COMMUNICATIONS - PUBLICATIONS

J.A. Waddy 1988 (reprinted 1994) Classification of plants and animals from a Groote Eylandt Aboriginal point of view. (2 volumes), vol. 1: pp. 231, vol. 2: pp. 201. ISBN 0-7315-0312-0. Australian National University, North Australia Research Unit, Lot 8688 Ellengowan Drive Brinkin, P.O. Box 41321, Casuarina NT 0811, Australia.
This is an encyclopedic study of systems of classification of plants and animals on Groote Eylandt, an island off the coast of Arnhem Land in northern Australia. A detailed account of these systems is grounded in a theoretical discussion of the nature of systems of folk classification. In particular the author disputes Hallpike's view that hierarchically organized systems of classification are rare in folk classification. She argues that there are a number of distinct systems of classification on Groote Eylandt, rather than a single system. These systems include hierarchical classifications, binary classifications (such as edible versus inedible), totemic classifications and linguistic classifications. The systems overlap and the 'clearest implication to come from this study is that, in considering plant and animal folk classification, anthropologists need to take care to differentiate the various systems' (vol 1, p. 181).
The author discusses several practical implications. Of these, one key application has already been implemented. Groote Eylandt material has been incorporated into the science curriculum of Northern Territory primary schools. This has made the introduction of taxonomic concepts more relevant for Aboriginal children.
The book contains some useful appendices, including dictionaries of local terminology and an appendix on methodology. It will be primarily useful for specialists, including those with theoretical interests in folk classification and ethnotaxonomy and those with interests in Aborigines' understanding of their environment. (R.J. Fisher).

Interaise Information Service
The international environmental and natural resource assessment information service (INTERAISE) is a collaborative project undertaken by IIED, the world resources institute (WRI) and the world conservation union (IUCN) on behalf of the development assistance committee (DAC) of OECD.
The project began in 1990. The first phase of the project had two principal goals:

• to identify and locate key national documents regarding the assessment of environment and natural resources;
  
• to make this information available to those who need it in developing countries and in the development-aid community.

From natural pasture assessment towards agro-ecological research on Andean pastoralism 1995 AGRUCO, Casilla 3392, Cochabamba, Bolivia. Tel: +591-42-52601. Fax: +591-42-52602. US $ 5.00 (air mail included).
On the basis of several years of participatory research in Andean farm communities of Bolivia, the publication shows:

• that conventional research approaches, which stress only the biological aspects of pastures, often fail because they ignore the dynamic relationships between agriculture, livestock breeding and pasture management;
  
• that an agro-ecological and holistic analysis of Andean farming systems, which includes an analysis of the criteria that indigenous farmers use for technical and economic evaluation, yields a system of indicators for participatory research activities that result in community assessment and improved strategies for indigenous farming and livestock breeding.

Fusion of traditional wisdom and modern technology in natural resource management 1994 Report sponsored by Codel, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 1942, New York, NY 10115, USA.
The report includes much information on the application of traditional wisdom and modern technology to solve some of the problems facing Africa. The cost is US $ 3.00 plus postage. The costs of postage are: within the US $ 3.00 air mail or US $ 1.00 UPS; overseas US $ 5.00 airmail, or US $ 3.00 surface.
Readers can obtain a copy by writing to:
Mr Brij Mathur, VITA, 1600 Wilson Blvd., Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22209, USA.

Isaac Sindiga, Chacha-Nyaigotti-Chacha and Mary Kanunah (eds) 1995 Traditional medicine in Africa. East African Educational Publishers, Mpaka Road/Woodvale Grove, P.O. Box 43514, Nairobi, Kenya. US $ 8.40, pp. (xvi) 196. ISBN 9966- 46-548-0.
Among communities in Africa, there is a growing gap between the demand for health care and the availability of biomedical facilities. This has resulted in the exploration of alternative methods for providing health and medical services. The use of traditional medicine is seen as a feasible possibility. After having been pushed aside by advanced biomedical facilities and strongly condemned as primitive, ungodly and unhealthy, traditional medicine is fast picking up in most parts of Africa because it makes use of locally available resources.
This book is the result of a workshop called 'Traditional medicine and the law in Kenya', which was held in 1992 in Kenya. It is a collection of papers in which scholars, researchers and practitioners of traditional medicine explore the appropriateness of traditional medicine for health care in African communities (with special reference to Kenya). The authors call for its recognition by government authorities, as well as for more research input and the collection and classification of its materia medica.

