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01. Wetland Plants and Animals 02. Wetland Practices 03. Wetland Art 04. Wetland Manmade Structures 05. Wetland Peoples 06. Evaluation Materials 07. Supplemental Activities
Park Publishers
Gea-Jae Joo / Maurice Lineman / Yuno Do / Ji Yoon Kim Pusan National University
Gea-Jae Joo / Maurice Lineman / Yuno Do / Ji Yoon Kim Pusan National University
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Contents 01. Wetland Plants and Animals Wetland Culture for Children Gea-Jae Joo, Maurice Lineman, Yuno Do, Ji Yoon Kim
Authors (Text) Drawing
Hang-Ah Kim & Design INNO
Publication Date
May 27, 2015 (First Edition)
First Impression
May 27, 2015
Publisher
019
The meaning of frogs (South America)
022
Crocodiles
025
The stork (Asia and Europe)
029
The beaver
032
Restoration of endangered wetland animals
036
Design INNO
69-11 Joongang-dong, Sungsan-gu, Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-Province, Republic of Korea
+82-55-265-7001
Fax
+82-55-266-7102
Registration No ISBN
Water hyacinth (Lake Victoria)
Park Publishers
Cover and text design by
Tel
016
Gea-Jae Joo (Pusan National University)
Published by
Printed in
Lotus and Buddhism
2010-000002
979 -11- 86160 - 02-2
43400
02. Wetland Practices Rice farming
040
Winter flooding of rice paddies
043 3
Farming cranberries
046
Reed and geese painting
090
Peat farming
048
Pine trees and crane painting
092
Wetland burning
050
Heungbu and Nolbu
094
Medicines
053
Japanese crane story
096
Jeju water trapping
056
The water puppet show (Vietnam)
099
Underground water storage (Turkey and the Middle East)
058
Crane dance
102
Gari (fish traps) of the world
061
Stamps and money
106
Fishing gear in coastal areas
064
River/pond fishing methods
067
Cormorant fishing
070
The rotation of tidal flats (clam harvest)
073
Ducks in North America
076
03. Wetland Art Sotdae
080
Wooden geese
082
Wetland craftwork
084
Duck shaped earthen ware pottery
087
04. Wetland Manmade Structures Waterwheel
109
Traditional wetland boats
112
Terraced rice paddies
114
Ancient reservoir for agricultural water supply
118
Indian village pond
122
The Floating Garden (Xochimilco, Mexico)
124
Wastewater treatment in Kolkata Ramsar wetland (India)
127
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05. Wetland Peoples
07. Supplemental Activities
Crawgator: symbol of the Louisiana Cajuns (Mississippi delta)
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I. Global map
176
Lippovans in Danube delta
134
Ⅱ. Glossary
177
Marsh Arabian (Madan) of the Euphrates delta
138
Ⅲ. Wetland and Culture for children: Video list
186
Aboriginal Water Maps (Australia)
140
Wetland Villages / Fishing / Rice paddies / Performances / Tales and stories
Neur tribe: migration against wetland flooding (Northeastern Africa)
144
Dance / Human use of Wetlands / Use of reeds / Waterwheel / Crafts
Firefly protection and ecotourism (Kumejima firefly, Korea, Malaysia)
147
Wetland ecotourism / Wetland practices
Restoring habitat for the oriental stork (Toyooka City)
150
Ecotourism (Upo fog tour, Suncheon sunset)
154
Bog bodies (Burial practices)
157
06. Evaluation Materials I. Questions Physical attributes / Practices / Art / Engineering / Peoples / Tourism / Literature / Extras / Wetland Culture / Global extensions
160
Wetland culture is created when people and wetlands interact. The result is a hybridization of culture and the natural world, which then becomes an entity in and of itself. This culture and its attributes can become self-sustaining and in time result in the creation of ideas that become part of our common understanding. By taking the time to understand how these attributes were created, and how they influence the development and peoples found where the culture is dominant, it is possible to determine how to assist people who live in these areas and others like them. 6
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Message from the Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention
The Convention has also created the Ramsar Culture Network, a global community of people from all regions of the world who wish to celebrate and deepen appreciation of the multiple and close links that exist between wetlands, culture and livelihoods.
Wetlands are the source of sustainable development. All the water that you and I drink comes from a wetland, though we may not always be aware of its source. Wetlands are home for many species of plants and animals. Wetlands provide food, building materials transport, recreation and wellbeing. They also help to control floods. However, two thirds of the world’s wetland have been destroyed or lost in the last century.
It is only by caring about these issues that anything will be done. I encourage you to visit a wetland near you, to learn about its history, to discover where your water comes from and to tell your stories to family and friends so that they can also appreciate the natural, recreational and cultural value of wetlands.
The Ramsar Convention encourages the conservation and wise use of all wetlands in order to maintain the vital ecosystem and cultural services they provide to people around the world. It supports and encourages governments to value the cultural services of wetlands and the rights of communities to participate in their management.
Christopher Briggs Secretary General Ramsar Secretariat Gland, Switzerland
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Wetland & Culture for Children I. Section One - Introduction The following book is written to be an aid, or text, in either a social studies class, or a science class that shows the relation between science and social studies. As such, the material in the following text is best taught using the whole language method; however, where this is not the practice, the materials can be adapted to any methodology preferred. The material in this book is presented in a series of texts, that is the information for the students will be in the first text, the second text of the set includes test materials for the evaluation of the students’knowledge and the third text is the instructors guide (and includes supplemental teaching materials) The following items are items of cultural significance that have over time been developed to assist in life as it occurs in wetlands and their associated regions. The identification of these values and their conservation has been stated in two distinct resolutions to the Ramsar Convention, the VIII.19 and XI.21 respectively. Resolution VIII.19 states;
ACKNOWLEDGING that the ancient and intimate links of traditional societies to wetlands and water have given rise to important cultural values relevant to wetland conservation and wise use, which have been recognized in the diverse cosmologies of different civilizations and cultures throughout history (Ramsar COP 8 Resolution VIII.19 clause 1(Ramsar 2002)) While resolutions IX.21 states; wetlands and water resources in all parts of the world have been focal points for people and societies, providing vital services and being places where local communities and indigenous peoples have developed strong cultural connections and sustainable use practices Ramsar COP9 Resolution IX.21 clause 1 (Ramsar 2005) and wetlands are especially important to local communities and indigenous peoples and that these groups must have a decisive voice in matters concerning their cultural heritage (Ramsar COP9 Resolution IX.21 clause 2 (Ramsar 2005)) These items have therefore come to possess a level of cultural importance, which is valuable enough to be supported by the governing body of the Convention of Wetlands of International Importance. 10
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Culture is intrinsically valuable to humanity, as it is the formation and patterns of interaction between people and their surroundings. These interactions are derived over time and become established as practices or artifacts that come to be identified with wetland-associated communities. The following list, while not being inclusive of all wetland cultural attributes, does cover a large variety of wetland cultural attributes, and therefore will provide a secure basis and starting ground for further work, or student research. The information presented herein was retrieved from many sites on the internet, and several texts on culture and wetlands. Among these are most notably Papayannis (2008), Orlove (2002), Brown (2005), Papayannis and Prtichard (2011). The Ramsar Convention’ s mission is“the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world” . Wetlands are among the most diverse and productive ecosystems. They provide essential services and supply all our fresh water. However they continue to be degraded and converted to other uses. The Convention uses a broad definition of wetlands. It includes all lakes and rivers, underground aquifers, swamps and marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, mangroves and other coastal areas, coral reefs, and all human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs and salt pans. Under the“three pillars”of the Convention, the Contracting Parties commit to: - work towards the wise use of all their wetlands; - designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (the“Ramsar List”) and ensure their effective management; - cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems and shared species.
Aside from these sources, the information came from a multitude of governmental websites, and independent non-governmental organization websites. Al l materials presented here have been produced in the theme to show the connection between Wetlands and Culture. In 2008 Ramsar Cultural Center (RCC) was opened in Changwon, S.Korea during the COP 10.
Ramsar COP logos (COP 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) 12
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01 W
Wetland Plants and Animals
etlands are natural environments that are
people actively are involved in determining the
made of different parts, plants and ani-
direction of the evolution of the wetland. Man-
mals. Over time, people have associated dif-
agement occurs when people need to affect
ferent animals with different aspects of religion,
how the wetland survives by having an effect
culture, origins etc. Religions, which are focused
on the vegetation or animals within the wetland,
more on a holistic approach to living often, have
or its general location. In Central America, man-
biological components central to their guiding
agement of frogs was an important component
principles. Buddhism, the lotus is a primary
of wetland use, because frogs were symbolic of
component in the original myth, in that it is a
a belief in luck. There are many animals found
symbol of several different aspects of the faith.
in wetlands, but some common ones, along with
As well, they have altered the wetland habitats
some endangered ones are described here.
for these plants and animals. These changes
Crocodiles played a role in the faith structure
require management of the disturbance and the
of Egypt under the pharaohs and the beaver is
wetland to prevent further decreases in wet-
symbolic of a desire to improve our surround-
land quality or structure. Management is when
ings, they are nature’s engineers.
01 Wetland Plants and Animals
Lotus and Buddhism
In Buddhism, the lotus blossom has six meanings. First, the lotus flower is a symbol of fortune in Buddhism. The flower grows in muddy water. This is the most simple of the symbolic meanings; the bloom grows and rises above the dirty water to find the light of understanding. This leads to the second and third meanings. The second meaning is that the rising from the dirty water is the same as purification. The third meaning is faithfulness. The people who work hard to rise from the water will needfaithful followers.
The color of the flower also has meaning. Each flower color has a different meaning. White lotuses show purity of mind and spirit. Red blossoms mean compassion and love, while blue flowers shows common sense as a means to enlightenment. A pink lotus flower tells us about the history of Buddha and a purple flower identifies spirituality and mysticism. Lastly, the golden blossom represents total enlightenment. There are other levels of meaning represented by the lotus as well. An unopened flower shows the person before understanding, and an open flower shows the person who fully understands. The mud that the lotus grows in is also important. The mud shows suffering which is part of life because it makes us stronger, and when we grow above the muddy water then we can understand. Finally, the lotus relates the idea of rebirth.
B uddhist temple in Tokyo (Japan, author: Stefano Costanzo) and lotus lantern festival (Korea)
L otus flower and its fruit, lotus symbol on Buddhist temple (Korea) 16
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01 Wetland Plants and Animals
In Asia, the lotus is commonly cultivated for food production. Petals are used for garnish, while the large leaves are used as a wrap for food. In Korea, the leaves and petals are used as a tisane (Lotus flower/leaf tea). Young lotus stems are used as a salad ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine. The rhizome (called ˇu o (藕) in pinyin Chinese, ngau in Cantonese, thambou in Manipuri, kamal kakri in Hindi, renkon (レン コン, 蓮根 in Japanese), yeongeun (연근 in Korean) is used as a vegetable in soups, deep-fried, stir-fried, and braised dishes.
Water hyacinth (Lake Victoria) L otus root (Author: Fotoos Robin, Charles Haynes)
Question In your country, do you have any plants or animals that have a spiritual connection to wetlands or are strongly related to wetlands? Do you have any lotus type plants in your country?
Water hyacinth is not a native plant in the African region. It was accidentally introduced by some traveler in the 1980s. It has spread prolifically, due to lack of natural enemies, an abundance of space, agreeable temperature conditions, and abundant nutrients. The invasive water hyacinth plant has been impossible to remove from Lake Victoria 18
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Water hyacinth also interferes with water treatment, irrigation, and water supply. It can smother aquatic life by deoxygenating the water, and it reduces nutrients for young fish in sheltered bays. It has blocked supply intakes for the hydroelectric plant, interrupting electrical power for entire cities. The weed also interrupts local subsistence fishing, blocking access to the beaches. However, after several attempts by the government and international bodies to have the plant removed failed, the locals decided to exploit the economic opportunities presented by the weed. Fishermen came together to form a community-based organization to harvest and process the water hyacinth and manufacture a variety of unusual products. The fishermen discovered, to their surprise, that the list of prodWater hyacinth in Lake Victoria (Author: Staffordshire Lerning Net)
Water hyacinth handmade craft in Cambodia (Author:tajai)
ucts that can be made from the weed is nearly limitless: cards, lampshades, sturdy furniture, baskets, footwear, cordage, handbags, fodder for animals, and gas are just some of the many hyacinth-crafted products. They sell for between a dollar (cards) and $1,000 (woven couches), depending on size and design. Along the Nile, dried water hyacinths are twisted into ropes used to make makeshift bridges across the mighty river. In addition, some culinary adventurers have even experimented with a water hyacinth brew as a substitute for tea. 20
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01 Wetland Plants and Animals
The meaning of frogs
Out of this legend, the Inca king built a large golden statue to the Sapo, to honor all of the wishes that he had granted. This statue was also used to play the game Sapo in the gardens of the King’ s palace (Cusco) on the shores of Titicaca. The game itself required dexterity and there was an air of suspense, in trying to figure out if Sapo would catch the gold. The game was part of a festival in which there was dancing and partying.
(South America)
In Central and South America, the Inca a group of native peoples, also revered wetland animals. However, their animal of choice was not a large waterfowl, although they did have respect for the duck. The wetland animal most respected by the Inca was the frog. The Inca have a legend that the frog, who was a magical animal, would grant a wish. The thing that had to be done was to throw a piece of gold into the frog s mouth. If the frog (Sapo) caught the gold piece in his mouth, he would turn to gold.
Frog
Duck
Snail
In 2008, it was decided by several agencies and governments, that it would be the year of the frog, because since the 1970 s there has been a steady increase in the number of frog species dying out because of human impacts on natural habitats for frogs. The species that have died off are likely the results of climate change, but this is not yet known for sure. 22
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01 Wetland Plants and Animals
Crocodiles
Question In your country, do reptiles and amphibians play an important role in culture? Do they have a symbolic role? when was the year of the frog? What is the year of the frog?
Crocodiles are an important animal in some wetlands. The Egyptians even raised the crocodile to the level of a god. The ancient Egyptians believed that if they prayed to the god Sobek, he would protect them from being attacked by crocodiles. Sobek, was represented as a man with a crocodile head, or often as a resting crocodile. He was recognized as the god of Nile products and fertility, and was the patron of the army. The temples worshiping Sobek were most commonly found in places where crocodiles were abundant, and today ruins are found 24
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near Al Fayyum even the Greeks when they took over Egypt came to call the town Crocodopolis crocodile town. Here the Egyptians worshipped Petsuchos as a manifestation of Sobek. Petsuchos was the Greek name given to a live crocodile, which was mummified when it died. It was also believed that the Nile was created from his sweat.
