Indicators as indigenous ecological knowledge: 'Lamp Posts', 'Crossroads' and 'Turning Points'

Abstract

Boundaries of most natural systems are fuzzy and thus amenable to contraction and expansion over time and space due to interaction of various natural and human variables. Fuzzy boundaries often require homeostatic indicators of thereshold values so that changes conform to system properties and goals. The homeostatic indicators are kind of buffer solutions which do not tell us precise moments of change but suggest the range within which a change may take place. Indicators are also like thumb rules which guide and regulate our relationship with nature within and outside. Nature within refers to our tendencies to internalize external shocks through various psychological, spiritual and social responses. The stresses produced by these emotions become evident through various indicators that we can experience and feel in day to day life. The nature without or outside is what we perceive through categories that we inherit as well as create or recreate. These categories also require indicators so that we can make sense of changes in these categories and accordingly deal with them. In this paper, I deal with the theoretical as well as empirical aspects of ecological knowledge system which incorporates indicators as `lamp posts , `crossroads and `turning points .