Angela Tarimy, 2019 Conference Talk

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Angela Tarimy,  Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (FANC), Madagascar 

x2019Talk  xIndigenous  Knowledge  xForest   xVegetation

Presentation -pdf 

Video -mp4 HD

ABSTRACT: "How to Interpret Local Languages and Dialects Comparable with Scientific Forest Succession Terminology" 
In 2018, the international Manondroala team has in their Madagascar forest mapping project developed an ambitious method of adjusting native language terminology and common understanding on human impact and forest succession with scientific context. There is always a risk that people use the same terms meaning different succession cases or vice versa: different terms meaning similar cases. Ideas on thresholds in vegetation success can also sometimes be different in local level than among the scientific community. To avoid this, it is important to have a concept of visualization and a list of parameters (height and diameter of trees, amount of dead wood, traces of burnt wood, alien species, etc.) describing the most relevant elements in forest intactness understood by all stakeholders. When connecting these parameters with local terms used by the public, often in a broader, more undefined sense, we can also formulate “scientific definition” for these terms in the project context. All local dialects also need to be interpreted by locals from other regions to fit the harmonized matrix of all the used terms and definitions. It is also important to make cross checks of local terms by using several indicators, which describe both dimensions of intactness of forest structure: which elements are missing in the forest compared with pristine forest, which ones still exist? As a result of this processing, we will have a common national framework for communication and scientific work, which helps knowledge sharing and fruitful co-operation in forest research and conservation.