Lector: Robin Currey – Science advisor for Kompanion and Mercy Corps Kyrgyzstan

The lecture covered interesting questions related to Currey’s research on studying of the households in Kyrgyzstan. She shared her experience of consulting rural communities on how to use their household gardens in more efficient and beneficial ways.

The ethnoecological approach in conducting research which consists of deliberate and simultaneous study of cultural, social, economic, and ecologic factors affecting a decision-making process, attracted public’s attention on the following issues:

       Local Apples Sorts Diversity;

      Areal of diffusion and utilization;

      Problems of extinction of some sorts.

The important scientific discourse which furthers exchange of experience and knowledge includes: new approaches in study, ethnics of conducting a research, rational utilization and preservation of local resources. 

In the future PF “Taalim-Forum” plans to continue cooperation with scientists from Kyrgyzstan, neighboring and distant countries which will facilitate development of ecological competence, increase ecological consciousness of wider audience and attract attention to the problem of preserving biological types that are in extinction. 

As a result of the Small projects’ implementation, TF organized the Round table where participants had a chance to present results of their work as tutorials, brochures, photographs, films and CDs.

Gary Martin, Director of the Global Diversity Foundation, Great Britain held sessions on ethnobiological methods of research. For more than 25 years, he has been working on ethnobiological research projects and involved into environment protection works.

Anthony Sattin, a writer and a critic, held sessions on place-based writing skills. He is a member of the Royal Geographical Society and a founder member of the ASTENE (the Association for the Study of Travellers in Egypt and the Near East).  He is the author of several books such as a novel Shooting the Breeze, The Gates of Africa