Lesson 2 terms Flashcards
What is meant by the Anthropocene?
The Anthropocene is the anthropological study of human effects (negative and positive) on nature and Earth in our current epoch
What are the three anthropological approaches to humans and the environment?
cultural ecology, ethnoecology/ethnobiology, and political ecology
Who was Julian Steward?
Anthropologist who studied how and what cultural traits reflect the environment and focused on subsistence practices and social organization
What is Ethnoecology and Ethnobiology?
the use and knowledge of plants, animals, and ecosystems by societies
What are some examples of Ethnoecology and Ethnobiology?
the horticultural practice of slash-and-burn or swidden cultivation and the small-scale burnings of the Amazon Basin
What is the difference between large and small-scale burnings?
Large-scale burnings of forests decimate the flora and fauna, and leave no time for the plants to regenerate, while small scale promote biodiversity, regenerates flora and fauna, positive human interaction with nature
What is Political Ecology?
How governments and politics affect the environment and food management
What is the issue with famine and what is the government’s role?
Enough food is produced for everyone, but governments mismanage or purposefully withhold the distribution of food
What is the source of famine?
poor production (severe droughts, flooding, pests, climate change), inability and inaction by those in power
