PANEL DISCUSSION: The Landscape of the Maya Forest: A Friendly, Local, Community Store
Macduff Everton (Photographer)
Anabel Ford (ISBER, UCSB)
Caroline MacDougall (Herbal Coffee Expert)
Michael Marzolla (moderator, UC Cooperative Extension)
Thursday, April 16 / 4:00 PM
McCune Conference Room, 6020 HSSB
Where do you get fruit? How do you find lumber? Where do you look for toys? Who do you consult for medicine? The traditional Maya forest gardener shops for all these in the landscape of the Maya forest. With 90% of its plant life useful to humans, the Maya forest shows evidence of management with origins nearly 8,000 years ago. Adaptation to the forest was at the heart of the ancient Maya civilization. The traditional Maya of today continue this legacy, supporting themselves, their families, and forest biodiversity with their milpas, forest gardens, and forest reserves. To them, the forest is not a place of unknown danger or a fragile environment. Rather, it is much like Costco: a source of all household needs for everyday living. What can we learn from these Maya forest gardeners to enhance our understanding of the forest to learn to live and prosper with it? Our panel reveals the path to accomplish this goal.
website: mayaforestgardeners.org
Sponsored by the IHC as part of its Food Matters series.
