Traditional and Local Ecological Knowledge about Forest Biodiversity in the Pacific Northwest

Book excerpt: Synthesizes the existing literature about traditional and local ecological knowledge relating to biodiversity (BD) in Pacific NW forests in order to assess what is needed to apply this knowledge to forest BD conservation efforts. Four topics are addressed: (1) views and values people have relating to BD; (2) the resource use and mgmt. practices of local forest users and their effects on BD; (3) methods and models for integrating traditional and local ecological knowledge into BD conservation; and (4) challenges to applying traditional and local ecological knowledge for BD conservation. Focuses on the ecological knowledge of three groups who inhabit the region: Native Amer.,family forest owners, and commercial nontimber forest product harvesters.