Lacandón Maya In The Twenty-First Century: Indigenous Knowledge And Conservation In Mexico'S Tropical Rainforest (Maya Studies) - 9780813080246

From the ancient traditions of the Lacandón Maya comes an Indigenous model for a sustainablefuture Having lived for centuries isolated within Mexico'slargest remaining tropical rainforest, the Indigenous Lacandón Maya now live atthe nexus of two worlds--ancient and modern. While previous research has focusedon documenting Lacandón oral traditions and religious practices in order topreserve them, this book tells the story of how Lacandón families have adaptedto the contemporary world while applying their ancestral knowledge to create anecologically sustainable future. Drawing onhis 49 years of studying and learning from the Lacandón Maya, James Nations discusseshow in the midst of external pressures such as technological changes, missionaryinfluences, and logging ventures, Lacandón communities are building an economicsystem of agroforestry and ecotourism that produces income for their familieswhile protecting biodiversity and cultural resources. Nations describes methodsthey use to plant and harvest without harming the forest, illustrating that despitedrastic changes in lifestyle, respect for the environment continues to connect Lacandónfamilies across generations. By helping with these tasks and inheriting thefables and myths that reinforce this worldview, Lacandón children continue tolearn about the plants, animals, and spiritual deities that coexist in theirland. Indigenouspeoples such as the Lacandón Maya control one-third of the intact forestlandscapes left on Earth, and Indigenous knowledge and practices areincreasingly recognized as key elements in the survival of the planet'sbiological diversity. The story of the Lacandón Maya serves as a model for Indigenous-controlled environmental conservation, and it will inform anyone interestedin supporting sustainable Indigenous futures. A volume in the series Maya Studies, edited by Diane Z. Chase and Arlen F. Chase

• | Author: James D. Nations
• | Publisher: University Press Of Florida
• | Publication Date: Sep 12, 2023
• | Number of Pages: 318 pages
• | Language: English
• | Binding: Paperback
• | ISBN-10: 081308024X
• | ISBN-13: 9780813080246