The study of the relationships between the human beings and their respective environments, or the human ecology (Burch 1988), has been described as a field of research that has the potential to institute certain dimensions in ecosystem management along with the biophysical considerations. In fact Nelson (1993) describes ecosystem management and human ecology as different sides of the same coin ? where human ecologists and biologists should find common ground.
Nelson (ibid. 74) has identified five ways in which human ecology can aid in ecosystem management. They are,
? By presenting a historical understanding of an area in terms of its natural surroundings and human interactions
? By undertaking a systematic study in terms of the culture which defines human activities, e.g. policies and institutions, perceptions, attitudes, values and technology developments
? By presenting the history spatially in terms of similarities and differences over space
? By linking human studies to concepts or ideas that are the concern of other professionals, for example the concept of landscape, which has roots in architecture, geography, geology and fields such as biology
? By presenting the historical understanding of the natural ecosystem in meaningful and attractive terms to a wide range of citizens; by drawing people to the human-nature interface ? to the dynamics of ecosystem management, from a human perspective ? to complement those people drawn to it from a biological or scientific perspective
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03-12-2010, 06:29 AM
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