Comparatively, the hippo is believed to provide villagers with abundant catches of fish. In Benin, along with other African countries, there is the legend of Maame wata, which was identified as the African manatee. This god would upset boats and convince their occupants to join her at the bottom of the sea (much like mermaids or sirens), for this reason it is forbidden to speak of Maame except after certain festivals.
The crocodile had two aspects to his deity, one of productivity and one of strength. This led to some crocodiles being mummified and buried in special animal cemeteries; however, in most parts of ancient Egypt, they were hunted and killed. In his royal form as the patron of the pharaohs army, Sobek was often seen holding the uraeus and the ankh. As well, in Benin, Africa, the crocodile is sacred along with the Python and the hippopotamus. The presence of a crocodile in a swamp or stream will result in the stream/wetland being closed to fishing while the crocodile is there. 26
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01 Wetland Plants and Animals
The stork (in Asia & Europe) Mummified crocodile (Author: tribp)
Question Do you think that worshipping something is a way to ward off bad luck?
The legend of the stork has a long history in the western world. Storks are large birds that are found in and near wetlands. They have become connected to the idea of bringing a baby into a home for a number of reasons. Storks build their nests on the roof of a house and this was seen as a blessing, or as a symbol of fertility. Storks sometimes nest on the chimneys of a house, because the chimney is like the trees where they normally build their nests. Storks also travel long distances when they migrate, which made it seem as if the baby was a delivery from a distant 28
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land. As well, in the past, marshes, wetlands, and other water places were seen as the homes for unborn babies souls, and since storks lived in and near these places, it was possible that they could deliver new babies souls from the marsh. Storks have also been observed to be good parents themselves, so this allows for a mental connection to being a parent. Furthermore, storks are large birds, which could allow them to carry a baby. This myth of carrying babies has even spread to our modern western
mythology in that the stork delivering a large baby in a sling was used as the icon for the Vlasic Pickle Company because of the idea that pregnant women like pickles. As well, in the animated movie - Dumbo - the baby Dumbo was delivered to his mother on the train. Storks are known for their fidelity although this has been scientifically shown to be false.
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), Author: Olgierd Pstrykotwo' rca
Question What is the myth behind the stork story? Invitation letter of baby shower showing how a stork brings the baby
Plate painting of stork with baby
In your country, do you have any animals like this, which are related to wetlands? 30
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01 Wetland Plants and Animals
Beaver are very capable animals, they are known by the nickname natures engineers (an engineer is a person who designs and builds things) because they make dams. A dam, as you know, is a manmade structure that is used to hold water in a reservoir (a type of manmade lake). Beavers do this naturally. The largest beaver dam in the world is found in Canada. This dam created a wetland over 2km in size.
The Beaver
An animal that lives in the water, the beaver builds its house out of sticks, and its house is surrounded by water. The water is in a natural reservoir, which was created when the animals made a dam of wood to dam the creek. The beaver is the national animal of Canada. At one time, it was believed that there were over 60,000,000 beaver in North America, but when people from Europe came to North America, they hunted the beaver and used their fur to make hats and coats. In the end, the numbers of beaver became very small. The beaver then became a protected animal and their numbers grew, it is because of this that now they are back in substantial numbers, about 9,000,000 individuals.
Sealing beaver skins, Author: Rhode Clarence, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Beaver, Author: Law Keven
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Native North Americans used the beaver both as food and as a source of skins for clothes. The beaver skin, when tanned (prepared for human use), is warm and water proof. It was often used to make moccasins (a type of shoe), boots, and jackets because they were thick and water proof.
Beaver dam on river, Author : Walter Siegmund
Question In your country, do you have any animals like the beaver? When in history did people nearly kill off all of the beaver in North America? 34 34
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01 Wetland Plants and Animals
Restoration of endangered wetland animals
Wetland loss not only affects birds it also affects other animals. In China, the loss of wetlands and poaching due to human population growth caused the Milu deer population to drop. This deer is actually a Siki deer (Cervus nippon), but is also called the Pere Davids deer. The deer population declined because of two factors one was the loss of habitat, while the other was hunting. The wild herd was killed off in 1939; however, before he was removed from power, the emperor established a large herd a this imperial hunting grounds near Peking.
Some deer were sent to Europe where they were bred and over time, they became a self-continuing herd. However, by this time, the remnant deer population in China had died off because of a flood and hunting. Therefore, the people who had managed to breed the animal in Europe worked together and returned some animals to China in the 1980’s. These animals have bred in captivity in China, and now some of the animals have been released into the wild. In Korea, the Crested Ibis was declared extirpated (that means locally extinct, even though the birds are alive in another place), in the 1970’ s. In Japan, the last wild bird died in 2003. However, since then, both the Japanese and Korean governments have been working hard towards the restoration of this beautiful bird. Sado Japan, is the site for the Japanese breeding program, and Upo wetland in Korea is the site for the Korean restoration program. In 2008, the Sado center released eight birds into the wild as part of the restoration program, Korea; however, is still in the early stages of its restoration program, after receiving two birds from China in 2008.
Milu deer, Author: Mick Lobb
Crested ibis 36
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In North America, the Whooping crane experienced a very large drop in population numbers, so great that in 1942 there were only 16 birds left, down from an original population that was greater than 10,000 birds. The governments of Canada, the United States and Mexico went to work together to restore the species. Now there are more than 270 birds alive. It was once determined that it cost up to 100,000$ to raise and restore one bird to the wild.
Whooping crane, Author: Hagerty Ryan, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Question In your country, do you have any plants or animals that have a spiritual connection to wetlands or are strongly related to wetlands?
P
Wetland Practices
eople in a wetland have to live alongside
the same paddy over centuries, or in some cases
the animals and the plants. Therefore, these
millennia, to make sure the food supply remains
people often use the animals and plants to their
stable, much like the floating garden in mexico,
benefit. To maintain the long-term function of
which served the same purpose, food sup-
wetlands, different practices have evolved over
ply. Alternatively, using reeds to create boats,
time, which enable the local peoples to use
or birds for fishing, hollowed out underground
the wetland for a long time (sustainably) with-
caves for water storage in the desert, each of
out damaging the wetland beyond its capability
these practices had a purpose, typical to sup-
for regrowth. Practice such as rotation of the
port local life for the people. By using the avail-
mudflat, where different areas of a mudflat are
able wetland products, the local inhabitants
used from season to season, or year to year, to
changed their environment to facilitate their liv-
promote mudflat life. Rice farming, which uses
ing there, often over a long period.
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02Wetland Practices
Rice farming Rice farming (Korea)
One of the five most important crops in the world, rice is farmed all over the planet in places where the temperature is warm and can support rice growth. Rice is the second most commonly grown food plant in the world after corn, and is the most important source of food for people (corn is also used to feed animals and make biofuel). Its importance as a food source also provides its cultural value. In China, in the city of Guangzhou (a city of nearly 13 million people) on the Pearl River, there is a statue called the Five Rams statue. This statue created in 1959, depicts a local legend about the origins of rice. According to the legend, about 2000 years ago five immortals descended from the heavens on the backs of five rams. The rams had rice stalks in
Rice paddy (Korea)
Rice planting (Cambodia), Author: UN
After harvesting (Korea)
their mouths. The immortals returned to the heavens and left the rams behind with the rice stalks. This prevented the people of Guangzhou from dying of starvation. Another interesting fact about Guangzhou is that it is a global megacity, this means it and the area surrounding it (which contains five very large cities) contains nearly 51 million people, which is nearly twice the population of Canada, in a city that is about 12,320km2, which is about the size of the country of Slovenia. While the legend is interesting, rice itself is believed to have been cultivated close to 10,000 years ago in the region of southern China and northeastern India, including Burma, Cambodia, and Northern Thailand. However, this is still not known for certain. 40
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02Wetland Practices
Winter flooding of rice paddies Rice paddies are very special wetlands. These wetlands because of how they are used have special impacts on the water and the landscape near the wetlands. Historically, rice paddies along with growing rice have been used to provide habitat for animals. These animals serve a function in the rice paddy and are also part of the rice paddy farmers diets. Because of this, rice paddies have both cultural and ecological value, which is why they have been included into the wetland definition for the Ramsar Agreement.
Another side effect of a growing global population is that people are now taking over large areas of land. These areas were once natural lands that also included wetlands. The loss of these wetlands created problem for the birds that used them. In Japan, farmers began to notice this loss and figured out that they were the cause of the problem. They noticed that the number of wetland birds was decreasing and they figured out that the reason was they were converting wetlands to farmland. This was causing a problem for the birds. The farmers took the time to understand that the birds had been using the seeds from the wetlands as food during their migration. These farmers then decided 42
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to try a program whereby they helped the birds by supplying the birds with wetlands when they were migrating in the winter. The result was the winter flooding program in Japan. This program was first used in Kabukurinuma wetland, a Ramsar site. The farmers and scientists both noted that the program resulted in an increase in the number of migratory birds in the wetland. Over time, this led to the program being used at other wetlands in Japan. The program has also been effectively put to use in other parts of Asia. Korea and China are now using similar programs for wetlands in their own countries.
Globally wetland loss is a very big issue, with about 80% of wetlands around the world being turned into croplands, urban areas, and human developments. Scientists and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’ s) are working hard to ensure we do not destroy all wetlands. They study the biodiversity, biology, soils, aesthetics, history and hydrology of wetlands to prevent wetland loss. In Korea, at Pusan National University, they performed a long-term study on how much of the wetlands in the southeastern corner of the country had been lost. From this study, they found that more than 90% of all of the wetlands that used to exist in this part of Korea had been converted to farms, or cities. This included the loss of rice paddy wetlands as well.
Winter flooding (Korea)
Question What other environmentally friend methods are used to grow crops near your hometown? 44
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02Wetland Practices
Farming cranberries
In the 1820s, the berries were farmed on a small scale in the United States, where wetlands were found because the plant grows in wetland areas. The plants are farmed in Canada, the United States, Argentina, Chile, the Netherlands, and Eastern Europe.
Cranberry bog, Author: Digital Garage, Inc.
Native North Americans used the cranberry (a small berry from an evergreen shrub) as a source of food, medicine and dye. The berry is acidic to the taste, and it has a variety of uses even today. Native North Americans did not actually cultivate the plant but the native peoples did collect and use the berries and leaves. One name for it was Sassamanash, although other groups had different names. The Native North Americans are believed to have introduced cranberries to the Europeans who were starving in the new world. Eventually the fruit, as both a berry and a jelly, came to be used as part of the thanksgiving dinner in the United States. Europeans came to call it bearberry, because they used to see bears eating it in the fall before hibernating.
Cranberry harvesting, Author: Keith Weller, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Question In North America and other parts of the world, farming wetlands is a common practice. Are wetlands farmed in your country? If the wetlands are farmed, what is usually grown, or harvested? 46
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02Wetland Practices
Peat has been farmed for a long time all around the world, wherever it can be found. The peat is cut into blocks and then either used or sold for use. Removal of peat is a problem, because the peat itself grows very slowly, 1mm per year, and it is being harvested faster than it grows. Peat can be found in Northern Europe, North America, South America, and South East Asia. The loss of peatlands is very bad especially in countries like Indonesia, where they are losing 100,000 hectares per year to harvesting.
Peat farming
Fresh cut peat (UK), Author: Rambling Traveler
Drying stack of peat dug from a bog (Ireland), Author: Kecko
Peat is a crop collected from wetlands. This crop, while not being edible, has several uses. It is often used as a soil enhancer (something mixed with the soil so plants can grow better); however, its most common use is as a fuel to heat houses or for cooking. Peat is what happens when plants breakdown in watery soils. The plants breakdown (decay) very slowly and make a thick layer of heavy thick plant matter called peat. The depth of the peat depends on how long it has been growing over time. In some places, the peat has been found to be more then 20m deep.
Question Peat is compressed decaying vegetation, typically peat moss; it is used to heat homes. In your country what is used to heat homes? Where does it come from? 48
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02Wetland Practices
Wetland burning
In Kakadu national park in the Northern territory of Australia, the aborigines have begun to use the old practice of burns to manage and maintain the woodlands and wetlands in the region. However, the practice of burning wetlands is one that is still not utilized in western management techniques. However, in years past, water buffalo and fire naturally kept invasive plants in control. Nevertheless, with the advent of western management science, these practices were discontinued and the invasive plants began to take over the wetlands. This caused a loss of wetland area and alterations to the wetlands function. The outcome is that now aborigines are beginning to apply the management strategy in the park as a method to control the invasive plants.
When a person thinks of wetlands, they rarely think of Australia, A land that is hot and dry and there is not a lot of water. Yet even Australia has a culture that has a strong relationship with wetlands. The aborigines of Australia have always lived in close communion with their natural surroundings. They managed the land with prescribed burns, a practice that has only recently become used by western scientists to control overgrowth and allow for natural maintenance of the land.
Kakadu National Park, Author: LIA
Kakadu National Park, Author: LIA 50
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02Wetland Practices
Medicines
Question The Australian aborigines are a very old group of people, who have always been close to the land, do you think that this gives them valuable information about the land, its plants and animals? How do you think we can use this information?
Many plant based medicines come from plants that grow in wetlands. In North America native peoples used several different plants for their medicinal properties. Plants like willow, Meadow sweet, Meadow rue, sedge species, Bogbean, Purple loosestrife, Sundews, Labrador tea, Watercress, Rhizophora mangle (Red mangrove), Acorus calamus (Sweet flag), and many others have been used for medicinal purposes by indigenous peoples all over the world. 52
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Some of these plants have even been shown to actually be very good medicines like Salix alba (White willow). This plant is a known source of Salicylin, which is a derivate of Acetylsalicylic acid, which is known as aspirin. Another plant is Digitalis purpurea, which is a source for heart medicine. Each of these plants have value as a source of medicine; however, what is important is that the information required to identify them is held in the minds of people who are disappearing rapidly as these people get older.
