ISSN:
1572-9915
Keywords:
New Guinea
;
taro
;
agriculture
;
monoculture
;
subsistence ecology
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
,
Ethnic Sciences
Notes:
Abstract An ancient, sustainable, and low risk Colocasiataro monoculture has persisted until modern times among the Mountain Ok peoples of central New Guinea. There is a monoculture-polyculture axis in the region with taro monocultures predominant in the rain forests of the mid-altitude fringe. We argue that when examined from the standpoint of ecosystem simplification, biological variability, and subsistence vulnerability, the taro monocultures exhibit many ecological and systemic properties commonly attributed to polycultures. Monoculture is not an exclusive category; specific cases must be placed in a broader context of the larger ecosystem and the options people have at their disposal. Reduction of the taro monoculture is occurring in response to modernization pressures.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00888028
