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Greece: Environmental conservation through traditional knowledge |
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Greek traditional knowledge concerning the environment is mostly found in mountainous and island regions, which are dominant in Greece. Residents of these areas were forced to live autonomously - to produce by themselves all the necessary for their living resources. They did this by adapting their needs to the constraints of the natural environment (not that they had another choice) and making the most of what it offered.
The climate, topography, orientation view, and of course, the social and economic conditions were very important for traditional architecture.The main building materials were wood and stone, abundant in the mountain environment. The choice of the location of a settlement was based on criteria of safety, presence of water, appropriate conditions for the creation of cropland and pasture grazing land, the optimal orientation, and the proximity to neighboring villages (reducing isolation). Regarding the layout in order to protect the soil from erosion (due to rain), terraces, (i.e. supporting stone walls by dry stone) were constructed. To construct them, stone that was gathered during the cleaning of agricultural fields was used (recycling). The terraces created the necessary conditions for the development of agriculture and encouraged the cultivation of fruit trees. Simultaneously, they were ideal microhabitats (strong sunlight and low humidity) for many species of flora and fauna (reptiles, birds, insects, plants) that could find shelter and food. The construction of these terraces, therefore, created a biological network. The stone walls, combine nature with human culture and civilization. Realizing the need for renewal of the countryside from the effects of human impact, mountain communities even today provide for a series of measures such as fallow land, crop rotation, natural fertilization of fields, the periodic change in forestry etc. For example, agricultural land when not in a productive period was granted for livestock, which acted as a natural fertilizer, and in turn increased the agricultural production. Thus, it contributed to the strengthening of the soil, to increased productivity and the renewal of natural resources. The traditional societies not only have their survival dependent on natural resources, but also organize their whole way of life in accordance with the rhythm of nature. The varieties of plants grown are those that prove most effective, based on the microclimate of each area (many or few rains, droughts, ice, resistance at very high or very low temperature, diseases etc.), and not those necessarily preferred by the consumers. Also, the alternation of day-night and the seasons, determined enormously human activity –agricultural harvesting of fruit, movement of people and animals, etc. The traditional societies were based on the observation of transitions of nature to ensure the best conditions for agricultural work. Additionally, a number of activities related to customs, celebrations, living habits and traditions, legends and beliefs, were directly linked to the annual cycle of nature. Finally, people in the past had qualities that we may now lack: Time and Patience. Time to observe, verify, experiment. The close relationship of them with the land, plants and animals, allowed them to have a profound knowledge of the parameters that affected their daily lives and draw conclusions for the next periods. I believe that the most important benefits to the environment by traditional knowledge, was not primarily –without aiming to underestimate them– the specific discoveries in agriculture, livestock, fisheries, medicine, architecture and in most fields in which their everyday live had needs, but their connection with the environment. A relationship which did not have the predatory expression, as sometimes happens in our days. On the contrary, it was characterized by balance, respect in the space and nature, the same thing that today is expressed by the concept of sustainable development. |
  
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4 Comments
thanks for the informative report Konstantios. :)
Posted 17-12-2015 21:27
I agree Konstantinos. Nature is your best friend for conservation & traditional know-how is more scientific, natural & logical even today.
Posted 07-12-2015 16:02
Thanks for the informative report on environmental conservation through traditional knowledge.
Posted 04-12-2015 04:30
Thanks for sharing various traditional practices by traditional societies. Rightly said , they not only have their survival dependent on natural resources, but also organize their whole way of life in accordance with the rhythm of nature. Well written report, Konstantinos.
Posted 02-12-2015 16:53