About the Centre for Ethnoecology (CfE)

What does CfE do?

The Centre for Ethnoecology serves as a bridge between academia, communities, and broader society. It fosters dialogue, respect, and reciprocity in exchanging knowledge, recognising that traditional ecological knowledge holds immense value in addressing contemporary environmental challenges.

By understanding and respecting diverse ways of knowing, the Centre for Ethnoecology contributes to a more holistic and sustainable approach to our relationship with the natural world. Numerous sustainability initiatives rely heavily on technological solutions to innovate industries for reduced environmental impact. However, neglecting cultural connections to nature leads to shortsightedness. Cultural perspectives shape how communities view and interact with the environment. If policies disregard these inherent beliefs and relationships, they risk being superficial fixes.

How does it help?

One of the centre's primary focuses is documenting and communicating the diverse ways of knowing plants, animals, ecosystems, and landscapes. This includes studying traditional agricultural practices, medicinal plant use, hunting and gathering techniques, and the spiritual and cultural significance of the natural world.

Through collaborative research projects, scholars at the Centre for Ethnoecology work to amplify the voices of those who have insights into sustainable land management practices and biodiversity conservation efforts.

Education is also a vital mission of the centre, as it seeks to raise awareness about the importance of ethnoecological knowledge in today's world. Workshops, seminars, and courses offered by the centre provide a platform for students, researchers, and the public to engage with perspectives on ecology and conservation.

What is unique about this approach?

Long-term sustainability demands integrating technology with cultural understanding. Without addressing these underlying cultural connections, policies risk overlooking the profound impact of beliefs, values, and culture on sustainable practices. True sustainability necessitates a holistic approach that harmonises technological advancements with cultural awareness for enduring, impactful change.

In addition, we focus a lot of attention on working upstream of the predominant approaches being explored within sustainability, including those focused on behaviour change. We recognise the role that culture plays in areas such as the aesthetics particular cultures have developed through their media and literature, as well as how language and other framing processes influence the foundations for how individuals and communities perceive their world. These ‘ontological’ assumptions are crucial in genuinely understanding how people perceive the world and, in turn, value it.