Local soil knowledge: answering basic questions in highland Bolivia

Today, several gaps remain in understanding major features of local soil management. One of these gaps concerns the nature of local knowledge associated with soil management. In this study, local soil knowledge of peasant farmers in highland Bolivia and its significance for "conservation-with-development' are examined. It includes a survey of insights from analogous studies dealing with plants and local plant knowledge (or ethnobotany). Two aspects of local soil knowledge are addressed, including: What is the relation between local soil knowledge and science? Does management based on local soil knowledge mimic nature? -from Author