Environmental Anthropology Flashcards
Anthropocene
The period of time in which human activity has altered the natural geochemical cycles of the earth.
Cultural evolutionism in environmental anthropology
The idea that cultures evolved from simple to complex, and Leslie White believed that the reason for this evolution was due to how these cultures use energy (plants to fossil fuels to solar energy.
Aka increasing control over environment through technological expansion.
Cultural ecology
Describes how cultures use and understand their environment. Coined by Julian Steward.
Ecocide
Environmental destruction
Ethnocide
Cultural destruction.
How are ecocide and ethnocide connected?
Many communities’ cultures are so connected with their land that a mining company or whatever coming into their land doesn’t just destroy their environment, but their culture as well.
Exurban
The migration of affluent people from urban areas to rural areas literarily just for the vibes
Materialism
Marxist theory describing how social and economic practices are tied to basic subsistence needs.
Historical particularism.
Idea that every culture develops in a unique way due to its history and interactions with environment.
Coined by Franz Boas
Processual archeology.
Study of relationship between past societies and their environment through a more scientific-like approach rather than through descriptive analysis.
Sustainable development
Development that can meet present needs without damaging environment or potential for future generations.
Extraction reserves.
Community protected reserves allowing for sustainable extraction of needed natural resources while keeping natural ecosystem functioning.
People vs park
The conflict between local communities and state conservation officials around state parks.
Conflict is due to many state parks being located on many different indigenous cultures traditional grounds, not allowing them to practice their culture and evicting them.
Stewart Kirsch
Anthropologist who stated that “if i am neutral, i am not actually neutral”
Due to his work in Papua New Guinea where he found that companies were releasing chemicals into a river which was harming locals. Government kept trying to suppress this, so if Kirsch didn’t do anything, he’d be letting the government and corporations get away with this.
Anthropogenic
Environments/pollutants produced or altered by humans.
Ethnoecology
The relationship between the cultural beliefs/practices and treatment of the environment.
Protected areas
Areas set aside for conservation of their environment due to their beauty, biodiversity, etc.
Swidden cultivation
Cultivation in which fields are cleared, burned, and left to regrow before can plant again.
Different term for slash and burn used to rid the negative connotations.
Eco-justice
Movement to recognize connections between social injustices and harms that come from environmental destruction, as well as to remedy these issues.
Homeostasis
The self regulation of a society to promote social and environmental stability.
Striving to maintain balance between society, culture, and nature.
Political ecology
The field of ecology that focuses on the impact of governments and corporations on the local environment.
Power centered analysis.
Succession
Changes in species in an area over time
Wilderness
Area untouched by humans.
Second nature
Nature after it has been altered by humans.
Transformation of nature by human activities, blurs lines between nature and culture
