Culture and Biodiversity in the Andes

摘要

According to scientific definitions biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety of life in all forms, levels and combinations: includes biodiversity of eco-systems, of species and genetic biodiversity (IUCN, PNUMA, WWF, 1991) and refers to all existing species of plants, animals and microorganisms interacting within a given ecosystem (Altieri, 1995) i.e., all living beings. According to Maturana and Varela (1995, p. 73) living beings are self-sustainable and capable of reproduction: 'if they are machines, living systems are self-sustainable machines in that they are able to transform themselves in order that their own product corresponds to their own organization. If we consider the opposite statement: a system which is self-sustainable is therefore a living system. In other words, self-sustainability characterizes even the "organization" of living beings'.