Question Many medicines that we now use, were originally from plants, they were discovered and then they were made in a laboratory. Can you think of other things that come from plants that we use every day? 54
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02Wetland Practices
Jeju water trapping
Water trapping is a process where water is collected for future use. Jeju Island is a volcanic island off the south coast of South Korea. Jeju Island has very little surface water; most of it is groundwater (water from underground). This water is recharged when it rains. Volcanic islands are made of highly porous rock (rock full of small holes). The rain falls and flows into the ground quickly with most of the rain disappearing in a short time after the rain. This means that people have to make wells to get their water.
To make it easier to get drinkable water from the volcanic soil, people on jeju developed a method where they trap the water within an area allowing them to take water from the soil. The rain falls and is collected in the scoria cones (sometimes called parasitic cones). The water then flows into the ground where it is caught in the water below the ground. This trapping of the water is only possible in or near volcanoes. It provides the people who live near the volcano with clean water. As well, it provides water for wetlands to form in the scoria cones, because the water can only enter the rock slowly.
Question The Jeju water traps are naturally occurring, can you tell why they occur, and where you might find others that may have a similar role? 56
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02Wetland Practices
Underground water storage in Turkey and The Middle East
Water is necessary for life. While people can live for a long time without food, they need water to live. Scientists have found that a human can live without water for a maximum of three days. After three days without water, people will die. Therefore, water is very important to us. In countries with deserts, the ability to find and keep water becomes very important, because in very hot places, we lose water easily because of the heat. Therefore, in places like deserts, or prairies, water has to be protected
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and stored where it cannot evaporate because it is rare. In Iraq (formerly Persia and Turkey), where water is hard to find, people dug underground to get and store water. In Turkey, they built large water tanks reservoirs underground to hold the water and keep it cold. In Persia, they dug tunnels (holes in the ground) to move water underground to towns so people could live.
02Wetland Practices
Gari (fish traps) of the world Gari (which is the Korean name) are a type of fish trap. You use fish traps to catch fish. The trap is inserted into the water and any fish that are caught in the barrel, are then caught by the fisherman. Fish traps are a very practical way of catching fish.
Question Do you have special structures, or devices that are used to collect water in your country?
Fish traps are often made in the shape of an open-ended barrel. The fish are caught in the gari and then collected by the fisherman. The fisherman collects the fish from the gari and then carries the fish home. The gari are made with sticks (i.e. Bamboo, willow, alder) or branches arranged in a circle and then connected together with other branches wrapped around the first branches. 60
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The interesting thing is that Gari are found around the world. There are examples of Gari from Arica, Europe, Asia, Eastern Asia, and India. Moreover, they all share the same general shape and structure. They share the same shape because of a similar role in usage. Materials may be different depending on the location; however, the method of using them is nearly the same wherever they are used.
Question Do you have similar types or kinds of fish traps in your country?
Croatia
Korea, Cambodia, China, VietNam-same shape 62
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02Wetland Practices
Fishing gear in coastal areas Fishing near the coast is different from fishing in a river. Fishing gear in coastal towns means the equipment used to catch/trap fish. How do you think people caught fish before they had fishing rods, and hooks? One thing they used to do was to make fences in the water and at the end of the fence, they would build a large cage. They would then herd the fish, yes herd them like cows, into the large cage. This pattern of catching fish has been used in and near the mouths of rivers where fish often come to feed, and where the water is shallow and the tide is used to assist in controlling fish movement. The practice of using these fish traps is very old and the equipment has been found in Asia, Africa, South America, North America, Europe, Russia and in the Pacific Ocean Islands. The fish in the river move down the river as the tide moves out. As they move down the river they are forced into the mouth of the trap, and the tide goes out fish are caught in the cage at the end of the trap, where the water is a little deeper, but there is no way out of the trap. 64 64
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02Wetland Practices
River/pond fishing methods
Traditional fish trap (Korea)
Traditional fish trap (Para River), Author: Hufse
Traditional fish trap (UK), Author: Morturn
Question
Traditional fishing net (Scotland), Author: Mick Garratt
Fish traps are very common in coastal places. Are fish traps used in your country? If there are, compare them to the ones described here, how are they similar, how are they different?
While fishing near the coast was possible with long traps that could twist and turn to confuse the fish, fishing in rivers was harder. Besides using hooks, which meant you could only catch fish one at a time (the idea of using many hooks on one line came much later), the only other way was to net the fish. Using a net is hard and requires a lot of effort. In some places they devised a way of catching fish using a dipping net. This net is held between two poles and then dipped into the water, then it is quickly removed bringing the fish out with it. 66 66
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Dipping nets have been found in many places in the world, in Thailand, in China, in India, in Egypt, in Vietnam and in Italy. While the technique may be slightly different (in Italy they have made it more effective and larger in size), the method is basically the same. In the Congo River in Africa, the Enya people practice a different form of fishing. They have fish traps that are lowered into the rapids, but the traps are suspended from stakes that are in the river. This method is very dangerous, because if the fisherman falls off of his trap when he is collecting the fish, he can be pulled under and drown. These traps look like hoop cages that are then lowered into the flowing water. The fish are caught in the traps and because the water is flowing quickly, they cannot get out.
Fishing boat (Mexico), Author:Greencolander
Fishing (Lao PDR), Author: Sansanee Choowaew, and PNU
Fish traps at the falls (Congo), Author: Julien Harneis
Fish traps at river (Congo), Author: Julien Harneis
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02Wetland Practices
To use the cormorant, a snare is tied near the base of the bird’s throat, which allows the bird only to swallow small fish. When the bird captures and tries to swallow a large fish, the fish is caught in the bird’s throat. When the bird returns to the fisherman’s raft, the fisherman removes the fish from the birds throat.
Cormorant fishing Fisher woman and her cormorant fishing birds (China), Author: Proggie
Cormorants (group Phalacrocoracidae) are large diving waterfowl. They are found throughout coastal areas and some winter in southern China, Korea and Japan. Humans have used the cormorants’fishing skills, in China, Japan, Korea and Macedonia, where the cormorants have been trained by fishermen.
Cormorant festival (Japan)
The method is not as common today since more efficient fish catching methods have been developed. In Japan, cormorant fishing is called Ukai. Traditional forms of ukai can be seen on the Nagara River in the city of Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, where cormorant fishing has continued uninterrupted for 1300 years, or in the city of Inuyama, Aichi. In Guilin, China, cormorant birds are famous for fishing on the shallow Lijiang River. In Korea, there is record of cormorant fishing in Gupo, Nakdong River. The method has also been used in Peru and Greece. 70
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Cormorants are not the only animal that has been captured and semi-domesticated for use as a fishing tool. In the Sundurbans, a large wetland-Mangrove forest in Bangladesh, Otters have also been used as a fishing tool. The fishermen have over time caught and bred an otter species that is only used for this purpose. The fishermen use the otters to herd the fish into nets where the fish are caught.
02Wetland Practices
The Rotation of tidal flats (clam harvest)
Question In your country, do you have a similar practice for fishing, like otters?
People have used wetlands for as long as wetlands have been around. One of the wetland types they have been using are tidal flats. Tidal flats are like large farms but they are found near the ocean, furthermore, because of their location they are very productive. You can find clams, crabs, sponges, birds, and many other animals. 72
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However, if tidal flats are used continuously, eventually the animals will be over-harvested. Too many will be collected leaving none for future farmers. The people who used the tidal flats learned this and found out that they had to do something to prevent the destruction of the tidal flat. In order to preserve the tidal flat they arranged the tidal flat into different areas. Then they harvested the areas at different times. This prevented the tidal flats from dying and allowed the animals time to grow. Over time, this practice became known as the rotation of the tidal flat. It is very similar to the rotation of a crop field. Farmers do the same thing with crop fields in order to maintain the productivity of their fields.
Village rotation field (Korea)
Sustainable harvests from Wetlands: This is a promising method, for people to live near wetlands while having a limited ecological impact on the wetland. It is important to remember, the process has to be sustainable.
Question Tidal flat rotation is much like fallowing a field, can you think of how these methods protect the environment from damage? 74
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02Wetland Practices
In the early 1900’ s in the eastern United States, hotel owners hired hunters to shoot ducks and geese for them. The hunters had special boats (called punts) which had flat bottoms and were made to hold very big shotguns (a gun that shoots many small bullets to kill birds), which were used to shoot the ducks. The guns were called punt guns and could shoot over 100 ducks with one shot.
Ducks in North America Both Natives (prior to the arrival of Europeans) and the Europeans themselves hunted ducks in North America. Ducks are an animal that is found in wetlands and on the shores of small lakes. They are a good source of food, providing meat for the person who can catch them. Native North Americans used to catch them in the spring, summer and fall, and then they used to dry the meat for use later. When the Europeans came they shot ducks in the fall as they flew south during their migrations (this included geese).
Duck hunter hunting
Duck decoy (U.S. FWS)
To enable the hunters to lure (to bring more ducks to them), hunters made decoys. Decoys look like real ducks but were made of wood or cloth; now they are made of plastic. As well, hunters used calls. A duck call is a small instrument that when you blow through it makes a sound much like a duck. These calls became very popular and were effective in calling ducks down to where they can see the decoys; this makes them think it is safe to land. Once the ducks land, they are shot.
Duck hunter hunting
Bird hunting in Egypt 76
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03
Question Hunting is a very popular recreational pastime in North America; can you hunt in your country? Are there rules for when you go hunting
O
Wetland Art
ne of the benefits of living near a wetland
ative of the region and plays a role in the cul-
is there are many animals and insects.
tural expression of the region. Wooden Geese in
These organisms often are attractive or make
Asia, Totem Poles in the Pacific Northwest, Po-
the place more attractive to the people that live
etry and dances in the Far East, Reed products
there. These people then develop ways of me-
in Africa, Stories around the world. More tradi-
morializing the animals or plants, methods that
tional expression forms have given way to more
become embedded in the culture by forming
modern forms in recent times, stamps around
artistic representations of the wetlands them-
the world, monies from around the world, art-
selves. The art manifests itself in different ways,
work. All of these, regardless of the era of cre-
sculpture, paintings, music, dance, poetry, sto-
ation, have come to be used to describe life in
ries. Overtime this art then becomes represent-
and near wetlands.
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03 Wetland Art
Sotdae Sotdae is a Korean cultural symbol. A wooden or stone duck sits on the top of a wooden or stone pole. In 2004, the World Museum Association designated the Sotdae as a representative Korean symbol. As we know, ducks love wetlands and are known to have many ducklings. As well, they use all three levels of the world (land, water, and air), and people thought that these animals could move between the spirit world and the real world. Their migration patterns were believed to assist in the movement between these two worlds. As well, ducks have large clutches (numbers of ducklings) which was believed to be equal to being very prosperous. When there was a drought in the land, people would pray to ducks, because they were always found in and around water.
In Chinese characters, duck(鴨) is composed of the first(甲) and bird(鳥). From this, it is understood that ancient peoples regarded this bird as the most important. Sotdae is a representative Korean wetland culture symbol, showing the historical relationship our ancestors had with wetlands.
Question In Korea, the Seotdae is a type of totem that is used to designate protection and other wards for a village. In other countries totems are used for other purposes, can you list some of these purposes? 80
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03 Wetland Art
Wooden geese Geese are found around the world. They are one of the largest waterfowl and are very caring and loving. When a goose chooses its partner, they stay together for their whole life. In addition, geese are known to have large families, and this is important. People a long time ago saw that geese supported large families when they watched geese in the wetlands. They saw the mother (goose) and the father goose (gander) with the baby geese (goslings) and they saw how devoted a family it was. This was seen as being very important in Asia, especially in Korea. Geese have an important cultural meaning in traditional Korean marriages.
A traditional Korean marriage ceremony is composed of 6 steps. Chinyoung is the ceremony for welcoming the bride into the groom’s family after the wedding. In the ceremony, the Bridegroom brings one pair of wooden geese and then the newly married couple has the Jeonanrae ceremony. After the welcoming ceremony, the groom bows twice in front of the wooden geese, and the mother-in-law takes the geese in her skirt and carries them to the warmest place in the room, where she places them under an earthenware steamer lid. Giving wooden geese means that the giver desires that the bride and groom have a happy life like that of geese. Geese never leave their partners; they stay together until they die. They always fly in a V-shaped pattern, which is believed to represent polite behavior to the elders. They leave tracks, which are accepted as the idea of leaving brilliant accomplishments. Covering wooden geese with the skirt and placing them in a warm place shows the desire to have many children.
Question Do you have similar symbolic wetland creatures in your country?
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03 Wetland Art
Wetland craftwork Wetlands are immeasurable sources of materials that can be used to create wetland craft items. Willow trees in the northern hemisphere, rattan in more tropical regions, and reeds in low and high elevation sites. All of these can be used to create a multitude of craftworks that can be used to sustain life.
In some African nations, women collect both the leaves and the stems from the rattan palm to create baskets, while in Malaysia and Indonesia the leaves and stems are used to create baskets, chairs, furniture, and many other items, even homes. People from these cultures have used them as a sustainable form of income for hundreds of years. In the northern hemisphere, the native peoples used willow branches and stems to create all sorts of household implements before the arrival of Europeans in North America. The Deneh people of northern Canada would use the bark from the willow to make ropes and bindings, along with using the stems to make baskets and other containers, as well as arrow shafts. While the Birch tree is not a true wetland plant, it is found close to wetlands, and its bark was used to make containers for boiling water, and for making canoes.
Wetland craft work (Uganda)
Wetland craft & house in Tasek Bara (Malaysia) 84
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The giant reed grass, Phragmites australis, was harvested for its stems, which were used to create houses, baskets, boats and many other implements that could be used around the house as well. In Lake Titicaca, these reeds were harvested and then bound together to make reed boats. Similar boats built of Papyrus reeds, were actually strong enough to cross the ocean, as was shown by Thor Heyerdahl in the 1970’s when he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean from Safi (Morocco) to Barbados, a distance of 6100km (3270 miles). In 2007, crossing the Atlantic was attempted again; however, the trip failed to reach North America.
