ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the perspective of those communities who regularly interact with wetlands in Illubabor zone, drawing upon information collected during a programme of PR A sessions described in Chapter Five. Farmers' perceptions, understanding of wetland functioning and their utilization strategies are discussed, thus establishing the characteristics of the human - wetland interactive process. More fundamentally, the evidence to suggest that local people's knowledge of wetlands bears the typical characteristics of an indigenous knowledge system, as highlighted in Chapter Three, is examined. This has important implications for the ability of communities to adapt to changing environmental and socio-economic circumstances and, ultimately, the sustainability of the wetland system.
