Urban Studies, with assistance from the Canadian coalition for ecology, ethics and religion. The event was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada as a strategic workshop in applied ethics. The event focused on the applied ethic of stewardship, an environmental ethic widely advocated by some theologians, philosophers, planners, policy-makers and activists, but which is also held to be inadequate by others. The purpose of the event was to bring together 'theorists' of stewardship (e.g., philosophers, theologians) with 'practitioners' (e.g., planners, politicians, activists) in order to explore, elaborate and criticize the ethic of stewardship, to share research, experience and insights, to gauge the adequacy of stewardship theory and practice, and to sketch future directions for research in environmental ethics.
The revised text of the various presentations is printed in full in the proceedings. Among them are: Environmental stewardship in history, theory and practice by Mary Ann Beavis, Our karma and dharma to the environment: an eastern perspective by O.P. Dwivedi, Local stewardship: creating an environmental vanguard by Sally Lerner, and Indigenous knowledge systems and cross-cultural aspects of environmental stewardship by D. Michael Warren.
In addition, the proceedings contain a detailed summary of the event, including responses, contributions and discussion.

M. Cernea 1994 Sociology, anthropology, and development: an annotated bibliography of World Bank publications 1975-1993. US $ 29.95. Environmentally Sustainable Development Studies and Monographs Series No.3. The World Bank Bookstore, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA.
Intended to help locate World Bank anthropological and sociological publications on development issues, this new annotated bibliography (400 publications) of World Bank publications in sociology and anthropology goes beyond showing 'what sociologist do'. It demonstrates how social science knowledge is used in development programmes and policy formulation. It also shows how social science enriches development work, and suggests that development-oriented research and applied work, in turn, enrich the social sciences. Indigenous peoples and indigenous knowledge is one of the many themes.

Indra Raj Pandey 1994 Indigenous methods of sustainable vegetable production in the Kathmandu valley (Nepal). This publication can be obtained free of charge from Regional Farm Management Economist, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 39 Phra Atit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.
Indigenous agricultural technology is important for the sustainability of farming systems in the Asia- Pacific region. The wisdom of the farmers who have developed and refined the countless traditional practices is evident in the dynamic and productive farming systems in the region. There are many indigenous farming practices in the region that could be of use to other farmers in similar situations. It is important that these practices be documented and disseminated because many viable traditional technologies are being replaced by modern methods.
The Jyapoo community in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal has devised its own methods for intensive vegetable production. The Jyapoo have developed indigenous techniques for biological pest control, plant breeding, and soil and plant management. The Jyapoo manage their systems using only organic inputs. This has resulted in a self-sustaining production system with fertile soils and healthy produce. The study was prepared for the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

Ethnoveterinary medicine in Asia: an information kit on traditional animal health care practice 1994 P 250 + P 10 (mailing). International: US $ 12.00 (S, SE and E Asia), US $ 19 (rest of the world). IIRR, Y.C. James Yen Center, Silang, Cavite 418, The Philippines.
Livestock farmers and healers throughout the world use traditional veterinary techniques to prevent and treat common livestock diseases. These ethnoveterinary remedies are practical, effective and cheap. They rely on local plants or easily available materials. They reflect centuries of experience and trial-and-error.
The four booklets in this kit contain details on herbal remedies and other ethnoveterinary practices used by stock raisers and healers in South and Southeast Asia.
Three of the four booklets deal with ruminants (cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats), swine and poultry. The fourth booklet addresses topics which apply to any of these species.
Each booklet is organized according to easily understandable problems (such as 'skin disease' or 'diarrhoea'). For each problem, the symptoms, causes, prevention and treatment are described. The various types of treatment are described in simple, recipe-like terms to enable non-veterinarians to prepare and use the remedies. Numerous and clear line-drawings illustrate key points. Notes indicate in which country each treatment is used.