Water buffalo horn art (Guangzhou, China)
Reed boat (Lake Titicaca), Author: Tin DC)
Traditional Boat of Peru (Author: Theodore Scott)
03 Wetland Art
Duck shaped earthen ware pottery
One method in which people historically represented their surroundings was in the use of pottery. Clay items that had been prepared to resemble different natural things associated with human society. Wetlands have produced many images, which people enjoy. Ducks are a common theme for wetland images. This is because they are found everywhere; ducks have a s hared history with wetlands and with people. 86
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It is interesting that each culture made the statues from the most common materials used and in a manner that was common to the location. In the mid-east making pottery was not common. People here could find wood more easily, so they used that. At the same time making pottery was a common thing in sites closer to water, because they had lots of clay to use, so they made clay statues.
Duck shaped pottery has been found in many places. However, it is known very well from Korea, especially where large floodplain lakes (lakes along the river) are found. Duck pottery has also been found in Japan and China. During the fifth (5th) century AD, animal pottery was connected to animism. This is the belief that animals have spirits and may be spirit guardians for people. As part of this belief, ducks were seen to be guides to heaven from earth. This means that duck shaped pottery was used in the funeral ceremony to carry the dead persons soul into the afterlife. In the mid-east (Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Mongolia), these statues were carved out of wood, while in the far east (China, Japan and Korea) these statues were made from clay and turned into pottery that would be buried with the dead person.
Question Pottery is a form of artistic expression as well as creation for day-to day use, what do you think Duck shape pottery might have been used for? In your country, do you have similar burial practices using birds or other animals, now? Alternatively, in the past? 88
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03 Wetland Art
Reed and geese painting Noando are traditional figurative paintings in Korea. In these paintings, the artists used geese and reeds to relate cultural ideas to the person who was looking at the painting. As well, the paintings were given as gifts to a person as a symbol of a wish that depended on the subject of the painting. It was often given to very close friends, new couples, and older people as a representation of good luck in their futures.
Korean reed and geese painting
Combining reeds and geese in one painting was a way to increase the overall luck of the person who received the gift. The reeds symbolize flexibility,
and feminity, while the geese mean to live in harmony and order, as well as being a messenger between people and God. Having the two together implies the desire, or wish, for a p erson to live comfortably in their old age.
Question In your country, do you have similar paintings that have cultural importance? 90
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03 Wetland Art
Pine trees and crane painting
Living 20-30 years before dying, cranes live a long time. Pine trees are also very long living, with the oldest pine tree Methuselah is at least 4,789 years old, although an older pine tree Prometheus which was at least 4,844 years old was cut down in 1964. Scientists studying these trees have found an even older example, but to protect it they have decided not to identify it. A painting of a crane and a pine tree together then is a wish for a person to have a long productive life. In old times, if you give a painting with these two images on it then you would be giving your friend a wish for a good, long happy life.
Other painting subjects that were used to show a wish for a person were the crane and the pine tree. These two symbols represented long life. The crane represented longevity and nobility along with integrity. The pine tree also represented longevity, but with this came constancy and loyalty, along with purification. Together they represented longevity of life. The reality is that in ecology, you will never find the two animals together, because cranes never use pine trees as as their habitat. Thus, when the two individuals are put together into the same image, it doubles the connection. This means that the wish is to have a doubly long life.
Question Where do you find cranes in your country? In open wetlands? In Pine trees? 92
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03 Wetland Art
Heungbu and Nolbu Swallow, Author: Aes256
One aspect of the people living and working in wetlands is that these same places have an effect on our feelings. That is to say they influence us and what we do. One of the ways this happens is we see things and we put them into our lives. In Korea, there is a story, where an older brother and a younger brother experience life differently because of how they live within the world. This story Heungbu and Nolbu was written nearly 200 years ago during what is known as the Choseon dynasty in Korea. The story teaches us the value of having and following good morals all the time every day.
Swallow nest, Author: Andrea Schaffer
Nolbu, the older brother, was a greedy man and Heungbu, the younger brother, was a poor man. The older brothers wife makes the older brother throw the younger brother and his pregnant wife out on the street. Then the story tells us how the younger brother Heungbu saves a swallow from a snake. The swallow happens to be the king of the swallows and gives Heungbu a pumpkin seed as a gift. The younger brother goes to his house and plants the seed. The pumpkin grows, ripens, and provides Heungbu with lots of money, jewels and gold. The older brother Nolbu found out that his younger brother was rich, Heungbu told him. Nolbu then went and caught a swallow and hurt it, and then he fixed it hoping to get the same reward. The swallow gave Nolbu a gift also, but his gift ripened and produced thieves who stole Nolbus money and house. Nolbu and his wife then go to Heungbu and ask forgiveness for their actions. Heungbu forgives them and they all live happily ever after.
Question Are there folk tales in your country that relate a moral that is similar to the moral from Heungbu Nolbu? 94
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03 Wetland Art
Japanese crane story Another story related to a wetland animal is the Japanese crane wife story. This story, like the previous tells us about how we should use the gifts we are given, and to keep our promises. The transfer of morals within a society is very important in that it helps the younger generation to understand the virtues of a good life. People are and will always be connected to their ancestors because of the morals that are taught to the children by their parents.
In the crane wife story, a young farmer rescues a wounded crane, and then after fixing her, he sets her free. The crane flies away. Then that night the young farmer goes home and he meets a beautiful young woman at the gate to his house. The young woman tells the farmer that she is to be his bride. He is surprised and shocked that such a beautiful young woman would marry a poor young plain farmer. The farmer said I do not have enough to feed us both, the young woman said she had more than enough. Therefore, they were married. Time passed and the couple was living happily together and one day the woman asks the farmer to build her a workshop, so she can make things while he is out in the fields. When the workshop was finished, the wife told her husband that he could not look in the workshop when she was working. Sometime later, she came out with a beautiful cloth, she told him to take it to the market and sell it. The farmer did and he made a lot of money. When he returned to the house, he found his wife in the workshop already. She stayed in the workshop and worked, but he wanted to tell her of their good fortune. 96
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Therefore, he opened the door and he did not see his wife. He did see a crane sitting at the loom making cloth. The crane surprised him by talking to him and telling him that she was his wife, and now that he had seen her, she could not stay anymore, so she flew away, telling him to keep the remaining cloth as a memory of her.
Question In Japanese folktales, it is known as the Crane wife. Does this story bear any similarity to a folktale from your country?
03 Wetland Art
The Water puppet show (Vietnam)
The vietnamese, because of their relationship with the Red river, have had a long history with water. It plays a role in their day to day lives, and also with their existence. Over time they developed a culture that is related to both the water and the land. Part of this culture was passed on using puppets. In Vietnam, these puppets were not the regular puppets, they were water puppets. With time, the water puppets and their play became very detailed producing the modern water puppet dances. The origins of the water puppets go back to the 11th century when it first came from villages in the Red River delta in northern Vietnam. 98
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The puppets are made from wood, and the shows are performed in waist deep pools. The puppets are connected to each other underwater and they are worked (made to move) from behind a screen. The show itself represents rice farming in the Red River delta. During the rice growing season the shows were given as entertainment. The shows were also meant to appease the spirits and make them happy, as well they were to give thanks when the harvest was completed. Water puppetry is unique to North Vietnam. Many countries in order to celebrate the harvest have made many different kinds of festivals or events such as Nongak, which is a music festival for farmers in Korea that is performed when the harvest is finished.
Water puppet show Author: Celia Hippie
Water puppet show Author: Zeyang
Question Do you have anything similar in your country, a celebration of a good harvest? 100
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03 Wetland Art
Crane dance People living around wetlands have learned to watch the animals. Over time, people have made connections between the things the animals do and the world around them. One of the most obvious things is animal mating actions (mating rituals). People saw them and were surprised by the beauty of the actions. They were so impressed by the movements that they copied them. In traditional societies, these movements became more refined with practice. As the activities were practiced more and more, they became more important within the society and culture.
In Korea and Japan, one of the most famous is the Crane Dance. In Korea, this dance has been performed since the Silla dynasty about 646 AD, which is about 1600 years ago. The dance is a s tylized crane dance, where the dancers, move like the cranes.
Question Do you have any similar dances in your country, where people copy animals? 102
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03 Wetland Art
Stamps and money Another way that people relate their culture is by representing it in a more permanent way. This can be done using stamps and money. Stamps and money can be used to make more money. This money can then be used to protect the wetlands, birds and other natural things found in the wetlands within a country. Every country has their symbols, which can be used to represent any part of the country. Stamps from around the world have been used to show different wetland birds from geese and storks, to eagles and owls. One country, Canada, which has a lot of wetlands, and which also has large natural areas, has made its national animal the Beaver, and this country also placed wetland birds on their paper money. Their national animal is found on their 5 cent piece (nickel) and they also have a loon (a water bird found in wetlands) on their dollar (called a loonie). 104
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Korea coin
Canada is the second largest county in the world, after Russia. When we look at Canada, we can see that it has many lakes. These lakes were created when the glaciers moved north (receded). Because Canada has many lakes, the people in Canada have a very strong connection to lakes and wetlands. It has been a part of their culture since before the Europeans settled in Canada. Early Canadians hunted and fished, and they trapped beaver to collect their furs so they could make clothes. Because of this, Canadians have always known the value of wetlands and of water. Russians, especially those in northern Siberia, share similar cultural associations, but it is not nearly as well known, because there are not as many people in Siberia.
Canada
Question Do you have any animals on stamps or money in your country? 106
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Wetland Manmade Structures
04 Wetland Manmade Structures
Waterwheel Waterwheel (Korea)
A
direct output of the interaction of people and
a method for making life easier and more man-
wetlands is the construction of tools that
ageable. Others include, terraced rice paddies,
increase the efficiency of human endeavor. Us-
where the paddies are designed to feed water
ing the water do make work easier, is a process
to the lower paddies, enabling a more efficient
that has long been understood to be effective.
use of water and a means of controlling run-
Thus, wetland structures, built by man have had
off and erosion on hill slopes. Water reservoirs
a central role in the life of wetland peoples. The
in Asia, built to hold water and manage water
most iconic of these are the windmill and the
use have become central to the community and
waterwheel, both of which have had their place
its function both in the environment and in the
in history, and are still used in some cultures as
community itself.
Waterwheels, like Gari, have a long history. They have been used for about 8,000 years. Waterwheels have a distinct role. They move water from one point to another, and in the process do work. In Asia, waterwheels would be used to move water into and out of rice paddies. Their ability to do this with very little effort made them very useful. In Asia (China, Korea, Thailand, Cambodia etc.), they are also used in saltpans. Here they move the water around and in doing so they help to make the water evaporate, which leaves only the salt behind. The salt is then collected. In Europe, they took another approach to the use of waterwheels. 108
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Waterwheel (China)
Waterwheel, Author: emrank
They used them to help do the work, to make the work easier. In England and Romania, they used waterwheels to grind wheat into flour. In the Netherlands, they used waterwheels to move water from behind the polder dikes out into the oceans and at the same time to grind grain. In Spain, they used waterwheels to move water from a lower level to a higher level. This water may be used for a variety of purposes, but most cases the water is used for irrigation (watering crops) or for making salt in a saltern (an area of flat land where salt water is placed and allowed to evaporate, leaving only the salt. In China in the city of Lanzhou, water wheels are used on the Yellow river, where they originally used the waterwheel to get water from the Yellow river for irrigating the lands close to the river. Lanzhou has even built a large tourist park around its waterwheel, called the Lanzhou Waterwheel Garden.
Waterwheel, Author: Steve Parker
Question
Do you have waterwheels in your country? If you do what are they used for? 110
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04 Wetland Manmade Structures
Traditional wetland boats Wetlands offer a distinct issue when it comes to movement through them. The wetland contains a mixture of shallow water, mudflat, grass fields, all of which can provide problems for movement. To move across these shallow water fields, and to enable movement through reed beds took a special type of boat that evolved in wetlands. The original first boat was a raft, which was essentially anything that would float. This evolved into the dugout, or monoxyl, which was a boat carved from a log, followed by the hide boat. Most importantly, the dugout, which through modification in construction and structure developed into what is known as the flat-bottomed boat. Typical wetland boats have flat bottoms, and are known by any number of names; raft, pole boat, flat boat, flat bottom boat, river boat, scow, skiff, reed boat, punt, pirogue, durham boat, trow, gondola. They all have one very typical characteristic; they possess a flat bottom and a shallow gunwale (edge). The purpose of these was to minimize weight and to promote movement of the boat through the wetlands.
Indian boatman with a traditional bengali boat Detail on side of traditional Goan fishing outrigger boat.
These boats are slightly different from rafts, which while they serve a similar purpose, work in a different manner. Boats float on the water, while rafts float in the water. The difference may be minimal; however, when in water that has predators, a boat was often a much safer choice. since wetlands and marshes also are home predators so the raft developed into the flat-bottomed boat. The boats with their flat bottoms have a shallow draft (the can float in very shallow water) and are poled (pushed) through the water. The boats, with their shallow gunwales and wide bodies can also hold large catches of fish, or collections of grain from plants harvested from water. The diversity of these boats is very large, each culture created their own variation of the idea. In South America on Lake Titicaca and in Iran in the Tigris-Euphrates marshlands, these boats were made from reeds and carried families, much like a modern houseboat. In Europe and North America, these boats were built from trees that had been cut down and turned into boats (Rogers 2011). In Africa, the same practice was used, but with different trees and slightly different preparation techniques, in the development of the pirogue and dugout. 112
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04 Wetland Manmade Structures
Terraced rice paddies
Some countries have very little land to use for farming. So they developed specialized farming methods that can be used in places where it is hard to farm. (like stairs) up the side of a mountain. This method of farming is unique to places with very little flat land, which is normally used to farm. The purpose of terracing the land is to provide land for farming. Terraces also prevent the land from eroding (falling down in big rainstorms like typhoons, hurricanes, and cyclones). Some countries using terraced land for farming are the Philippines, China, Korea, Japan, Spain, Chile, and many others. The most famous of these are the rice fields found in the Philippines and China. In the Philippines, the Banaue terraces are part of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, ancient manmade structures from 2,000 to 6,000 years old that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the indigenous people. They are found in the provinces of Kalinga, Apayao, Benguet, Mountain Province and Ifugao, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 114
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Rice terrace (China) Author: Kamsky
Filipinos commonly refer to the Rice Terraces as the Eighth Wonder of the World. It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand. The terraces are located approximately 1500 meters above sea level and cover 10,360 square kilometers of mountainside. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps were put end to end it would encircle half the globe. In Korea, Da-rang-i rice paddy is also a rice terrace there are more than 400 terraced rice paddies in the Namhae region of Gyeongsangnam province, on the mountain slopes.
