Conference Session I:
Friday, 26 September
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
School of Management
Room B74

Dynamics of the Past:
In this session aspects of the area's prehistory, precolonial, and colonial histories will be presented, identifying fundamental, unresolved historical questions. The Sangha River region has been represented as an uninhabited Eden in the international press, legal, and administrative documents and literature. In contrast, social science researchers have worked to chronicle and analyze the roles of humans in creation and manipulation of Sangha River ecosystems over time. These opposing notions in human/environment relations have been instrumental in the claims of organizations. How has the view of the Sangha River region as an untouched, pristine environment contributed to the policies and approaches of conservation organizations? What are some historical accounts that concern the people of this region? In what ways can the historical context, especially as a precursor to contemporary realities, be effectively incorporated in conservation policy formulation and implementation?

How has the view of the Sangha River region as an untouched, pristine environment contributed to the policies and approaches of conservation organizations? What historical accounts concern the people of this region as they have altered and/or been influenced by the natural environment? What are major trends in the environmental history and prehistory of the region? How can such historical context be effectively incorporated in conservation policy formulation and implementation?

Introduction:
Frank HOLE, Archaeology; Director, Global Climate Studies Program

Invited Presenters:
David WILKIE (political economy of forest use over time)
Catherine COQUERY VIDROVITCH (colonial concessionary companies)
Raymond LANFRANCHI
Elisabeth COPET-ROUGIER

Invited Discussants:
Tamara GILES VERNICK, Pierre VIDAL, Alain FROMENT.

Moderator:
Robert HARMS, Department of History, Yale University