Papers presented at the Workshop on Indigenous Management of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dhulikhel, June 8-9, 1992.

In recent years, knowledge systems have become key areas of concern for researchers, policy-makers and developmental activists. Knowledge Systems and Natural Resources is a unique collection of case studies from Nepal. It provides rich and incisive insights into critical social processes and deliberative governance. It analyses how knowledge is produced, disseminated and applied in various aspects of natural resource governance in Nepal. The book challenges the dichotomy between traditional and scientific knowledge. It proposes to differentiate among systems of knowledge on the basis of political standing of social actors engaged in natural resource governance. It further proposes that change in governance hinges on how the diverse systems of knowledge come into deliberative interface and to what extent the unequal distribution of power and knowledge resources in society constrain the process of deliberation.

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) reviews cutting-edge research and links theory with practice to further our understanding of this important approach's contribution to natural resource management. It addresses IK's potential in solving issues such as coping with change, ensuring global food supply for a growing population, reversing environmental degradation and promoting sustainable practices. It is increasingly recognised that IK, which has featured centrally in resource management for millennia, should play a significant part in today's programmes that seek to increase land productivity and food security while ensuring environmental conservation. An invaluable resource for researchers and postgraduate students in environmental science and natural resources management, this book is also an informative read for development practitioners and undergraduates in agriculture, forestry, geography, anthropology and environmental studies.