Rice terraces (Japan) Author: Kanegen
UNESCO World heritage sites are sites that are specially selected because of their historical and culture value, like the pyramids, Greek amphitheaters, European Castles and churches. UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - is an organization established with the goal of defining, protecting and educating people about the scientific and cultural value of the natural and human developed world. Sites, designated as Heritage sites by UNESCO, are selected for preservation and protection from development. These sites can have natural, scientific, and cultural (historic) value to people. Their protection is necessary, since many of them are found close to developed areas.
Banaue rice terraces (Philippines), Author: Jonra Wlinson
Question Is there a similar type of farming in your country? Farming that involves changing the landscape to fit the farm? 116
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04 Wetland Manmade Structures
Ancient reservoir for agricultural water supply
This method of cleaning water was used for a long time before modern times when people began to use chemistry to clean the water. The method that was used then is actually very similar to the method used in modern cities. The biggest difference is the use of plants to clean the water, since they still use ponds, in Korea, where they are called Dumbung, examples of these can be found in Goseong, a small provincial city. However, even in big cities now, people are beginning to use plants to clean the water. They are doing this because it is cheaper than lots of chemicals.
One of the things about needing water to live is that some of it is returned to the natural world. However, this water is often full of waste from people. It was seen that people who drank this water got very sick. So they had to clean up the water before people could use it. Today this process is very hard and requires lots of money and chemicals. In the old days, they did not have the chemicals or the money to do this. How do you think they cleaned up the water after it was used?
In the Armagnac region of southwestern France, they have the Armagnac ponds. These ponds bear a strong resemblance to the Dumbung of Korea. The reservoirs serve the purpose of being used as the water supply for the vines, which are used to produce Armagnac brandy the oldest brandy distilled in France.
One of the methods was to clean the water using plants. This sounds strange but it does work. The dirty water would enter a pond and it would slow down. The large and heavy waste products would settle out (they would fall out of the water). Then the water would move slowly to another pond. This would continue over time (the water would stay in different ponds for some time) until the water was clean enough for use.
Angkor wat (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Cambodia is a temple surrounded by a large moat, which may have functioned as a reservoir for the city. As well, there are two Baray (artificial water bodies) which are believed to represent the seas that surround Mount Meru which is the source for the Hindu cosmos. Other people believe that these reservoirs are also water sources for field irrigation. 118
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Question Reservoirs are used to store water all over the world, in your country what is the water used for?
In 2008, the Armagnac ponds along with others of their type were proposed as potential Ramsar sites based on their characters. The ability of the ponds to reduce flooding impacts and reduce sediment and nutrient loads, along with the fish resources and associated biological diversity were used as factors for the designation of the ponds as Ramsar sites. However, as yet the site has not been conferred with Ramsar status. In China, a similar proposal is being considered with respect to Xi xi Wetland Park. The development of Xi-Xi Wetland Park, Hang Zhou, China, is based on using the accumulated cultural management expertise over the last 1500 years. The park is a series of 3,000 fish ponds, and is being developed in three stages, with a new interpretative centre being planned to showcase the links between cultural understanding of the wetlands management and the present biological diversity. In Tasmania, the moulting lagoons a restricted collection of wild bird eggs was reinstated to all the local aboriginal peoples to continue traditional cultural activities, specifically dietary practices, in a long-term sustainable manner for conservation and to support biodiversity. The drive for using cultural qualities as targets for Ramsar accession is being pushed by Med-INA (the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos) 120
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04 Wetland Manmade Structures
Indian Village Ponds In Indian villages, they have developed a very strong association with water. Villages have created a series of ponds (water tanks) that contain water that is used for everyday purposes like washing, bathing and cooking. Each village has these water tanks because it limits the requirement for long walks to the river or the local water supply, and the animals and people bathe in them. Young children also learn how to swim in these ponds and they provide a place for enjoyment and relaxation. As well, the tanks build a sense of community, much like the wells in old European cities. The water hole is a place for women to gather and interact socially. The pond is also considered a place of romance, it is often a place where young couples can go to meet each other and spend time together.
These ponds play an ecological role as well. They maintain plants and small animals that are beneficial. These ponds can support fish, which can be used for food as well. They are, therefore, a source of natural, albeit controlled, biodiversity for the village.
Indian Village Pond 122
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04 Wetland Manmade Structures
The Floating Garden (Xochimilco, Mexico) Xochimilco (garden of flowers), are long, narrow lake canals surrounded with Chinampa (floating gardens) historically used by the Aztecs. These canals, in lake Xochimilco, were created along with the chinampas. The origins of the word Chinampa is from the Nahuatl word . The china-mitl, which means, square made of canes” development of the Chinampa is a traditional, indigenous agricultural practice for wetlands, and was invented by the pre-hispanic people from the region about 1000 years ago as a method for increasing agricultural production.
Chinampas are still commonly used in Mexico and Central America, and their use has been traced back to pre-colonial Mexico and Central America. The Chinampa were created by staking out areas in the shallow lake bed and then fencing the area in with wattle. The area was then layered with mud, lake sediment, and decaying vegetation, increasing the height above the water, until it was above the lake water level. Chinampas were fertilized using lake sediments with decomposed organics, which increased yields 7-8 times relative to terrestrial agricultural land. Similar to agricultural practices used in a river delta, the creation and utilization of Chinampas is based on accumulated detritus and nutrients from aquatic sediment. The Chinampas were used to grow edible plants; however, they are now used to cultivate gardening plants. 124
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Today, only about 5,000 chinampas, all affixed to the lake bottom, still exist in their original form, surrounded by canals and used for agriculture. The rest have become solid ground and urbanized. In the center of Xochimilco, there are about 200 chinampas, covering an area of 1,800 hectares remaining. Its environmentally friendly nature attracts more than 150 birds, and about 70 waterfowl species that winter at the Xochimilco canal.
04 Wetland Manmade Structures
Wastewater treatment in Kolkata Ramsar wetland (India)
Xochimilco, Author: Saguayo
There are about 7,000,000,000 (7 billion) people on the planet. This amount of people produces a large amount of waste, both liquid and solid waste. The thing is how to get rid of the waste. The problem existed in the past as well. In Kolkata in India, they came across a method whereby they can control the waste with little impact on the natural world around them. This technique allows poorer countries to become better at managing their own wastes and limiting their level of pollution.
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What is a Ramsar site? A Ramsar wetland is a wetland, protected under an international agreement, The Ramsar Convention. These wetlands have been marked Ramsar wetlands because they are important to migratory birds, as both a source for food and habitat. As well Ramsar wetlands provide habitat for other wetland species, including animals, and plants. These wetlands are monitored and protected for as long as they are intact. When a wetland becomes damaged, it is placed on the Montreaux list, which means that the wetland has to be restored to its previous status as s oon as possible.
Sewage control in Kolkata is designed around several natural methods. In Kolkata, they also use fish to facilitate the control of the aquatic plants. The wastewater is put through a series of ponds where the nutrients ware eaten by algae and plants and the algae and plants are in turn eaten by the fish. Eventually the cleaned water is returned to the natural environment. The village members then eat the fish. This wetland provides a good example of a man nature symbiosis. As the third largest city in India, Kolkata covers an area of about 185km2 and has a population of 14million people. The city of Kolkata gets its sewer wastewater treated freely and a supply of fish for food, to the point where the city receives about 30% of its daily requirement of fresh fish from the wastewater treatment ponds.
Question Kolkata is a model of what is described as ecological sewage treatment, this system uses natural systems in a sustainable manner to prevent excessive environmental damage, why is this method so important in today’s world? Do you know if they use plants to clean sewage near your hometown? 128
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05 W
Wetland Peoples
etlands on their own are just wetlands;
a home for the soul and over time it becomes
they have a physical and biological role
a source of inspiration and a place of existence,
in the landscape. However, without people, to
which cannot be removed from our cultural
use the wetland, to manage it, to look at the
history. The Madan of the Euphrates, the Lip-
plants and animals with the eye of an artist, to
povans of the Danube delta, the Vietnamese
engineer it, and turn its power to human use,
Water puppet shows all have their connections
the wetland stays a wetland. The interaction of
to the wetlands, the source of their lifestyle and
people and the wetland creates culture. This
their existence in the world around them. People
culture grows and develops over time to en-
have come to see this as a marketable property
hance the wetland and the communities built
creating different market approaches that al-
near it or in some cases on it. The artist looks
low them to live and succeed, Firefly protection
at the wetland and sees creation tied into the
tours in Malaysia, Japan and Korea; Ecotourism
environment, the engineer looks at the wetland
in Korea, Turkey; Habitat restoration in Japan;
as a location to be tamed and turned to human
Wetland burning in Australia, all of these are a
use. The organisms see the wetland as home,
means of developing a sustainable method of
a place where they live and eat. People come
existence in a modern, globalizing world.
to use the wetland because it is productive and
05 Wetland Peoples
Crawgator:
symbol of the Louisiana Cajuns (Mississippi delta) Wetlands come in many different types. The type of wetland often influences the type of cultural connections established with the inhabitants. In the state of Louisiana in the United States, the wetlands are Bayous. Bayous are fresh-salt water marshes found along the southern coast of Louisiana and Western Florida and they have a large number of different habitats. These bayous cover an area of 93km2 in the city limits of New Orleans and contain freshwater and saltwater marshes, bottomland hardwood forests, lagoons, canals, borrow pits, chenieres and natural bayous. In Louisiana, the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge is the largest urban wildlife refuge in the United States. 130
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The culture associated with this wetland type is very iconic and particular to this area. It has led to the creation of specific cultural items, which are associated with the bayous themselves. Cajun people are the descendants of Acadian exiles who relocated from Acadia in Canada to the southern coast of Louisiana following the French and Indian war in Canada. These people like others, who will be described later, created a specific culture that is specific to the area. The Crawgator, which is a combination of a crawfish and an alligator, is a mythological invention of the culture. They have created their own food and music, which both have strong influences on the states culture. Foods like Jambalaya, Cracklings, Boudin are symbolic of Cajun culture. As well, Zydeco music and Louisiana blues, along with Jazz all play important roles in the culture, so much that since 1970, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has been held to commemorate Mahalia Jackson, who was the first person to recognize its value.
Author: Tammy Clarke
Question
Festival poster (2013)
The Crawgator is an imaginary animal, are there any imaginary animals that you know, which people say come from wetlands in your country? 132
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05 Wetland Peoples
Lippovans in Danube delta The Lippovans are a sect within the Russian Orthodox Church who separated from the Russian Orthodox Church in the mid 1600’s. When they left the church, they moved to the area in and around the Danube delta in the Moldavian principality in Dobruja and eastern Muntenia in Romania. Because of their separation from the rest of the Orthodox Church, these people came to rely only on themselves and on their immediate surroundings. This meant that they
lived off the land. In the Danube delta, this meant living off of the water and the wetlands around them. They, like the Cajuns from the Mississippi River, came to have a very strong connection to the land and their culture is partly derived from the wetlands where they live. They have become well known for their ability to row and scull, and have produced several world championship canoe racers, the most famous being Ivan Patzaichin who won seven Olympic medals in the sport along with several world championships between 1968-1984. These people, like others who experienced growing up in and around wetlands developed their own culture and cultural practices associated with the wetlands in which they lived and worked. These people have continued their own religious practices, which are distinctly different from the Eastern Orthodox religion. The Orthodox Church, to the point where some of them killed themselves by burning themselves (immolation), has persecuted these people. 134
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Boat village in Tonle Sap (Cambodia)
Houses on the water: impacts of humans on wetlands
Question What is a delta? Why do you think they are found at the mouth of a river? Do you know of any deltas near your home? In your country? The Lippovans are from wetlands in the Danube river delta, other people who live in delta areas have developed their own unique cultural systems, why do you think this happens?
Tonle Sap, (Great Lake) is a large intermittent floodwater lake that is found in Cambodia. It is home to a large number of people, who live primarily by fishing in the lake. This lake wetland, during flood season increases to six times its size to more than 16,000 km 2 . This allows the lake to become a retention pond during the wet season. These nutrients then feed the lake in the dry season. However, recently, because of internal migration and population growth the lake is being subjected to increased sedimentation due to increases in local forestry. The increased logging causes greater flows of sediments and nutrients into the lake. This is being accompanied by increased water removal for local farmers, which results in shallow areas drying up. Both of these are aggravated by overfishing and illegal fishing. The outcome is that there is less food available for eating, and hence the fisheries culture within Tonle Sap is steadily breaking down. The Cambodian government currently trying to find ways to fix the problem. 136
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05 Wetland Peoples
Marsh Arabian (Madan) of the Euphrates delta
The culture they developed showed a greater respect to their natural surroundings than is prescribed by the current cultural structure in Arabia. They believed in and practiced Islam; however, marriages were seen as a temporary convenience, and this resulted in their being isolated from the rest of the Arabian belief system. However, they did learn to use the resources of the marshlands to a high level of efficiency, making very complex houses out of the harvested reeds.
Reed houses have also been found in Romania, where the roofs are made of reed, much like thatch-roofed houses elsewhere (England, Korea, and Africa). Like the Cajuns and the Lippovans, the Marsh Arabs (also known as the Madan) are a group of people that have grown up with a strong relationship to their wetlands. These people are found in the Tigris-Euphrates marshlands in southeastern Iraq along the Iranian border. These people from many different tribes have developed a unique culture associated with their wetlands. However, they were forced out of their homes during the 1991 Iraqi uprisings. The culture that they have produced was centered on and depended on the marshes natural resources. They lived from the land, only using what they could find in the wetlands. This includes houses, clothes, food, everything, was taken from the land. The Madan were seen as an inferior (lesser or lower) group of people and the name itself became a term of disrespect. It was used to describe those who lived in the marshlands and these people were often subjected to prejudice (racism) from other Arabians. 138
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05 Wetland Peoples
Aboriginal Water Maps - Australia Reed house (Korea and Romania)
Question The Madan (Marsh Arabs) have built unique houses out of grasses, in your country, what are houses built from? Is it easy to find this material, or is it created by humans?
The Australian aborigines are people that established themselves in an arid (desert) country. This meant that when they had access to water they marked it. The aborigines were also movers. They moved (migrated) throughout the Australian continent. This movement required knowledge of water and its location. To aid in this the aborigines made maps of all available water sites, and the people kept these maps and handed them down from person to person.