The series PLA Notes
Participatory learning and action (PLA) has been adopted by the Sustainable Agriculture Programme of IIED (International Institute for Environment and Development) as a collective term to describe the growing body of participatory approaches and methodologies. IIED established the series known as PLA Notes (formerly RRA Notes) in 1988 as an instrument to enable people who use participatory methods around the world to share their field experiences, conceptual reflections and methodological innovations. The series is informal and seeks to publish frank accounts, address issues of practical and immediate value, encourage innovation and act as a 'voice from the field'.
As of February 1995, PLA Notes is being distributed regularly three times a year. Until now it has been sent free of charge to over 3000 individuals and institutions in 120 countries. Starting in June 1995, however, due to the growing costs incurred, subscribers in the North (except for libraries) will be charged an annual subscription fee.
There is no copyright on the material, and recipients are encouraged to use it freely, but only for non-profit purposes and only with full reference to the authors. The series is partially funded by the Swedish International Development Authority and the Ford Foundation.
Contact: Sustainable Agriculture Programme, International Institute For Environment And Development, 3 Endsleigh Street, London WC1H ODD, UK. Tel: +44-171-3882117. Fax: +44-171-3882826. E-mail: iiedagri@gn.apc.org

Robert C. Salazar and Aimee Maria A. Zenit (eds) 1994 Devolution and community-based forestry projects: issues and proposals. Participatory Uplands Management Program, Social Development Research Center, College of Liberal Arts, De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 1004, The Philippines. ISBN 971-555-026-6.
This publication documents the proceedings of the seminar- workshop 'Devolution and community-based forestry projects: issues and proposals', which was sponsored by the Participatory Uplands Management Program (PUMP) of De La Salle University's Social Development Research Center (DLSU-SDRC) and funded by the Ford Foundation.
Established in 1981, PUMP continues to undertake research and various activities to promote sustainable upland resource management and thus to benefit disadvantaged upland communities. The seminar-workshop on devolution and community-based forestry projects was part of PUMP's continuing efforts towards this end.
The present report has three main parts:

• sectoral perspectives on devolution;
  
• summary of issues and opportunities;
  
• responses from the government.

D. Stiles (ed) 1995 Social aspects of sustainable dryland management. pp. 336. œ 39.95. ISBN 0471-95633-3. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Baffins Lane, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1UD, UK.
With dryland areas accommodating approximately one billion people in over a hundred countries, there is obviously a problem of increased stress placed on the natural resources of these areas. This ultimately contributes to overall land degradation. Coupled with this, many developing countries, particularly in Africa, are showing a fall in agricultural production per capita, with people migrating away from dryland areas to other places, such as marginal lands and forests or already overpopulated cities. This too contributes globally to further land degradation.
With this in mind, the authors address the overall problem of land degradation and suggest ways in which drylands can be managed, and their productivity and viability increased for future generations. Results presented in the book are based on case studies and field research projects. The book urges that there be greater involvement of local populations in developing methods for managing their own natural resources. It therefore advocates a concept of development far beyond conventional methods. It seeks to show that land management must develop around the priorities, needs and objectives of the people it seeks to benefit, and emphasizes the need to involve local people in solving the problems of resource degradation, so that future research and modern technologies can be developed with their participation. Above all, it seeks to recognize the value of indigenous knowledge in sustainable development, so that such knowledge systems can become the starting point from which to plan management strategies and new technological adaptations.

Klaus M. Leisinger, Karin Schmitt and ISNAR (eds) Survival in the Sahel: fruitful collaboration between public and private sector. International Service for National Agricultural Research, P.O. Box 93375, 2509 BM The Hague, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-70-3496100. Fax: +31-70-3819677. E-mail: ISNAR@CGNET.COM
The situation in the Sahel is the result of a combination of human behaviour, poverty, illiteracy, rapid population growth, ecological phenomena, historical baggage and many other factors. Addressing readers who have no particular prior knowledge of the subject, the authors use practical examples and sound data to show how the development strategies of the past have contributed to deterioration in the region's socioeconomic and environmental conditions. The book presents no remedies for these ills. Instead, it suggests alternative ways to deal with the situation. It also shares some of the success stories of the last two decades and recommends new development approaches.
This publication is an example of fruitful collaboration among European, African, and American theorists and practitioners from a broad range of research disciplines.

