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Lead investigator: Dr. Amy Eisenberg
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Images and text by: John Amato RN
(I have been a photographer for over 30 years)
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On these pages you will find some of the activities of daily life I have viewed. I attempt to show the ebb and flow of life. My emphasis is visual anthropology/natural history photography. There will be many more additions on a regular basis so this site should be in a constant state of growth both in content and refinement. Comments are always welcome. My best to all.

Please click on each thumbnail image for a full page view.


I was project photographer for a study of the Kam people funded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). The research area will encompass the provinces of Guizhou, Guangxi and Hunan, China. The goal of the project is to research and document the Kam people's effective use of land and natural resources, which they have accomplished for 2000 years and the impact of current economies and social changes on their life styles. The Kam people have balanced rice production and water use throughout their known history. They are also able to utilize the land for grazing in harmony with their surroundings.

Goal:
Traditional knowledge will be preserved for adaptive management of land use that has been proven to work for 2000 years. The Kam people's approach to land management is of value to other communities, not only its present locality of China but also in communities in other parts of the world. If the Kam system is not documented and researched it most likely will continue in their community but the dissemination of this valuable knowledge is unlikely to occur. An example of sustainable and balanced land use by the Kam people is cultivation of tall-stemmed rice, which can live in deeper water than many species of rice and is more resistant to disease than current hybrid varieties that are widely used. With the deeper water that the tall-stemmed rice requires, fish can also thrive, which in turn consume insects and the fish are a source of food for the Kam people. . If future economic forces are such that changes are made to the Kam system of land management and it has not been documented, their proven agriculture and pisciculture methods may very well be lost.


There will be one published documenting all findings. The book will be titled, "Kam Local Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Resource Management in Guizhou and Guangxi Provinces, China". A database will also be established to preserve and disseminate this knowledge base.
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**Supported by grants from:
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UNESCO, LINKS
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UNDESA

***Contributors:
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Irene and Edwin Schaeffer
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Randi and Fred Hirschmann, Hirschmann Photography

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June 6th, which was World Environment Day (WED) was the first year Jishou University participated in this important event, thanks to Dr. Amy Eisenberg. The image of the two students reading the WED pamplet was chosen as the recipient of WED's best photo for 2006 from around the world and will be featured in an upcoming United Nations Environment Programme WED booklet.

Being right doesn't mean you have the right. JA

All photography by John Amato

Copyright. Use of any image is strictly forbidden without my explicit written permission.

Please leave feedback as I always enjoy reading what you have to say.

Live life as if you'll die tomorrow...
Learn life as if you'll live forever..." -Gandhi

Published work on the Kam minority:

Ethnobotany Research & Applications

Vol 7 (2009)

Kam Guilzhouh nyim Guangxxih di Benxtux Wenchual nyim Zihyuanc dih Gonxliix: Kam Local Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Resource Management in Guizhou and Guangxi Provinces, China

Amy Eisenberg, Paul John Amato, Deng Tao

http://www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/

email: john.amato@yahoo.com

Copyright. Use of any image is strictly forbidden without my explicit written permission.

I tinker with life's possibilities and have discovered, being right doesn't mean you have the right.