Book

Plants and animals in the life of the Kuna

University of Austin PressAustin • Published In 1995 • Pages: xv, 150

By: Ventocilla, Jorge, Herrera, Heraclio, Núñez,Valerio, Roeder, Hans.

Abstract
This document is the work of two Kuna biologists and a Panamanian colleague who confront the environmental crisis in Kuna Yala (San Blas) and warn of the danger at hand which could lead to environmental catastrophe unless the Kuna rebuild their connection with the natural world through the application of traditional and scientific knowledge (p. x). In addition to the above the book also provides information on hunting practices, agriculture, the medicinal use of plants (including many excellent illustrations of the plants themselves), and information on the commoditization of traditional forest products.The authors discuss the various problems in the market economy of Kuna Yala, particularly in reference to the alliance between Kuna and non-Kuna which produces a cash hungry Kuna economy vunerable to the agents of foreign economic interests. Other factors at play in the economic situation in which the Kuna find themselves in the 1990s are population growth, careless ecological practices, subsistence pressure, and other non-market sources of environmental degradation.
Subjects
Fauna
Flora
Cultural goals
Arboriculture
Pharmaceuticals
Environmental quality
Medical therapy
Ethnobotany
Ethnozoology
culture
Kuna
HRAF PubDate
1999
Region
Middle America and the Caribbean
Sub Region
Central America
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Types
Indigenous Person
Natural Scientist
Historian
Geographer
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 1997
Field Date
ca. 1987-1990
Coverage Date
not specified
Coverage Place
Kuna Yala (San Blas), Panama
Notes
by Jorge Ventocilla, Heraclio Herrera, Valerio Núñez ; edited by Hans Roeder ; translated by Elisabeth King
Translation of: Plantas y animales en la vida del pueblo Kuna
Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-138) and index
LCCN
95002942
LCSH
Cuna Indians