Overview of the course
Increasing pressures are being placed on biological resources by demand from indigenous communities relying on them for their livelihoods. At the same time, increasing emphasis is being placed on involving local communities in the management and sustainable use of their natural resource. It is therefore important for young professionals working in the field of environmental management and policy to have knowledge and skills relating to the interactions between indigenous people and local natural resources. The aim of this course is thus to introduce students to core theoretical topics and research methods in the discipline of ethnoecology. The course is interdisciplinary, covering topics in both the biological and social sciences. The focus is on the use of indigenous natural resources for local livelihoods and cultural purposes, and how this relates to sustainability and local resource management. Extensive use is made of examples from southern African, although other contexts are explored and students are encouraged to contribute perspectives from their own experiences and cultural backgrounds. The course is open to all MESP and MESPOM students but is a prerequisite for those MESPOM students who will undertake their internships through the CORUSUS project. The course will be facilitated by Prof. Wayne Twine, who is based at the Wits Rural Facility (South Africa). Readings and videos are all compulsory. Student marks for the course will be derived as follows:
- class assignments (40%)
- written essay (60%)
- Instructors: Lina Jaber, Ruslan Rahimov, Wayne Twine, Brandon Anthony, Kanat Sultanaliev