TY - JOUR
T1 - A garden experiment revisited
T2 - Inter-generational change in environmental perception and management of the Maya Lowlands, Guatemala
AU - Le Guen, Olivier
AU - Iliev, Rumen
AU - Lois, Ximena
AU - Atran, Scott
AU - Medin, Douglas L.
PY - 2013/12
Y1 - 2013/12
N2 - This study reports ethnographic and experimental analyses of inter-generational changes in native Itza' Maya and immigrant Ladino populations of Guatemala's Petén rainforest concerning understanding of ecological relationships between plants, animals, and humans, and the perceived role of forest spirits in sustaining these relationships. We find dramatic changes in understanding ecological relationships and the perceived role of forest spirits. Itza' Maya conceptions of forest spirits (arux) are now more often confounded with Ladino spirits (duendes), with Itza' spirits no longer reliably serving as forest guardians. These changes correlate with a shift in personal values regarding the forest, away from concern with ecologically central trees and towards monetary incentives. More generally, we describe how economic, demographic, and social changes relate to the loss of a system of beliefs and behaviours that once promoted sustainable agro-forestry practices. These changes coincide with open access to common pool resources.
AB - This study reports ethnographic and experimental analyses of inter-generational changes in native Itza' Maya and immigrant Ladino populations of Guatemala's Petén rainforest concerning understanding of ecological relationships between plants, animals, and humans, and the perceived role of forest spirits in sustaining these relationships. We find dramatic changes in understanding ecological relationships and the perceived role of forest spirits. Itza' Maya conceptions of forest spirits (arux) are now more often confounded with Ladino spirits (duendes), with Itza' spirits no longer reliably serving as forest guardians. These changes correlate with a shift in personal values regarding the forest, away from concern with ecologically central trees and towards monetary incentives. More generally, we describe how economic, demographic, and social changes relate to the loss of a system of beliefs and behaviours that once promoted sustainable agro-forestry practices. These changes coincide with open access to common pool resources.
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U2 - 10.1111/1467-9655.12064
DO - 10.1111/1467-9655.12064
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84887116512
VL - 19
SP - 771
EP - 794
JO - Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute
JF - Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute
SN - 1359-0987
IS - 4
ER -