PARENT SESSION
Oral Session 17: Traditional Ecological Knowledge.
Presiding: E Sulzman
Monday, August 2, 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM, Meeting Room F 151.
Traditional ecological knowledge: Native American perspectives on fire ecology, historical landscape changes, and forest restoration.
Lake, Frank *,1, 2, 1 Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon2
ABSTRACT- ABSTRACT- The first objective is to demonstrate the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) of fire ecology and historical landscapes by Native peoples of Northwestern California about changes in forest composition, structure, and function. The second objective is how TEK is being integrated with fuels reduction projects to restore and conserve biodiversity and productivity of degraded forest habitats in the Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion. Methods included Oral history interviews of Native American elders on fire ecology and management, and projects for reintroducing cultural burning practices. Results to be presented are how fuels reduction and prescribed burning projects reflect the integration of TEK with forest restoration principles and criteria to restore and conserve eco-cultural diversity of place.
Key words: fire ecology, traditional ecological knowledge, fuels reduction