The circular letter known as ACACIA is a communication tool for practitioners and friends of sustainable agriculture in Africa. At its origin was a group of Africans involved in the field of ecological farming who took part in the IFOAM conference in 1990. With support from AGRECOL, the group was given the provisional mandate to coordinate the communication among their organizations and others who are interested. Since the second issue, CIEPAD and the Third World Commission of Nature & Progès have been contributing to the publication.
Subscription fees for four issues: simple 150 FF (35 CHF). Supporting an African subscription: more. Single copy: 40 FF.
Address for Northern subscribers:
ACACIA, C/O Hélène Hollard, 39160 Poisoux, France. Tel: +33-84- 854655. Fax +33-84-854651.
Address for African subscribers:
AGRECOL s/c Oekozentrum, 4438 Langenbruck, Switzerland. Tel: +41-62- 601420. Fax: +41-62-601640.

Gufu Oba 1994 The role of indigenous range management knowledge for desertification control in northern Kenya. Research Report No. 4 from EPOS. Research programme on Environmental Policy and Society Uppsala and Linköping Universities. EPOS, Tema V, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden.
The development of rangelands in Africa requires proper understanding of pastoral people's knowledge of range management, and how it has been affected by change. This is because range management as traditionally practised has failed to improve the deteriorating conditions of the rangelands.
This report presents a case study of the indigenous range management of the Rendille and the Ariaal pastoralists of northern Kenya. Historical changes in land use are offered as a backdrop to the study of strategies for using resources and analysis of how intervention--i.e., the administrative realignment of borders, and accelerated sedentarization, have caused desertification. Desertification control is based on proper understanding of the management of patchy range resources. The basis for indigenous range classification is highlighted, and the factors which are used for rating range suitability are discussed. There are fundamental differences between the way pastoralists classify rangelands and rank their suitability, and the methods used by mainstream range scientists. The pastoralists use livestock performance as an important indicator of range suitability, while range scientists use forage plants. The study compares these approaches and suggests that better understanding of the indigenous knowledge of land use could result in more effective measures to control desertification of the drylands of Kenya.

Philippe Descola 1994 In the society of nature: A native ecology in Amazonia. pp. 388 including 3 halftones and 49 line diagrams, US $ 69.95, Cambridge Studies in Social and Cultural Anthropology 93. Co-published with the Maison des Science de l'Homme. Cambridge University Press, 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011-4211, USA.
The Achuar Indians of the Upper Amazon have developed sophisticated strategies of resource management. The author explains how their knowledge of the environment is interwoven with cosmological ideas that endow nature with the characteristics of society.

Roy Ellen 1993 The cultural relations of classification: An analysis of Nuaulu animal categories from Central Seram. pp. 336 including 8 halftones, 14 line diagrams and 34 tables, US $ 64.95, Cambridge Studies in Social and Cultural Anthropology 91. Cambridge University Press, 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011-4211, USA.
Roy Ellen, a major figure in ethnobiology, has studied the Nuaulu people of eastern Indonesia for more than 20 years. The present study looks at how the Nuaulu classify animals. Rich and fascinating data illustrate the fact that all classification systems reflect interaction between culture, cognitive processes and the material world.

Neem: a tree for solving global problems. National Research Council, Noel D. Vietmeyer, 2101 Constitution Avenue, Washington DC 20418, USA.
This report is written in clear language and covers a huge variety of the uses to which neem is put in different countries. The people of India have long revered the neem tree. Because it can help with so many different complaints it has been called 'the village pharmacy'. Millions in India believe neem has miraculous powers. Now scientists around the world are beginning to think they may be right.
The report contains details of ongoing research into neem products and predicts likely future developments. Copies of the book are available free of charge. Write, enclosing a clear label with your name and address and giving details of your work, to the address above. (Footsteps No 21)

David Brokensha (ed) 1994 A river of blessings: essays in honour of Paul Baxter. African Series, No. 44, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, pp. 340, US $ 29.50. Available through the Dept. of Anthropology, Syracuse University, 209 Maxwell Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244-1090, USA.
This publication contains a wealth of case studies involving indigenous knowledge. Part I: Oromo Studies (nine chapters), Part II: West African Essays (five chapters) and Part III: Special Topics (six contributions). The contributors come from various countries. (Mike Warren)

