music
ambience: forest ambience Thailand
We’re in the northeastern part of Thailand, in a forest where scientists are working with indigenous peoples to find the best way to manage this endangered ecosystem. I’m Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.
“At first we think that we should uh bring the scientific knowledge to improve the forest. But when we work in, in the area, we know that the people, indigenous people they know how to conserve the area better than the government or better than the scientists, because they have their own way to take care of the environment. So we work together with the local people.”
Dr Usa Klinhom of Mahasarakham University, is working with the Isan people in northeastern Thailand. Although the Isan may not express their environmental knowledge in scientific language, that doesn’t mean they’re not expert caretakers of their local ecosystem.
“I learned from the local people that before they plant the rice, they must plant for the small area first. For one month they say that the plant is for spirits, and then after that they plant in the big area for themselves After I observed it for two years, I know that the small area they plant for the spirits, it’s just for the insects. When the insects eat that all, the the cycle of insect is stopped, they do not disturb the big area of the people.”
Dr. Klinhom and her team are hoping that the remaining forest of Northeastern Thailand will be preserved, along with the culture of the indigenous peoples who best know how to manage it.
Pulse of the Planet is presented with support provided by the National Science Foundation. I’m Jim Metzner.
music