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Culture and Sustainability

Terms in this set (22)

Anthropocene
the current moment (or epoch) in geological time in which the effects of human activities have altered the fundamental geochemical cycles of the earth
anthropogenic
environments and pollution produced from human activity
cultural ecology
a subfield of cultural anthropology that explores the relationship between human and cultural beliefs and practice and the ecosystems in which those beliefs and practices occur
cultural evolutionism
theory popular in nineteenth and early twentieth century anthropology suggesting that societies evolved through stages from simple to advanced. This theory was later shown to be incorrect
ecocide
destruction of the natural environment, especially when it is intentionally done by humans
eco-justice
a movement to recognize and remedy the adverse relationship between social inequality and the harms and risks that come from environmental destruction and pollutants
ethnocide
destruction of a culture, often intentionally, through destruction or removal from their territory, force assimilation, or acculturation
ethnoecology
the relationships between cultural beliefs and practices and the local environment

components include ethnobiology, ethnobotany, and ethnozoology
extractive reserves
community-managed protected areas designed to allow for sustainable extraction of certain natural resources (fish, rubber, Brazil nuts, and rattan) while maintaining key ecosystems in place
exurban
a term that describes the migration of generally affluent people from urban areas to rural areas for the amenities of nature, recreation, and beauty associated with rural areas
historical particularism
the theory that every culture develops in a unique way due to its history, including the interaction of people with the natural environment
homeostasis
he movement of a particular system (a human body, an ecosystem) towards equilibrium

In ecology this is associated with the idea that ecosystems should remain at the climax (stable) ecosystem associated with an area
hominin
humans (Homo sapiens) and their close relatives and immediate ancestors
materialism
a Marxist theory emphasizing the ways in which human social and cultural practices are influenced by basic subsistence (economic) needs
multispecies ethnographies
an ethnographic approach in which anthropologists include non-human species as active participants in a society or culture and study their influence and actions
political ecology
an interdisciplinary field of research that emphasizes the political and economic dimensions of environmental concerns
processual archaeology
a shift in archaeological studies toward scientific methods, testing of hypotheses, quantitative analysis, and theory-driven approaches and away from an earlier emphasis on typologies and descriptive analysis
protected areas
lands set aside for conservation of the environment for their scenic beauty, biodiversity, recreational value, and other reasons.
succession
changes in types of species in an area over time

ex. it would describe different ecosystems that gradually replace on other after a forest fire
sustainable development
development that can meet present needs without damaging the environment or limiting the potential for future generations
Swidden
an agricultural practice, also called shifting cultivation and slash-and-burn, in which fields are cleared, burned, and planted for several seasons before being returned to fallow for an extended period
wilderness
a natural area that is untouched or unchanged by human activities and often seen as a cultural construct of the American West
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