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The aborigines in order to live, they are even now, a hunter-gatherer society, kept track of these water sources in the form of water maps. The maps were very valuable to everyone in the camp. Hunters often carried the maps with them when they went hunting to get food, and since these trips often lasted a long time, the maps had to be very exact in direction and location. The following map was found on the hunters spear thrower (a tool for throwing the spear farther and with more energy). The map would help the hunter survive in the desert during hunting trips and it would help the people move about the country and not die from thirst. The aborigines would include things like rock holes, soakage wells in permeable soil, clay dams, flooded areas, waterholes, springs, tree hollows, tree roots, dew and even the water-holding frog.
Aboriginal settlement, Author: Gsofv
Old post card with Australian Aboriginal tribe, Author: Franco Folini
Wall painting (Barramundi, Fish)
Wall painting (Turtle), Author: Ciamabue
Question Other groups of traditional people have created different types of maps as well; can you name some of these people, and their maps? 142
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05 Wetland Peoples
Neur tribe : migration against wetland flooding (Northeastern Africa) Sudd village, Author: Ralph Robert, Yann Arthus Bertrand
The Nuer people live along the upper reaches of the Nile River. This river, the longest in the world, begins to experience yearly flooding in June, and the flow volume continues to increase until September before the water levels drop. This cyclical pattern has influenced human populations and civilization development near the river since ancient times. The ancient Egyptians even developed a water level monitor called the nilometer, that could be used throughout the year. The Sudd, in southern Sudan, has long been the home of the Nuer people, who are cattle herders. The size of the Sudd ranges from 30,000 to 130,000 km2 depending on the amount of yearly rainfall.
Swimming cattle across the river
The Sudd is also home to the Sudd Wetland, a Ramsar site containing 400 bird species, 100 mammal species, and 100 fish species. Nile flooding affects a broad flood plain and is a natural cycle that influences the life of the Nuer people. The Nuer, in order to survive on this floodplain with its yearly flood cycle, have developed a pattern to their lives which is built around the flood cycle. Their primary resources are the cattle they herd, fish they can catch and any associated agricultural practices they can carry out during the year. These activities, which are seasonally separated by the flood cycle, provide the Nuer with the majority of their income for the year. Permanent villages, established on the edge of the floodplain by the Nuer, migrate towards the wetlands and rivers through the dry season as grazing depletes the food supply for the cattle. 144
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The grazing cattle are herded by the younger generation, who also fish the edge of the receding river as the water drops, or the flooding river as the water rises. These herders, during the year, live in temporary houses, which are easily moved, in response to changes in the grazing crop, which aids in milk production. The older generation lives further back in the permanent villages, where they cultivate maize and millet during the rainy season. With the end of the dry season, the younger generation returns with the cattle, at this point there is a large celebration during which the tribe has a celebration and feeds on the seasons gather. In late September, with the beginning of the dry season, people once again prepare to move towards the productive grassland as it moves towards the river.
05 Wetland Peoples
Firefly protection and ecotourism
(Kumejima firefly, Korea, Malaysia) Annual life cycle of Sudd people, revised from Biran Moss(Ecology of Freshwater)
Wetlands support a very large number of different animals, plants, insects, fish, amphibians and reptiles. One of the more interesting animals is the firefly. The firefly is not really a fly it is an insect. In fact, it is a beetle that can produce light chemically (called bioluminescence). Nevertheless, everyone calls it a fly, because like most bugs, these beetles can actually fly. The beetles use the light to attract females so that they can mate and produce baby beetles. 146
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Around the world, there are more than 2,000 types of fireflies. Some of these beetles have, over time, learned to synchronize (make them at the same time) there flashes. They do this to find mates more easily at mating time. In some countries, these synchronized light shows are very pretty and have been used to provide tourists with something special to see when they travel to a country. In countries like Malaysia, Japan and Korea, ecotourism programs focusing on the fireflies, their habitat and protection have become important in protecting these beetles. In Korea, there is a firefly festival in the city of Muju in July. This festival is used to promote the conservation of small streams in Korea, because the site is designated as a national monument (protected area) and it is a positive reminder of the value of wetland and stream conservation.
Question Fireflies are wonderful to watch, and their lights are used for very specific reasons, Can you name other animals that can do the same thing?
Firefly, Author: T. Kiya (right picture) 148
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05 Wetland Peoples
Restoring habitat for the oriental stork (Toyooka City)
Oriental stork, Author: Pelican
The loss of wetlands globally has had serious effects, as already observed. This is a global condition; however, it is important to note that people are trying to conserve and restore that which has been lost. In Japan, one such case is the Oriental Stork. This bird, like the Milu deer, was extirpated (locally extinct) within different nations. The original range of the Oriental Stork included Japan, China, Korea and Eastern Russia. However, due to the loss of wetlands and associated natural areas, the oriental stork became extirpated in Japan and Korea.
In 2007, there was a hatchling observed in the wild in Japan. It was identified as a member of a captive brood, but it had settled in the wild. This bird, due to habitat loss and overhunting is classified as endangered on the IUCN red list and is also in the appendix 1 list of CITES. This bird, while being extirpated, has naturally reintroduced itself into the natural world. However, this could not have happened without a lot of work on the part of people dedicated to the conservation and protection of nature. 150
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This stork is listed as Endangered because it has a very small population, which has undergone a rapid decline that is projected to continue in the future, based on current levels of deforestation, wetland reclamation for agriculture, overfishing, and disturbance. Significant declines in breeding birds have been reported in Russia: its overall population is suspected to be decreasing rapidly, in line with levels of deforestation and the drainage of wetlands for agricultural development. It nests on tall trees and artificial structures such as electricity pylons. It feeds on fish and small animals in open, usually fresh water, wetlands, and occasionally coastal tidal flats.
Species are classified by the IUCN Red List into nine groups, based on criteria such as rate of decline, population size, area of geographic distribution, and degree of population and distribution fragmentation.
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Extinct (EX) - No known individuals remaining.
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Extinct in the Wild (EW) - Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized population outside its historic range.
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Critically Endangered (CR) - Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
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Endangered (EN) - High risk of extinction in the wild.
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Vulnerable (VU) - High risk of endangerment in the wild.
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Near Threatened (NT) - Likely to become endangered in the near future.
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Least Concern (LC) - Lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.
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Question Restoration programs are very expensive to develop and sustain, do you think this is a good way to spend money? Why? Why not?
Data Deficient (DD) - Not enough data to make an assessment of its risk
of extinction. ● N ot Evaluated (NE) - Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria. When discussing the IUCN Red List, the official term threatened is a grouping having three categories: Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable. 152
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05 Wetland Peoples
Ecotourism
- Upo Fog tour Suncheon sunset At Upo Wetlands, there are eight famous sites such as fireflies, constellation gazing, and willow groves, but there are many, many other interesting things to see. Among the eight famous sights, the Upo rain-fog is an especially eye-catching natural phenomenon, becoming visible when there is no wind, when skies are clear and the temperature difference between day and night is 10 degrees or more. The fireflies come out between eight and nine pm in August and September, and they are also worth watching. In winter, migrating birds spend their winter here and you can watch about 33 species of birds such as swans, whopper swans, bean geese, teals and wild ducks. It is better to take a walk in the evening or early in the morning rather than in the daytime, it would be great also to visit in the night under the starlight.
Suncheon sunset
In Suncheon bay in Korea, the sun sets over a large tidal flat that is covered in giant reeds. This creates a beautiful and romantic panoramic scene that many people come to see every day. The popularity of this sunset view has increased the number of tourists greatly, and because the site is a vast tidal wetland, the people get to see a large expanse of nature. This has led to the popular demand that Suncheon bay be protected and conserved, just so people can come to watch the sunset daily. 154
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05 Wetland Peoples
Bog bodies
(Burial Practices) Upo Fog tour
Ecotourism in Mekong delta
Question What is the difference between regular tourism and ecotourism? Ecotourism is a good way to let people see what is out there, but it also has problems, can you name some of the problems that might happen from ecotourism?
Burial practices change from culture to culture. How a person was buried depends on the culture and on his life. People have been buried in many places throughout history, but one place some were buried was in bogs. A bog is a type of wetland that is acidic in nature. These acids help to mummify the body after it is buried. These bog bodies, as they are called, have been found in many places around the world from Europe to North America. The amount of mummification (drying out of the body accompanied by preservation) is determined by the bog. Some of the bodies, because of how they were found, are believed to be criminals or human sacrifices to the gods. The oldest of these bodies was dated at approximately 8,000 years old. Yet others are much more recent, soldiers who dies during world war II on the eastern front who fell into bogs have been found preserved. 156
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These bog bodies, can tell us how people lived and how healthy they were when they died. So they are very important to human history. These bodies are often found when peat is being harvested. Because of their nature at preserving things wetlands have become troves of archaeological research. In Korea, a 7,000 year old boat was discovered in an archaeological excavation. This also happened in Hutovo blato wetland in Bosnia-Herzegovina where they discovered Etruscan boats. It is not just boats that are discovered, the bog bodies, and other things like funerary tombs and burial sites have been found in, or associated with wetlands as well.
Question
Bog body (Denmark), Author: Cathy Wilson
Sphagnum bog, Author: Robin Webster
T
Evaluation Materials
his section provides a simplified means
ferent sections based on the material being
of assessing the knowledge acquired by
learned and its role in wetland culture. There
the students. For each story, there are a set
is also a section on supplemental activities that
of questions for beginners through advanced
are quick and easy.
learners. These questions are broken into dif-
Bog people have been found in many places, but their condition is very different, can you tell why this happens? 158
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The following questions, or quizzes, can be used to assess the students understanding of wetland culture and its role in wetland related communities. By extension, these same materials can be used either as in class quizzes, or as a unit test following completion of the study program. The questions and quizzes are in sequential order, which follows the presentation of the materials, in the first text. Furthermore, the questions are arranged in order of increasing difficulty so that there is a range of interaction and response available from the students.
I. Questions Questions in this section are divided into three levels, beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The levels are indicative of the level of information required to answer each question. The scores for each level determine the ability of the students. Students who can successfully answer all of the beginner level questions will receive the qualification of Wetland Guide, those who successfully answer the beginner and intermediate level questions become Wetland surveyors, while the students who answer all levels of questions become Wetland Managers. To achieve the highest level Wetland Scientist/Wetland Ecologist, students should be successful in answering all of the first three levels and the bonus section questions.
Physical attributes Level I - Beginner level questions 1. Have you ever seen a person use a Gari to fish ? 2. How does the water wheel work? 3. Have you ever seen this type of fish trap used in your country? 4. Do you think your country has similar practices to the wooden geese? Level II - Intermediate level questions 1. Do you think it would be easy to make a Gari? Why or why not? 2. What is the role of the waterwheel? 3. What do you think would be the hardest thing about catching fish this way? 4. Why is a duck used to show this relationship? Level III - A dvanced level questions 1. How does a Gari work? 2. Can you think of other ways the waterwheel could be used? 3. Do you see how the fences work in the pictures below? 4. D o you think the duck is a good example? Are there other animals that could be used?
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Practices LevelⅠ- Beginner level questions 1. Could you make a dance about a part of your life? 2. How does the bird not swallow the fish? 3. What does the lotus mean in Buddhism? 4. What does rotation mean? Is it important for farming? 5. Can as tork carry a baby? 6. Are frogs good luck? Do you think this is true? LevelⅡ- Intermediate level questions 1. Can you think of other things that are shown through dance? 2. Is cormorant fishing an effective way of fishing? 3. In your faith, is there something similar? 4. Why do people rotate tidal flats? 5. In European mythology the stork is an indicator of good luck, are there any other good luck indicators that you can think of? 6. Are frogs good for us? How are they good for people? LevelⅢ- Advanced level questions 1. What is the dance about? What does it show? 2. How many cormorants would it take to sustain a family of four for one year?
3. C an you discuss the importance of having many different colors of lotuses in a pond? 4. With conserving a habitat, why is it important to move around in an area? 5. W hy do people believe that storks bring good luck? Why does this belief persist today? 6. How do you think the Aztec came to the idea that frogs are good luck?
Art LevelⅠ- Beginner level questions 1. Why do you think birds are on the top of the Seotdae? 2. What does the duck represent? 3. What would you give your friend as a good luck item? 4. What is a good gift for an older person? LevelⅡ- Intermediate level questions 1. Can you list other countries that use totems? 2. Why do you think they used a duck as a symbol? 3. In Korea, these paintings were given for good luck, why is it important to have good luck in life? 4. W hy is giving a gift to an older person important? In every culture, age is a sign of intelligence and requires respect, in your mind why is this 162
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so? Then if there is a valid reason, why do some people show little respect to older people? LevelⅢ- Advanced level questions 1. W hy are totems used in other countries? Can you identify the similarities and differences between those totems and Seotdae? 2. In burying these with emperors, they were saying that the duck is a very important part of their cultural belief. Can you think of other subjects that today have the same importance? 3. C an you think of a time when you would want, or need, good luck in your life? 4. W hat kind of gift would you give your father when he is very old? Bonus Level question 1. The oldest tree in the world is Prometheus. What is the longest living animal on earth and how does it compare in age to Prometheus?
Engineering LevelⅠ- B eginner level questions. 1. Can you think of other ways that people got water in hot places? 2. Where would you find terraced rice paddies?
3. What is a reservoir? Why do we use them? LevelⅡ- Intermediate level questions 1. What would you do in the desert to find water? 2. How are terraced rice paddies used? 3. Do you have reservoirs in your country? LevelⅢ- Advanced level questions 1. Is there a way you can get water from the air? 2. Do they have any special characters that allow terraced rice paddies to be useful? 3. Where can reservoirs be found? Bonus level questions 1. How do you think terraced rice paddies work? 2. What role do they play in the natural world?