Doris M. Schoenhoff 1993 The barefoot expert: The interface of computerized knowledge systems and indigenous knowledge systems. Contributions to the Study of Computer Science, No. 3. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-28821-6, pp. 184 + xiii, hb US $ 55.00. Orders should be sent to Greenwood Publishing Group, 88 Post Road West, Box 5007, Westport, CT 06881, USA. Credit card orders can be placed through a toll-free number: 1-800-225-5800.
The author has an interdisciplinary PhD in the fields of artificial intelligence and international development and serves worldwide as a computer software specialist.
This fascinating book is divided into eight chapters, which look at the nature of science, at recent developments in computer science that make global communication possible through the Internet, for example, and at the importance of indigenous knowledge in this process, particularly as it relates to the process of development. She argues that 'for effective technology transfer, these two--the computerized knowledge system and the indigenous knowledge system--must be brought together. The challenge is to suggest where and how that interface may come about and to recognize the practical limits of both the indigenous knowledge and the computer knowledge.'
The title of the book refers to barefoot experts. The author defines these as the 'farmers, traditional healers, local environmentalists--who, I suggest, must participate in the design of these computer systems if the systems are to promote acceptable and enduring development within the indigenous communities. It is only arrogance that would argue that the expertise that matters for Third World development must come from the West, from universities, from multinational corporations, from international banks, from foreign and local professionals, but not from the farmer in Ghana or the healer in Botswana or the village teacher in Bolivia.' This is a very timely and thought-provoking book that is highly recommended. (Mike Warren)

Nsekuye Bizimana 1994 Traditional veterinary practice in Africa. Schriftenreihe der GTZ, No. 243. Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), Eschborn, Germany. pp. 917. Distribution through TZ-Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, P.O. Box 1164, 64373 Rossdorf, Germany.
Livestock farmers in remote rural areas either lack access to Western-type veterinary medicine, or they lack money to pay for it. Local practices provide valuable alternatives. This book presents numerous ways that African farmers and herders treat and prevent diseases of cattle, horses, donkeys and mules, camels, goats and sheep, poultry, pigs and dogs. The information, drawn from some 100 publications, reflects the opinions of healers and livestock farmers rather than the outcomes of scientific testing. For each disease, the cause, signs, prevention, treatment and other features are described. Ten appendices contain: lists of terms in modern veterinary medicine, scientific and vernacular names of animal diseases and medicinal and poisonous plants, the localities of the languages, ethnic groups and regions mentioned in the book, references, and an index of diseases. However, there is no plant index.
The book encourages self-help approaches using traditional cures and locally available resources. It also aims to stimulate research on traditional veterinary medicine. Written for 'anyone working with animals,' the book allows researchers and practitioners of veterinary medicine to easily become informed about the spectrum of veterinary practices available in different regions of Africa. (Evelyn Mathias)

H.A. Dirar 1993 The indigenous fermented food of the Sudan: a study in African food and nutrition. ISBN 0-85198-858-X, pp. 576, œ 55.00. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8DE, UK. Tel: +44-491-832111. Fax: +44-491-833508.
Recent decades have witnessed increased interest in the foods of Africa, spurred on by the recurrent famines that have plagued the continent. It is now recognized that helping people to use their own knowledge of indigenous foods and agriculture provides better prospects for long-term sustainability than imposing solutions from outside. Yet to date there has been little documented information about the foods that are utilized by the poor of Africa, and particularly how these foods are preserved in a hostile environment for later use.
This book is a compilation of both the general literature on Africa's fermented foods and beverages and of original research conducted by the author in Sudan. Information was gathered from elderly rural women who traditionally hand down such knowledge from generation to generation. With increased urbanization and dislocation of family structures, there is a danger that such knowledge might otherwise be lost forever. The various foods are considered in terms of their role in the struggle for survival and in the social fabric of rural Sudan, as well as from the perspectives of nutrition and food microbiology.

