African traditional ecological knowledge: A preliminary investigation of indigenous or traditional ecological knowledge and associated sustainable management practices in Africa and relevance to CIDA's environmental policy

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), reviewed and synthesized wide ranging literature on "alternative" systems of African indigenous peoples' traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), as revealed by indigenous land-use and renewable resource management practices. International involvement in this area by the UN, the World Bank, and various NGO's (IUCN, IIED, etc.), was also investigated to help identify the present scope or practical interest of TEK and possible future directions.

Main traditional livelihoods and land-use practices which sustainably exploit the ecosystem include sedentary and shifting agriculture, nomadic pastoralism, hunting, fishing, food gathering, rainforest use and limited agro-forestry for food, materials and medicines, etc. This is demonstrated, where possible with case-studies involving the following regions of African tribal groups: Kenya - Maasai; Tanzania - Pare; Zaramo, Luguru; Niger - Fulani; and the San of the Kalahari, etc. The report also investigated the nature or ambiguity between indigenous and post-colonial "traditional" practices of rural Africa and the constraints or challenges this poses to the current transmission and respect for TEK among indigenous Africans and development planners alike.

30 pp.