Peoples LevelⅠ- Beginner level questions 1. What does Cajun mean? 2. Can you live in the wild without a store or other things like cars? 3. What is another name for Marsh Arabians? 164
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4. When did the water puppet show originate? Where did it originate? LevelⅡ- Intermediate level questions 1. What is the favorite food of a Cajun? 2. Would you walk away from what you know to live where everything was natural? 3. W hat kind of house do the Marsh Arabs live in? How is it different from or similar to the Uros people of Peru? Could you live in a house like this? 4. Where is the most famous water puppet show show given? LevelⅢ- Advanced level questions 1. D uring the French and Indian wars, the Acadians (Cajuns) were deported from Acadia in Canada, where were they deported from and where did they settle? 2. W hat do you think you could do to help your family survive in this type of place? 3. T his region is known as one of the four cradles of civilization, do you think their way of life should be preserved? 4. How is the puppet show performed? Bonus level questions 1. The Cajuns are related to what group of people? 2. D o you think persecution should be prevented? How do you think it can
be prevented? 3. From 1991-2003 the wetlands, which were home to these people were drained, Do you think this was a good thing to do? Why? Why not? 4. What does the show represent? 5. C an you describe a water puppet show, and what each part of the show represents?
Conservation LevelⅠ- Beginner level questions 1. What is wetland burning? 2. What is wastewater? How is it made? 3. Is it helpful to the birds to leave them food? 4. Is it important to restore species? 5. What is habitat? LevelⅡ- Intermediate level questions 1. Is wetland burning an ecologically sound practice? 2. Is wastewater bad for natural places? 3. What other things can be done to provide food for migratory birds? 4. What is the purpose for restoring any species? 5. Do you have a habitat? Where is it? 166
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LevelⅢ- Advanced level questions 1. Is wetland burning an important way of interacting with the wetland? 2. D oes water last forever? Where does it go when you flush a toilet, drain the sink? 3. How does this process work? 4. What is the cost for restoring biodiversity? What about the profits? 5. Why is habitat important? Bonus level questions 1. T he aborigines burn the wetland as a means of maintaining a high level of biodiversity, what kinds of activities can you do to improve the biodi versity of your schoolyard? 2. What does your city/town do to clean up wastewater? 3. Can large cities use the same principal to clean wastewater? 4. Why do the farmers flood rice paddies in winter? 5. Is there anything like this in your country? 6. C an you think of other species that need protection, or restoration? Why do you think they need to be protected? 7. S pecies need habitats to live, which is more important restoring the habitat or restoring the species. Can one exist without the other? 8. Why is restoring habitat more effective than restoring a species? 9. Why do people put more effort into restoring species versus habitat?
Tourism LevelⅠ- Beginner level questions 1. What is a firefly? Is it a fly or a beetle? 2. What is fog? 3. Can you describe a sunset? LevelⅡ- Intermediate level questions 1. What do the lights do? 2. How is fog created? 3. Why does a sunset turn red? LevelⅢ- Advanced level questions 1. What do the lights mean? 2. Do you know of other cases where fog can happen? 3. W hat is the relationship between ecotourism and sustainability for a local economy? 4. What is the best way to use ecotourism created money? 5. What is the best way to use ecotourism without disturbing habitats? Bonus level questions 1. Is it important to protect fireflies? Why? 2. Can you describe the process of how the light works? 168
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3. Many poets have written poems about the fog. Why do you think they do this? 4. Can you write a poem about the fog? 5. Why are people nervous when in a fog? 6. “In a fog” is an English expression that means confused, how do you think this meaning was born?
Literature LevelⅠ- Beginner level questions 1. What does this story talk about? Do you have any stories like this in your country? 2. What happened in the story? LevelⅡ- Intermediate level questions 1. Who was the better of the two brothers? 2. Who was the crane? LevelⅢ- Advanced level questions 1. What was the moral decision that is made in the Heungbu-Nolbu story? 2. Why did she give up her life as a crane? 3. Do you know how many flyways there are? (see flyway map) 4. Which of these flyways would the Korean swallow use? The Canada goose?
Bonus level questions 1. Did the older brother learn from the younger brother? What did he learn? 2. T he younger brother in the story made a moral choice, if you were in this situation, what would your choice be? Why do you think that way? 3. In the end the two brothers lived together, if you were in the younger brothers place, what would you do? And why? 4. What would you have done, if you were her? 5. What is the moral of the story? 6. Does this story have value in today’s world? Why do you think so?
Extras LevelⅠ- Beginner level questions 1. What is a water trap? Where are they found? 2. W hat does your favorite stamp look like? Do you have a favorite stamp? Have you ever tried stamp collecting? LevelⅡ- Intermediate level questions 1. What does water trapping do? 2. D o any stamps, or money, in your country have birds or animals on it? If they do, is it a wetland related animal? 170
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Level III - Advanced level questions 1. Why is water trapping a useful technique to get water? 2. W hat country used to have animals on most of its money? They still have their national animal on their 5-cent piece. Bonus level questions 1. C an you think of a reason why this method for collecting water is a good method? Can you think of situations where it might not be beneficial to drink this water (think pollution)? 2. If you could choose an animal to put on your money, what type of animal would it be? 3. D o you think that using animals on money is a good thing, or a bad thing? Is it even important?
Wetland Culture
3. If you were a wetland scientist, would you use this information to help save a wetland from being destroyed or damaged? How would you do this? 4. Why are wetlands important to people? Why do you think so? 5. Why are wetlands important ecologically? 6. What ecological services do wetlands provide?
Global extensions 1. A re there other examples you can think of in your country that provide evidence for different wetland cultural subjects? 2. Looking at our planet, are there places where wetlands are not a large part of the cultural structure of the country? 3. Why is culture important? Why is wetland culture important? 4. If you were an alien and you came to earth, how do you think you would describe people and their interactions with other people and their surroundings?
1. You have been given lots of information about wetlands and their associated cultures around the world, what can you tell me in an essay about the value of wetlands in your country? 2. A re there any aspects of wetland culture that you find interesting? What are they and why are they interesting to you? 172
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Supplemental Activities
his section is composed of two divisions.
conclusive list of online videos that can be used
The first division encompasses the vocab-
to enhance the subject materials. This video list
ulary used within the text. Comparatively, the
is arranged based on subject material and content.
second division provides an extensive, but not
Supplemental Activities This section will provide supplemental information and ideas for the component and its instruction.
Glossary A ● ● ●
I. Find wetland cultural sites on the following maps
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Global map
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boriginal: of or relating to the indigenous peoples of Australia A A borigine: a member of any of the indigenous peoples of Australia A cadian: a descendant of the French-speaking inhabitants of Acadia expelled after the French loss of the colony in 1755 A ccession: a increase by something added; acquisition of additional property (as by growth or increase of existing property) A esthetics: of, relating to, or dealing with aesthetics or the beautiful A fterlife: an existence after death A gricultural: of, relating to, used in, or concerned with agriculture A ichi: a prefecture in Japan, famous for wetlands A ngkor wat: the largest Hindu temple complex and the largest religious mon ument in the world A nimism: attribution of conscious life to objects in and phenomena of nature or to inanimate objects A rabian: a native or inhabitant of Arabia A rmagnac: district SW France in old province of Gascony; chief town Auch A sia: continent of the eastern hemisphere N of equator forming a single landmass with Europe; has numerous large offshore islands area 17,139,445 square miles (44,391,162㎢) A spirin: a white crystalline derivative of salicylic acid used for relief of pain and fever comes from willows A ssociation: a major unit in ecological community organization characterized by essential uniformity and usually by two or more dominant species A ssyrian: a native or inhabitant of ancient Assyria
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angladesh: country S Asia E of India on Bay of Bengal B B aray: an artificial body of water which is a common element of the architectural style of the Khmer Empire of Southeast Asia. B ayou: a creek, secondary watercourse, or minor river that is tributary to another body of water B eaver: large semiaquatic herbivorous rodents comprising a family, having webbed hind feet and a broad flat scaly tail, and constructing dams and partially submerged lodges B eneficial: conferring benefits : conducive to personal or social well-being B enin: country W Africa on Gulf of Guinea; a republic, formerly a territory of French West Africa official B iodiversity: biological diversity in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals
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B uddhism: a religion of eastern and central Asia growing out of the teaching of Gautama Buddha that suffering is inherent in life and that one can be liberated from it by mental and moral self-purification
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ambodia: country SE Asia bordering on Gulf of Thailand C C henieres: a geographical feature found in France, consisting of low hills close to wetlands C hina: a country in East Asia. It is the world’s most populous country, with a population of over 1.3 billion C ITES: (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. C lay: an earthy material that is plastic when moist but hard when fired, that is composed mainly of fine particles of hydrous aluminum silicates and other minerals, and that is used for brick, tile, and pottery; specifically : soil composed chiefly of this material having particles less than a specified size C oast: the land near a shore : seashore C onservation: a careful preservation and protection of something; especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect C onstancy: a state of being constant or unchanging C onverting: to alter the physical or chemical nature or properties of especially in manufacturing C OP: Conference of the Organizing Parties: a meeting of the countries and agencies that have signed the Ramsar Con vention, or other similar agreements C ordilleras: a system of mountain ranges often consisting of a number of more or less parallel chains C ormorants: any of various dark-colored web-footed waterbirds (family Phalacrocoracidae, especially genus Phalacro corax) that have a long neck, hooked bill, and distensible throat pouch C osmos: the universe C raftwork: the making of decorative or practical objects by hand as a profession or leisure activity C ranberry: a small red acid berry used in cooking: the evergreen dwarf shrub of the heather family which yields the cranberry C rawgator: a mythical animal believed to be a mixture of crawfish and alligator C ritical: having the potential to become disastrous; at a point of crisis C rocodopolis: extensive mounds of ruins at Al Fayyum (Madl-net-el-Faiyu-m), or el-Fares, represent the site of Croco dopolis, but no remains of any remarkable antiquity, home of the religious sect worshipping Sobek the crocodile god C ulture: the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society
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D ecay: rot or decompose through the action of bacteria and fungi ecoy: a bird or mammal, or an imitation of one, used by hunters to attract other birds or mammals D D eforestation: clear (an area) of forests or trees D ehydration: lose a large amount of water from the body D esert: a waterless, empty area D igitalis: a drug prepared from the dried leaves of foxgloves and containing substances (notably digoxin and digitoxin) that stimulate the heart muscle. D rainage: the action or process of draining something D uck call: A duck call may refer to either the process by which a hunter lures waterfowl, or the actual tool that he uses to do so
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cological: relating to or concerned with the relation of living organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings E E cotourism: tourism directed towards exotic natural environments, intended to support conservation efforts and observe wildlife. E ndangered: seriously at risk of extinction E vaporate: turn from liquid into vapour E xtirpated: eradicate or destroy completely within a region
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F eminity: female like F estival: a day or period of celebration, typically for religious reasons F igurative: representing forms that are recognizably derived from life; departing from a literal use of words; metaphorical F lexibility: the quality of bending easily without breaking: the ability to be easily modified: willingness to change or compromise: F olktales: a story originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth. F reshwater: water that is not salty especially when considered as a natural resource F uneral: a ceremony or service held shortly after a person’ s death, usually including the person’ s burial or cremation F unerary: relating to a funeral or the commemoration of the dead
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ari: a conical fish trap (Korean) G G eese: plural form of goose; a large waterbird with a long neck, short legs, webbed feet, and a short broad bill. Generally
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geese are larger than ducks and have longer necks and shorter bills. G yeongsangnam do: a province in the southeastern corner of the Korean Peninsula
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abitat: the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism H H indu: relating to Hindus or Hinduism. a major religious and cultural tradition of South Asia, which developed from Vedic religion H unter-gatherer: a member of a nomadic people who live chiefly by hunting and fishing, and harvesting wild food.
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Illegal: contrary to or forbidden by law, especially criminal law Immolation: kill or offer as a sacrifice, especially by burning Inca: a member of a South American Indian people living in the centr al Andes before the Spanish conquest. Indigenous: originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native Inferior: of low standard or quality Invasive species: species that tend to spread very quickly and undesirably or harmfully Irrigation: supply water to (land or crops) to help growth, typically by means of channels IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to finding pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges IUCN Red list: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species founded in 1963, is the world’ s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species
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J azz: a type of music of black American origin which emerged at the beginning of the 20th century, characterized by improvisation, syncopation, and usually a regular or forceful rhythm
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akadu: Kakadu National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 171km southeast of Darwin, located within the K Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory of Australia
N amhae: the sea off the southern coast of Korea. The South Sea is the region of ocean near Korea that is bounded by the southwestern part of the Sea of Korea (East Sea) and by the southeastern part of the Yellow Sea. N ational monument: a historic site or geographical area set aside by a national government and maintained for public use. N obility: the quality of being noble in character: the quality of belong ing to the aristocracy:
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L agoon: a stretch of salt water separated from the sea by a low sandbank or coral reef L ao (PDR): a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the
M adan: Arabs of the Marshlandse, also known as the Ma'dan are inhabitants of the Tigris-Euphrates marshlands in the south and east of Iraq and along the Iranian border. M anagement: the process of dealing with or controlling things or people M angrove: a tree or shrub which grows in tidal, chiefly tropical, coastal swamps, having numerous tangled roots that grow above ground and form dense thickets. M ethuselah: a 4844~4845 year old Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) tree growing high in the White Mountains of Inyo County in eastern California M igration: seasonal movement of animals from one region to another: movement of people to a new area or country in order to find work or better living conditions M occasins: a soft leather slipper or shoe, strictly one without a separate heel, having the sole turned up on all sides and sewn to the upper in a simple gathered seam, in a style originating among North American Indians. M oney: current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes; coins and banknotes collectively: M orality: principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behaviour: M orals: standards of behaviour; principles of right and wrong: M ummification: dry up (a body) and so preserve it:
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east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. L otus: either of two large water lilies: (also sacred lotus) a red-flowered Asian lily (Nelumbo nucifera, family Nelumbonaceae). (also Egyptian lotus) a lily regarded as sacred in ancient Egypt (the white-flowered Nymphaea lotus and the blue-flowered N. caerulea, family Nymphaeaceae).
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riental: of, from, or characteristic of Asia, especially East Asia: O O rthodox: following or conforming to the traditional or generally accepted rules or beliefs of a religion, philosophy, or practice:
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tter: a semiaquatic fish-eating mammal of the weasel family, with an elongated body, dense fur, and webbed feet. O O verharvest: harvesting a renewable resource to the point of diminishing returns. Sustained overexploitation can lead to the destruction of the resource.
