Sacred Ecology
Abstract
Sacred Ecology examines bodies of knowledge held by indigenous and other rural peoples around the world, and asks how we can learn from this knowledge and ways of knowing. Berkes explores the importance of local and indigenous knowledge as a complement to scientific ecology, and its cultural and political significance for indigenous groups themselves. This third edition further develops the point that traditional knowledge as process, rather than as content, is what we should be examining. It has been updated with about 150 new references, and includes an extensive list of web resources through which instructors can access additional material and further illustrate many of the topics and themes in the book. Winner of the Ecological Society of America's 2014 Sustainability Science Award.
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Berkes's definition of traditional ecological knowledge frames it within a materialistic, evolutionary framework that does not always conform to the beliefs of the knowledge-holders themselves.
“This definition frames TEK within a materialistic, evolutionary framework that does not always conform to the beliefs of the knowledge-holders themselves, who may refer their knowledge as living breath, coming directly from the spirit world, ancestors, dreams, or conversations with plants, trees, rocks or other aspects of a living and spiritual nature (Little Bear 2000).”
From Culture, law, risk and governance: contexts of traditional knowledge in climate change adaptation (2013) · cites this paper as Berkes 2012
Traditional knowledge is not generally about abstract things, but more focused on relationships and activities that constitute a way of life, and these can be harmed by misuse.
“Traditional knowledge is not generally about abstract things, but more focused on relationships and activities that constitute a way of life (Berkes 2012), and these can be harmed by misuse.”
From Culture, law, risk and governance: contexts of traditional knowledge in climate change adaptation (2013) · cites this paper as Berkes 2012
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Assessing nature's contributions to people
Díaz, S., Pascual, U., Stenseke, M., Martín-López, B., Watson, R. T., Molnár, Z., Hill, R., Chan, K. M. A., Baste, I. A., Brauman, K. A., et al. (2018) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.aap8826 · Cited by 2,885 · see citing works
Tengö, M., Brondizio, E. S., Elmqvist, T., Malmer, P., & Spierenburg, M. (2014) · AMBIO · doi:10.1007/s13280-014-0501-3 · Cited by 1,329 · see citing works
“In contrast, a parallel approach emphasizes complementarities while presupposing validation across knowledge systems (Agrawal 1995; Nadasdy 1999; Berkes 2008).”
InfluentialCulture, law, risk and governance: contexts of traditional knowledge in climate change adaptation
Williams, T., & Hardison, P. (2013) · Climatic Change · doi:10.1007/s10584-013-0850-0 · Cited by 180 · see citing works
Arsenault, R., Diver, S., McGregor, D., Witham, A., & Bourassa, C. (2018) · Water · doi:10.3390/w10010049 · Cited by 135 · see citing works
The Practices of Wolf Persecution, Protection, and Restoration in Canada and the United States
MUSIANI, M., & PAQUET, P. C. (2004) · BioScience · doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2004)054[0050:tpowpp]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
Culture, law, risk and governance: contexts of traditional knowledge in climate change adaptation
Williams, T., & Hardison, P. (2013) · Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples in the United States · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-05266-3_3 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
- Authors
- Berkes, F.
- Corresponding author
- Berkes, Fikret
- ORCID
- Berkes, Fikret
- Venue
- Routledge eBooks
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Published
- 2012-03-29
- OpenAlex
- W4236708142
- Cited by
- 747
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 200 · 2025: 106 · 2024: 48 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 58 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 54 · 2018: 47 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 15.37
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Routledge eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Environmental and Cultural Studies in Latin America and Beyond
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Agriculture
- Keywords
- sacred ecology, indigenous knowledge, traditional ecological knowledge, rural population, local knowledge, ways of knowing
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