UPWARD 1994 UPWARD Research 1990-1992 Abstracts of final reports. pp. 65 UPWARD, Los Ba¤os, Laguna, The Philippines.
This publication is a compilation of abstracts of final reports on research that was funded by UPWARD from 1990 to 1992. Most of the activities described are diagnostic, since very little information was available about the role of the sweet potato in the food systems of Asia. Little systematic research had been done, and even less had been documented from the user's perspective. The studies have in common that they take seriously the way that rural farming families and poor urban households think. Researchers have tried to document the families' knowledge, and to identify possibilities for action research and development initiatives. Several of the studies have led to second- phase action projects, which are still being conducted. Projects have covered the whole range of food systems issues, including broad characterizations of production systems, detailed ethnobotanic studies of rootcrop genetic resources, and a range of studies on marketing, different types of processing and consumption, and nutrition issues. Production systems, genetic resources and marketing, and processing and consumption are the three broad research areas into which the abstracts have been grouped.

Rural advancement foundation international (1994) Conserving indigenous knowledge: integrating two systems of innovation. New York: UNDP. This book can be ordered free of charge from: United Nations Development Programme, Bureau for Programme and Policy Support, One United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA. Tel: +1-212-906 5347. Fax: +1-212-906 5313.
The report distinguishes two different innovation systems:

• the cooperative innovation system of indigenous communities, which searches for holistic innovations at the local level; and
  
• the institutional system, which generally looks for micro-system solutions that can be applied globally.

UNDP 1994 Sustainable development and agriculture. UNDP guide book series. United Nations Development Programme, Bureau for Programme and Policy Support, One United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA. Tel: +1-212-906 5032. Fax: +1-212-906 6947.
The peasants who farm and conserve the land and who raise the animals; the support services and policy makers who should help; the community that provides the human environment, supplies input and offers markets: these are the basic factors in any reasonable future equation of agriculture and rural development. In short, technical cooperation must emphasize human development if technology is to come alive and be useful. This guidebook is the outcome of a two-year process which began before the Earth Summit and represents a blend of UNDP experience and external expertise. The guidebook is meant as an orientation to future investment in agriculture.

ICIMOD 1994 Indigenous knowledge systems and biodiversity management. Under this title the proceedings of the MacArthur/ ICIMOD meeting, held from 13 to 15 April 1994 in Kathmandu (Nepal), have been published. The publication also contains a report on the grants awarded in connection with the MacArthur Foundation's programme for the Eastern Himalayas; a report on the ICIMOD seminar entitled 'Indigenous knowledge systems and biodiversity management'; and a report on the promotion of conservation programmes that transcend national borders and other boundaries.
For further information, please contact:
Ms Jeanette Gurung, ICIMOD, P.O. Box 3226, Kathmandu, Nepal. Fax: +977-1-524509.

Kojo Sebastian Amanor 1994 The new frontier-farmers' response to land degradation: A West African study. pp. 244 + xii, pb US $ 25.00. Order from ZED Books, 7 Cynthia St., London N1 9JF, UK. Fax: 44-71-8333960. Tel: +44-71-8374014 or Humanities Press International, 165 First Avenue, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716, USA.
This is a very important study on African indigenous knowledge systems and natural resource management; it is focused on the Krobo of Ghana. Placed in an historical context, Amanor explains the changing socio-economic and political environments that impact upon local ecological knowledge. More importantly, the study indicates how environmental degradation is both produced and redressed. Amanor emphasizes the importance of community participation in setting environmental and research agendas, and shows how farmers' knowledge facilitates this process. He also examines how environmental degradation can be traced in many instances to global and national policies rather than to farmers' 'ignorance'. The indigenous strategies for managing the environment are accompanied by a large body of social and biological data. Of special interest is the data on farmer experimentation in regenerative technologies. The book was published by Zed Books in association with the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) and CTA, The Netherlands. (Mike Warren)