What's the Connection Anyway?

I couldn't resist taking the above photo. The subject leaves me perplexed. It is funky, it is a mess, but somehow it is beautiful and somehow it all works. Kind of like Alamos.

How do the the conservation of biological diversity and the conservation of cultural heritage connect? What unites conservation of nature with conservation of culture? What is the glue that holds together the diverse contents of this blog?

The answer is relatively simple. Methods and materials that damage Alamos' architectural heritage tend to be ecologically unsustainable as well. Alternative methods and materials that could rescue architectural heritage would have a positive impact on the environment.

The best example of uniting conservation strategies in this way has to do with portland cement, which is destroying Alamos' architectural heritage and is damaging to the environment as well.

The best alternative to cement would be pit lime...aged lime putty made from slaked quicklime. It is the proper material to use for the restoration of old buildings, and has a positive environmental impact.

Connections between the conservation of biological and cultural diversity can also be found in the various plant species (plants) mentioned in this blog. Certain species are important both to the preservation of cultural traditions and the conservation of our unique ecosystems. The best examples are indigo , brasil , and mesquite.

In researching links between the conservation of biological and cultural diversity related to plant species, I focused only on those plants that are important to local arts and crafts traditions. If the definition of culture were expanded to include plants important in construction, daily life, and medicine, hundreds of species could be included. That work has already been done by ethnobotanists and authors like David Yetman.

General currents and trends need to be taken into account as well. Economic globalization lays waste to cultural diversity around the world, and Alamos is an ideal place to witness the sad process, which is so absolutely powerful practically nothing can be done to slow it, or halt it. Economic globalization means homogeneity...the loss of everything that makes Alamos unique.

An economy based on unlimited growth damages both nature and culture. While this is very true, aesthetic concerns have to be balanced with a need to provide for a growing local population.