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Political Ecology in a Yucatec Maya Community (Hardcover, illustrated Edition)
Loot Price: R1,596
Discovery Miles 15 960
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Political Ecology in a Yucatec Maya Community (Hardcover, illustrated Edition)
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In Chunhuhub, the Conquest is not a done deal. Unlike many small
tropical towns, Chunhuhub in rural Quintana Roo, Mexico, has not
been a helpless victim of international forces. Its people are
descendants of heroic Mayans who stood off the Spanish invaders.
People in Chunhuhub continue to live largely through subsistence
farming of maize and vegetables, supplemented by commercial
orchard, livestock, and field crop cultivation. They are, however,
also self-consciously "modernizing" by seeking better educational
and economic opportunities. "Political Ecology in a Yucatec Maya
Community" tells the story of Chunhuhub at the beginning of the
twenty-first century, focusing on the resource management of plants
and animals. E. N. Anderson and his Maya co-authors provide a
detailed overview of Maya knowledge of and relationships with the
environment, describing how these relationships have been
maintained over the centuries and are being transformed by
modernization. They show that the Quintana Roo Mayas have been
working to find ways to continue ancient and sustainable methods of
making a living while also introducing modern techniques that can
improve that living. For instance, traditional subsistence
agriculture is broadly sustainable at current population densities,
but hunting is not, and modern mechanized agriculture has an
uncertain future. Bringing the voice of contemporary Mayas to every
page, the authors offer an encyclopedic overview of the region:
history, environment, agriculture, medicine, social relations, and
economy. Whether discussing the fine points of beekeeping or
addressing the problem of deforestation, they provide a remarkably
detailed account that immerses readers in the landscape. Mayas of
the Yucatan Peninsula have had more than their share of
successes--and some failures as well--and as a study in political
and cultural ecology, "Political Ecology in a Yucatec Maya
Community" has much to tell us about tropical development and about
the human condition. Their experience tells us that if we wish to
have not only farms but also mahogany, wildlife, and ecotourism,
then further efforts are needed. As Anderson observes, traditional
Maya management, with its immense knowledge base, remains the
best--indeed, the only--effective system for making a living from
the Yucatan's harsh landscape. "Political Ecology in a Yucatec Maya
Community" is a compelling testament to the daily life practices of
modern peasant farmers that can provide us with clues about more
efficient management techniques for the conservation of
biodiversity worldwide.
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