Anatole F. Krattiger, Jeffrey A. McNeely, William H. Lesser, Krenton R. Miller, Yvonne St. Hill and Ranil Senanayake (eds) 1994 Widening perspectives on biodiversity. IUCN/Gland & IAE, 4 Chemin de Conches, 1232 Geneva, Switzerland.
This book raises and discusses essential questions related to:

• the Convention on biological diversity;
  
• conservation and use of genetic resources;
  
• North-South controversies and opportunities.

Indigenous Peoples Program, The Bank Information Center
The Bank Information Center (BIC) is a non-profit, non- governmental organization that provides other NGOs around the world with information on the projects, policies and practices of the multilateral development banks (MDBs). Initiated in 1987 in response to the attempts of NGOs in developing countries to find information on World Bank projects in their countries, the BIC is an information clearinghouse committed to working within the international NGO community to monitor environmentally sensitive MDB-funded projects and projects that might adversely impact indigenous peoples.
The BIC assists indigenous peoples and NGOs in developing countries in their efforts to hold the MDBs accountable for their environmental and social policies. NGOs and indigenous peoples engaged in such work, or looking for information and support in their investigations of MDB-funded projects in their countries or on their lands, should contact Cindy Buhl, director of BIC's Indigenous Peoples Program. The indigenous peoples of Mexico, Central America and South America should contact Kay Treakle, director, and Andre Villasenor, program assistant, of BIC's Latin America and Caribbean Program.
Current BIC publications which may be of interest include: 'A citizens' guide to the multilateral development banks and indigenous peoples: the World Bank' (updated versions in English and Spanish, May 1995); and 'A citizens' guide to the World Bank's information policy' (English version, September 1994; Spanish version available in fall, 1995). Publications are available to indigenous peoples' organizations in all countries at no charge. They are also free for NGOs in developing countries. NGOs in Canada and the USA may receive the guides for the cost of shipping and handling (US $ 3.00); the same is true for European NGOs (US $ 7.00).
The Bank Information Center, Indigenous Peoples Program, 2025 'I' Street NW, Suite #400, Washington, D.C. 20006, USA. Tel: +1-202- 4668191, Fax: +1-202-4668189. E-mail: bicusa@igc.apc.org

Jacqueline A.C. Vel 1994 The Uma economy: indigenous economics and development work in Lawonda, Sumba (Eastern Indonesia). pp. 304 with photographs. US $ 20.00 plus US $ 8.00 postage and handling. ISBN 90-5485-308-5. Jacqueline Vel, Molenstraat 79, 6721 WL Bennekom, The Netherlands.
The island of Sumba is in a poor and isolated region of Indonesia. Lawonda is the rural area in the middle of the island, where most people live from agriculture for subsistence and for exchange within the region. For a period of six years the author studied the economy of Lawonda as part of the indigenous culture, and was involved in fieldwork for a development organization of the Protestant church.
The first part of the book describes the indigenous economy, including both the norms for proper behaviour within economic activities, and the actual practices of the poorer segment of the local population. Key issues are the everyday life of the villagers, the economic history of the region, the morality of exchange, and local perceptions of work and land. The name 'Uma economy' is used to stress the importance of traditional social organization in the indigenous economy, and refers to its core unit, the Uma. In spite of the changes on rural Sumba, the Uma economy maintains its specific characteristics. The mode of thinking which prevails in the Uma economy is the basis for local people's assessment of new developments.
The second part of the book discusses the efforts of the local population to cope with the increasing need for money. Four different ways to obtain money represent a confrontation between traditional economic behaviour and thinking, and the skills that are required and rationality that prevails in the market economy. The key issues in this part of the book are the indigenous assessment of activities for earning cash income, exchange networks, indigenous social security, illegal ways of obtaining money, increased rice production, and the introduction of a new cash-crop. The final chapter takes up the question of the scope of development intervention within the Uma economy.