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apyrus: tall aquatic sedge from which papyrus is obtained, native to central Africa and the Nile valley P P eat: a brown material consisting of partly decomposed vegetable matter forming a deposit on acidic, boggy, ground, which is dried for use in gardening and as fuel: P eatlands: land consisting largely of peat or peat bogs. P ersecuted: subject (someone) to hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of their race or political or religious beliefs: P etsuchos: (the Greek rendition of) the name given to the live crocodile at Crocodilopolis in Ancient Egypt, which was worshipped as a manifestation of the Egyptian god Sobek P older: a piece of low-lying land reclaimed from the sea or a river an d protected by dykes, especially in the Netherlands P ollution: the presence in or introduction into the environment of a subs tance which has harmful or poisonous effects: P opulation: all the inhabitants of a particular place: P ottery: pots, dishes, and other articles made of fired clay. Pottery can be broadly divided into earthenware, porcelain, and stoneware: P rescribed burns: Controlled or prescribed burning, also known as hazard reduction burning or swailing is a technique sometimes used in forest management, farming, prairie restorati on or greenhouse gas abatement. P rincipality: the territory ruled by a prince P rometheus: the oldest known non-clonal organism, a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) tree growing near the tree line on Wheeler Peak in eastern Nevada, United States cut down in 1964 by a graduate student and United States Forest Service personnel for research purposes P uppetry: the art of making or operating puppets or producing puppet shows P urification: purifying, ablution, lustration, purgation, catharsis, refinement, laving, washing, bathing, lavation, disinfection
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amsar: Ramsar is a city in and the capital of Ramsar County, Mazandar an Province, Iran. R R amsar Convention: The Ramsar Convention (The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat) is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands R apids: A rapid is a section of a river where the riverbed has a relatively steep gradient causing an increase in wa-
ter velocity and turbulence. A rapid is a hydrological feature between a run (a smoothly flowing part of a stream) and a cascade R eservoir: A reservoir, artificial lake, storage pond or impoundment from a dam is used to store water R esolution: A resolution is a written motion adopted by a deliberative body. The substance of the resolution can be anything that can normally be proposed as a motion. For long or important motions, though, it is often better to have them written out so that discussion is easier or so that it can be distributed outside of the body after its adoption. R estoration: return of a landscape, ecosystem, or other ecological entity to a predefined historical state M udflat Rotation: the practice of harvesting from different parts of the same area of the mudflat in sequential seasons.
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S altpan: Salt evaporation ponds, also called salterns or salt pans, are shallow artificial ponds designed to extract salts from sea water or other brines. S altwater: Seawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world’soceans has a salinity of about 3.5% (35 g/L, or 599 mM). S eotdae: a totem made from stone or wood with a duck mounted on the top, recognized as the cultural symbol of Korea obek: Sobek (also called Sebek, Sochet,Sobk, Sobki, Soknopais), and in Greek, Suchos (Σοu~ χος ) was the deification of crocodiles, as S crocodiles were deeply feared in the nation that was so dependent on the Nile River. Egyptians who worked or traveled on the Nile hoped that if they prayed to Sobek, the crocodile and Nile god, he would protect them from being attacked by the crocodiles who lived in the river S tamps: A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination (price) on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side. S tork: large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. They belong to the family Ciconiidae. They are the only family in the biological order Ciconiiformes, which was once much larger and held a number of families. S uncheon bay: a coastal wetland, composed of a 3.5 km (2.2 mi) long stream, a 2,221 ha (5,490 acres) wide tideland and a 230 ha (570 acres) wide field of reeds. Due to its natural coast, it is the habitat of migratory birds and plants and animals. It is the first Korean coastal wetland, Suncheon Bay Ecological Park, to be registered on the list of The Ramsar Wetland on January 20, 2006. S uperior: high or higher in order, status, rank, etc. S ustainable: designating, of, or characterized by a practice that sustains a given condition, as economic growth or a human population, without destroying or depleting natural resources, polluting the environment,
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wan: birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related S geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. S ymbols: something that represents an idea, a process, or a physical entity. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. S ynchronize: the coordination of events to operate a system in unison
and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the UN Charter.
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asmania: an island state, part of the Commonwealth of Australia, located 240 kilometres (150 mi) to the south of the Australian T continent, separated by the Bass Strait. T erraces: In agriculture, a terrace is a piece of sloped plane that has been cut into a series of successively receding flat surfaces or platforms, which resemble steps, for the purposes of more effective farming. This type of landscaping, therefore, is called terracing. Graduated terrace steps are commonly used to farm on hilly or mountainous terrain. Terraced fields decrease erosion and surface runoff, and are effective for growing crops requiring much water, such as rice. The only rice terraces to be in-scripted as a World Heritage Site is the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras. T erritory: refers to any sociographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspe cifics (and, occasionally, animals of other species). Animals that defend territories in this way are referred to as territorial. T hailand: a country located at the center of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma. T iticaca: a lake in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia. By volume of water, it is the largest lake in South America T onle Sap: Large Fresh Water River, but more commonly translated as “Great Lake” . a combined lake and river system of major importance to Cambodia. T ribes: a social group existing before the development of, or outside of states Many anthropologists used the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups
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ietnam: the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. V V ulnerable: Vulnerable species is one which has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as likely to become Endangered unless the circumstances threatening its survival and reproduction improve.
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W astewater: water that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic influence. Municipal wastewater is usually treated in a combined sewer, sanitary sewer,effluent sewer or septic tank. W ater treatment: describes those industrial-scale processes used to make water more acceptable for a desired end-use. W aterwheel: a machine for converting the energy of free-flowing or falling water into useful forms of power, often in a watermill. A water wheel consists of a large wooden or metal wheel, with a number of blades or buckets arranged on the outside rim forming the driving surface. W etlands: usually known as reclamation, and also known as land fill (not to be confused with a landfill), is the process of creating new landfrom ocean, riverbeds, or, lake. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill. W etland reclamation: usually known as reclamation, and also known as land fill (not to be confused with a landfill), is the process of creating new landfrom ocean, riverbeds, or, lake. Th e land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill. W inter flooding: the process of flooding rice paddies in Asia to provide habitat for migratory waterbirds.
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Z ydeco: a musical genre of American folk music roots. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of la la Creole music. As of 2012, the rural Creoles of southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas, such as Cedric Watson, continue to sing in Louisiana Creole French
prising: a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at de U stroying or taking over the position of an established authority such as a government, governor, president, political leader, or person in charge. U NESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN). Its purpose is to contribute peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science,
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Wetland & Culture for children: Video list Wetland Villages 1. Magical Peru #16: Uros Floating Islands in Lake Titicaca 3:56 http://youtu.be/Co0K5hjOoxo 2. Floating Villages of Tonle Sap Lake 3:16 http://youtu.be/U2xTFSglx0I 3. Tonle Sap Lake and Floating Fishing Village - Cambodia (With Facts/Figures) 3:43 http://youtu.be/X2zRoYrlcMI Fishing 1. Otter Fishing - Bangladesh 5:33 http://youtu.be/Ha6dYkJFVZg 2. Ukai: Traditional Cormorant Fishing in Japan! 6:08 http://youtu.be/dkomj5q-bsg 3. Cambodian Traditional Fishing 1:11 http://youtu.be/h7h7L5HABRI 4. Fishing with birds! - Wild China - BBC 3 :04 http://youtu.be/JNEplaYZtpI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ4Fujsr274 5. Chinese Fishermen Celebrate Annual Festival on Chagan Lake 1:23 http://youtu.be/FzjPtkJ8_VM
6. Traditional ice fishing in Jilin 2:19 http://youtu.be/BS-vCcfJyZI 7. WAGENYA FISHERMEN at Stanley Falls 3:47 http://youtu.be/5fWYPRw_NzE 8. Never seen traditional fishing using dipnet 2:45 http://youtu.be/aF4TijD4xWM 9. Cormorant fishing show 2:53 http://youtu.be/nDCoJYSekl8 10. Cool Traditional Ingenious Net Fishing in Cambodia 1:48 http://youtu.be/uYI-9UTwctw 11. The last otter fishermen - Hariar - Bangladesh 2:21 http://youtu.be/YgmMvIujTXk Rice paddies 1. Rice Terrace Field in the Mist - Yuanyang 1:34 http://youtu.be/mizSi516hsw 2. Ifugao Rice Terraces: Let’ s go Backpacking! 3:24 http://youtu.be/cMyjQV9I1T0 Performances 1. The Hanoi Water Puppet Show (Vietnam) 2:32 http://youtu.be/AftYN3-dbtg 186
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Tales and stories 1. Heungbu and Nolbu 1 cut 4:37 http://youtu.be/Z-P_uzCgTuA 2. The Crane Wife 7:48 http://youtu.be/zTBT-IgR2OA
Waterwheel 1. Waterwheels start supplying water to rice paddies 0:50 http://youtu.be/ujzTA6MLRIE 2. Yen Bai Tu Le Water Wheel and Rice Harvesting - Lotussia Travel 1:08 http://youtu.be/d5rMV_QQwwY
Dance 1. Australian Aboriginal Crane Dance 1:35 http://youtu.be/U2vzsSmqGg8 2. The Korean Traditional Dongnae crane dance 5:26 http://youtu.be/RRQwF3xXRsE
Craft 1. Weaving rattan 2:35 http://youtu.be/lAjSXIPu6Ok 2. Weaving water hyacinth 0:48 http://youtu.be/voDk65JwYaM 3. PUP group 1 water lily bag tutorial 11:22 http://youtu.be/g7ucNKr4nyQ
Human use of wetlands 1. Waste But Useful 6:24 http://youtu.be/JhygwP5OPGA 2. Floating Gardens 2:26 http://youtu.be/VwdjGzGr0xU 3. Discovery Atlas - Mexico: Xochimilco 2:31 http://youtu.be/OJNygP28_0k Use of reeds 1. Danube Delta reed conquers the roofs of luxury homes 2:21 http://youtu.be/SQEVCDlGyAs
Wetland ecotourism 1. Firefly eco tourism in Kampung Dew, Perak, Malaysia 5:54 http://youtu.be/pzo0ijWzQjY Wetland practices 1. The crocodile men | Tribes - Planet Doc Full Documentaries 4:03 http://youtu.be/sXQWRw11SXI 2. Floating Market in Thailand 2:57 http://youtu.be/co-zZeHzuq8 188
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References Text References Brown, J., N. MItchell, and M. Beresford, editors. 2005. The Protected Landscape Approach: Linking Nature, Culture and Community. IUCN Publications, Gland, Switzerland. Cevallos, Diego. 2004. Archeology: Mexico s Venice imperiled by pollution and erosion. Global Information Network (New York). p. 1 Orlove, B. 2002. Lines in the Water: Nature and Culture at Lake Titicaca. University of California Press, Berkley. Papayannis, T. 2008. Action for Culture in Mediterranean Wetlands Med-INA, Athens, Greece. Papayannis, T. and D. Pritchard, editors. 2011. Culture and Wetlands in the Mediterranean: an evolving story. Med-INA. Ramsar. 2002. Wetlands: water, life, and culture 8th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) Valencia, Spain, 18-26 November 2002. Ramsar Convention Secretariat. Ramsar. 2005. Wetlands and water: supporting life, sustaining livelihoods 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) Kampala, Uganda, 8-15 November 2005. Ramsar secretariat. Rogers, J. S. 2010. Longboats from Bohemia and Moravia, Czech Republic. International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 39:310-326. Rogers, J. S. 2011. Czech Logboats: Early Inland Water Craft from BohemIa and MoravIa. Universititaties Brunensis Brnenske, Czech Republic.
Online References Chinampa : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinampa accessed on February 12, 2014. Dews, Charles. 2003. Xochimilco - Up A Lazy River In Mexico City . MexConnect newsletter. accessed on February 25, 2014. Sudd Wetland : http://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/08/the-impenetrable-wetland-of-sudd-in.html accessed on February 12, 2014. South Sudan Wildlife : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_of_South_Sudan accessed on February 12, 2014. Water Hyacinth : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_hyacinth_in_Lake_Victoria accessed on February 12, 2014. http://humanflowerproject.com/index.php/weblog/comments/water_hyacinth_double_edge/ accessed on February 12, 2014. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2010/1120/Kenya-transforms-an-invasive-plant-into-an-industry accessed on February 12, 2014. Dugouts : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugout_%28boat%29 accessed on February 12, 2014. Flatboats : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatboat accessed on February 12, 2014. Abydos boats : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abydos_boats accessed on February 12, 2014. Uganda information : http://www.sln.org.uk/geography/images_of_uganda.htm accessed on February 12, 2014.
Author Information Gea-Jae Joo PhD. Limnology Pusan National University. Busan. Korea Dr Joo obtained his PhD from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He has been involved with wetlands and freshwater limnology throughout his career. He is strongly interested in the protection, conservation and wise use of wetland both at the local, regional, and global level through his involvement with the Ramsar Convention. Maurice Lineman (Asst. Prof) KyungSung University. Busan. Korea Maurice Lineman obtained his MSc in Plant Ecology specializing in Riverine systems Disturbance from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. He is finalizing his Doctorate in Wetland Ecology, Conservation and Protection at Pusan National University in Busan Korea. He is interested in systems conservation, protection, dynamics, and Structural Systems Ecology. Maurice became interested in Wetland Culture through his work at the Ramsar Regional Center - East Asia in Korea. Yuno Do PhD. Ecology Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warszawa. Poland Yuno Do obtained his PhD from Pusan National University. He is involved with the role of culture in conservation of ecological systems. He primarily works with Coleopteran beetles as indicator species, but is also strongly interested in the effects of humans on natural systems both as indirect and direct factors affecting ecological change. Ji Yoon Kim PhD candidate Pusan National University, Busan, Korea Ji Yoon Kim is in the process of completing his PhD in plant ecology with emphasis on the role of human disturbance and impacts on wetlands and ecological systems. He is interested in the processes that affect natural ecological systems and developing an understanding of how these systems are affected by natural and human impacts. Illustration: INNO Design & Hang-Ah Kim (Pusan National University)
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Acknowledgement Authors appreciate the constructive comments from the Ramsar Secretariat. We also would like to extend our thanks to Martin T. Kuhn at Kyungsung University and Theo J. Masich at EMBM elementary school for English editing. Noted photographs in book chapters were used under 'creative common license' by applicable copyright law. We sincerely appreciate producer's information sharing and the contents will not be used for commercial purpose.