On Bioculturalism, Shamanism and Unlearning the Creed of Growth

Photo courtesy: Sian Sullivan
Nathan ≠ Ûina Taurob and family greet and gift the spirits of the land in |Giribes plains, north west Namibia.

Abstract: Bioculturalism is the acknowledgement that biological diversity is linked with cultural diversity in knowledges, languages and practice, and that sustaining both is necessary for ecological and cultural well being. It is an emerging term and concept that marks a radical step to bring varied cultural values explicitly into debate and practice regarding nature conservation.

The author is  Lecturer in Environment and Development, School of Geography, Environment and Development Studies (GEDS), Birkbeck College, London, UK. s.sullivan@bbk.ac.uk  An earlier version of the article was published in Resurgence online, Issue 250, Sept-Oct 2008.