- Case studies are still too few to enable us to put forward definite and conclusive statements.
- Lack of relevant information makes it impossible to compare the adaptation of different populations to the tropical forest environment and look at the evolution of patterns of change.
All research must be based on an interdisciplinary approach.
(despite constant recommendations, few such approaches have been developed).
Programmes that need to be set up immediately :
- long-term research on the ecology, economies and on the anthropology of food in traditional forest societies ;
these studies must provide both the qualitative and quantitative data necessary to understand to what degree these populations are dependent on the forest environment and to assess the adaptability of human communities ;
- detailed studies of the techniques and ecology of groups that are in the process of changing ;
to provide examples ;
- ethnoscientific research on traditional knowledge ; inventories of resources used by indigenous populations ;
this type of research on the populations' knowledge of surrounding flora and fauna ought to be carried out on a contractual basis so as to protect them should such knowledge be used subsequently in an industrial context ;
- systematic studies of traditional techniques for arboriculture, agroforestry and enriching fallow land ;
bearing in mind possible improvements of existing cultivation systems and possible transfers of these techniques to other parts of the world ;
- ecological research on the dynamics of forest regeneration after cultivation and on the dynamics of populations of wild plant and animal species used by human populations ;
- studies of traditional systems of sharing and mutual aid and of the social mechanisms reducing risks ;
- research on the economy of local networks of trade and exchange :
- within the community
- outward towards urban areas.
One should organize an international network of local research centres : a few places would be chosen on the different continents where there are traditional indigenous populations, and interdisciplinary coordinated research could be carried out, with similar agreements applying in each centre, on the ecology of traditional forest activities and their impact on the environment.
These sites ought to be chosen by several interdisciplinary teams ; the research would be long-term, involving researchers belonging to national organizations (universities, museums and forest and agricultural services). In these centres research could be carried out by the partners involved and experiments could be made on alternative agro-ecological techniques.