Ethnoecology, Resource Use, Conservation And Development In A ...

CHAPTER 9: RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This chapter returns to the four research questions introduced in chapter 1. Each is
addressed in turn, with reference to the field data reported in earlier chapters.
9.1 Is the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem function of
importance to the people of the South Rupununi?
There are two different angles to this question as addressed in this thesis. The first
concerns local attitudes: is 'conservation' a term that has currency locally, and are
the concepts it embodies concordant with the expressed wishes of local people? The
second is implicit, and concerns local dependency on wild species and ecosystem
processes: how important is local biodiversity and ecological integrity to the local
economy?
Local attitudes to conservation were investigated in local meetings and by means
of interviews with community leaders (chapter 3.3.2). Though there was some
variation in opinion, it is fair to say that most people considered conservation to be
an issue of importance, but in a particular sense: this importance was expressed in
utilitarian terms. This utilitarian sense was broad, including aesthetic value and
abstract ideas such as freedom of lifestyle choice and cultural distinctiveness.
However, it was a perspective which described the limits of conservation interest: the
notion of conservation for its own sake, rather than as a means to maintaining and
improving local lifestyles and ensuring the continued economic independence and
distinctive identity of the Wapishana people, appeared not to be widely entertained.
Conservation as a measure imposed from outside, which could inhibit local autonomy,
individual freedom and access to land and resources, was a possibility of which people
were well aware, and steadfastly opposed.
The utilitarian basis of local conservation interest was confirmed by the data
collected on cultural ecology. This indicated direct use value for several hundred
species of plant and animal (chapter 4.7). Many of these appear to be used fairly
rarely, at least over the course of the present study, indicating that under normal
circumstances people use only a subset of the resources and procurement methods
available to them. Some of the rarely-used species may be of importance to particular
groups of people, in particular locations, and at particular times. In this manner local
biological diversity, and local knowledge of its uses, supports security of food supply
by providing for interindividual variation in subsistence strategy and flexibility in
individual strategy.