Methods and issues in exploring local knowledge of soils

Abstract

This article addresses the methodologies used in ethnopedological studies (EPS) and warns against assumptions made in early stages of research which may prove false after further discovery. Using GIS, the goal was to assess and synthesize local and scientific knowledge of soils, land uses, and available resources. The researchers eschew the "top-down" sharing of information from scientists to farmers, and value farmers' beliefs and perceptions regarding new technologies and was to adapt to ever-changing agricultural demands. Before this article, little had been written on the challenges of assessing local knowledge. With funding from the EU, a three year study with European and East African collaborators began to research strategies for sustainable management practices of land and water resources. Section 4 provides a thorough definition of local knowledge and explains its fluidity over time, space, and demographic groups.