Indigenous Knowledge, Natural Resource Management and Development : The Konda Reddi Experience

Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Kotapalem: Geo-ethnic and cultural setting. 3. Knowledge of forest and forest produce. 4. Knowledge of wild life. 5. Knowledge of agriculture. 6. Knowledge of animal husbandry and ethno-veterinary practices. 7. Knowledge of ethno-medicine. 8. Knowledge of insects and flies. 9. Knowledge of food and food reserves. 10. Natural resource management and common property resources. 11. Indigenous knowledge, resource management and development. Appendices. Bibliography. Index. 

"The present volume documents the rich indigenous knowledge, local practices of natural resource management and common property resources, and relates them to the process of development among the Konda Reddi of Andhra Pradesh, India. The Konda Reddi is one of the Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) inhabiting the North Eastern Ghat region of Andhra Pradesh for centuries and primarily subsisting on Swidden agriculture. Even now the Konda Reddi habitat is in the midst of thick forests and on steep mountains, ensuring their close proximity with nature. The Konda Reddi- nature interaction is reflected in their rich heritage of indigenous knowledge that has been transmitted orally from generation to generation. The volume documents the Reddi knowledge of forest and forest produce, wildlife, agriculture, animal husbandry and ethno-veterinary practices, ethno-medicine, insects and flies, food and food reserves, etc. in their present form. The volume also throws light on the natural resource management and common property resources of the Konda Reddi. An attempt has also been made in this volume to relate indigenous knowledge with resource management and development among them. The volume shall be of special interest to scholars in the fields of anthropology, ethno-biology, environmental science, and also to the NGOs and development administrators working among the tribes." (jacket)