Ethnobotany: A methods manual (People and Plants Conservation Manuals) [Paperback]

Gary J. Martin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 041248370X | ISBN-13: 978-0412483707 | Publication Date: December 31, 1995 | Edition: 1

The potential for development of drugs and other chemically active substance from plants is huge and has only recently become widely recognized. Moreover, it is now all the more urgent due to widespread destruction of the plants' habitats and the human ethnic groups that possess the intimate knowledge of the potential of such plants. This subject - dubbed "ethnobotany" - has great implications for conservationists worldwide. This book tackles this subject in a new series in plant conservation sponsored by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). As with each of the books in the series, it aims to give an authoritative guide to the subject in a clear, jargon-free style. It should therefore not only be of interest to academic botanists and pharmaceutical personnel but also to the many "amateur" collectors (or "parataxonomists"), as well as nature guides, and other field workers. It is written in three parts, representing three levels of difficulty for ease of use. Working figures clarify key concepts, clear tables represent research data and examples explain case studies in some detail. The source book at the end of the book contains the most technical information, and points the way to more information. A full bibliography contains references to all cited articles and books. This book should be of interest to conservation biologists, plant ecologists/economic botanists, ethnobotanists, conservation and aid agency personnel, agroforestry experts, anthropologists, and pharmaceutical/pharmacologists, phytochemists.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I caught a glimpse of the table of contents, and it looks wonderful - Society for Economic Botany Newsletter; ...provides a detailed overview of this emerging discipline. Aimed primarily at researchers who are beginning field studies, it gives clear descriptions of the skills and methods most commonly employed by ethnobotanists. It will also be of interest to experienced field workers who wish to review new concepts and techniques drawn from botany, anthropology, economics, ethnopharmacology and other disciplines.. - Krypto News; However, in keeping the text firmly focused on the discussion of field techniques and rooted in a project base, with the use of real examples, Martin succeeds in providing some valuable information about research tools. I greatly appreciated the final section which offered ethical guidelines for conducting ethnobotanical studies with local people, communities and indigenous organisations. - International Journal of Environmental Studies; Nominated for the 1996 Society for Economic Botany Newsletter Outstanding Book Award

About the Author

Gary Martin is Director of the Global Diversity Foundation and a Research Fellow and Lecturer in the Anthropology Department at the University of Kent at Canterbury. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (December 31, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 041248370X
• ISBN-13: 978-0412483707
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,701,036 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent text for an ethnobotany field methods course., February 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ethnobotany: A methods manual (People and Plants Conservation Manuals) (Paperback)

This book is one of the very few that is perfect for teaching a college level ethnobotany field methods class. It covers the how-tos of data collection, hypothesis testing, plant identification and collection for both general purposes and for phytochemical analysis. The book also includes sections on anthropological, ecological, economic, linguistic, conservation, and community development skills and knowledge necessary to going into the field to do ethnobotanical research.

Class curriculum can be easily organized around the information provided in Martin's book. The only drawback to this book is the fact that it sold out very quickly in its first edition and the first reprint, both in 1995, so at the moment its back ordered waiting on the next reprinting.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book in ethnobotany, October 11, 2011

By 

Angelyne - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: People & Plants Cons Ser 10 vols: Ethnobotany: A Methods Manual (People and Plants Conservation) (Volume 7) (Paperback)

I think this is one of the best books in ethnobotany, a must have one. The methods are clearly presented and easy to follow.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!!, January 7, 2007

By 

M. Rao (Richmond, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: People & Plants Cons Ser 10 vols: Ethnobotany: A Methods Manual (People and Plants Conservation) (Volume 7) (Paperback)

Excellent book, great bridge in the gap in the relevant literature. If you are a budding botanist, it is a must read, very comprehensive and a must-have in order to gather information and follow the scientific method