ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces methods for uncovering the intangible values of earth care against the wider context of indigenous forest values. It is based on cognitive and geospatial mapping and augmented by barrier and overlap analysis. It is illustrated with data collected from Tibetan and Qiangic speakers in Eastern Kham. The research is predicated on 15 forest-related concepts and resulted in four cognitive categories and five well-defined geographical areas within which forest values were similar enough to warrant a particular conservation approach. Changes in forest values coincided with changes in underlying biophysical phenomena and there was a significant directional trend of forest value data along a NE to SW axis. This method can be applied to the care of natural sacred sites and forests for the enhancement of biocultural diversity. The chapter concludes by elaborating on the challenges posed by this approach and provides some policy recommendations for incorporating this approach into conservation practice.
