Through Amazonian Eyes: The Human Ecology of Amazonian Populations

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments This book appeared in an earlier form in Portuguese (A ecologia humana das popular;oes da Amazonia, published by Edit6ra Vozes of Brazil in October 1990). In preparing the English revised edition, I have taken the opportunity to update the book. Although I normally write my books and articles in English, rather than in Spanish or Portuguese, I wrote this one in Portuguese first because I felt strongly that this synthesis should make its way as quickly as possible into the hands of the people most directly affected by its subject. Curiously, it has been easier to read about the environmental crisis in Amazonia in English, French, and German than in Portuguese or Spanish. In addition to the Portuguese edition, a Spanish translation of this work is available from Fondo de Cultura Economica in Mexico. The apparent greater interest of outsiders in the Amazon has already begun to change. Brazilians, rich and poor alike, have been awakened to the crisis in their midst and have begun to respond to it. Latin Americans living in countries with Amazonian territories (Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas) likewise have begun to claim their proper place in the international discussions about "the fate of the forest"-rather than letting outsiders define the terms of the debate. Latin American environmental organizations have begun to proliferate and flourish-despite the worldwide economic crisis and the fear of violence against those who try to protect the forest from its destroyers. Incipient Green parties work toward conservation and awareness, mainstream parties have begun to address the concerns of local populations, and other groups focus on particular endangered parts of the Amazonian environment. Indigenous peoples have become increasingly effective in mobilizing media and public support for their struggle to have territories demarcated and protected. Ultimately, people everywhere should assist the populations of the Amazon region to develop their own strategies of resource use and conservation, rather than rely on ready-made solutions. The latter work no better in environmental matters than they do in efforts to promote economic development. The task of writing this book was assisted by a large number of individuals and institutions. I wish to thank the Goeldi Museum in Belem and the Fulbright Commission, which made it possible to take time off from my fulltime academic obligations in the United States to devote time to conceptualizing and beginning to write this book. I also thank Indiana University for xvii xviii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS providing a sabbatical leave that permitted me to go to Brazil during this period of research and writing. Without a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and a year-long period of residence at the Institute for Advanced Study at Indiana University the manuscript could not have been completed. Several colleagues at the Goeldi Museum read early versions of the manuscript and corrected many of its imperfections. Among them I want to thank especially Dr. Walter Neves, coordinator of the Human Biology Program, and Dr. William Balee, then coordinator of the Ecology Program and now on the faculty at Tulane University. Dr. Ana Anderman of the Fulbright Commission read several chapters and provided corrections. Anonymous readers for the University of Iowa Press provided numerous suggestions for this English edition. I also benefited a great deal from the comments of colleagues at the University of Brasilia, especially Gustavo Ribeiro and Waud Kracke. I gained insights from discussions with Professor Mercio Gomes of the University of Campinas. I had the good fortune to come to know Professor Renate Viertler of the University of Sao Paulo and Professor Irmhild Wust of the University of Goias, who offered numerous suggestions that gave the manuscript a more effective focus. Professor Dennis Werner, of the University of Santa Catarina at Florianopolis, provided me with a very thorough commentary on the first draft, for which I am immensely grateful. Mr. John Hollingsworth, of the Geography Department at Indiana University, prepared the illustrations. Many colleagues read parts of the manuscript and offered valuable suggestions , among them: Carlos Coimbra, Jr., Eduardo Goes Neves, Branca Egger Moellwald, Ricardo Ventura Santos, Jonathan Hill, Darna Dufour, Jean Jackson, Nigel Smith, and Robert Goodland. The inevitable mistakes are the sole responsibility of the author. The first readers of the manuscript were the students enrolled in the course I taught in 1989 at the Goeldi Museum on the Human Ecology of Amazonian Populations. I want to thank them all, especially those who took the time to make useful and detailed suggestions: Eduardo Brondizio, Claudia...