Place and People

Place and People: An Ecology of a New Guinean Community offers an in-depth exploration of the interconnectedness between human behavior and the environment within the context of the Bomagai-Angoiang people of New Guinea. This work, rooted in the author’s interdisciplinary research in geography and anthropology, seeks to unravel the ecological dynamics of a small community living within the Ndwimba Basin. It presents a vivid narrative of how the Maring-speaking people adapt to, interact with, and modify their environment, crafting an intricate ecosystem where humans play a pivotal role.

Drawing on fieldwork conducted in the mid-1960s as part of a larger research initiative on the New Guinea rainforest, the book situates itself within the broader conversation of human and cultural ecology. The author skillfully integrates data on agriculture, land use, and environmental conditions, addressing key hypotheses on population pressure and resource distribution. Through careful synthesis, the study balances academic rigor with accessibility, offering readers a concise yet comprehensive view of the ecosystem’s structure, functions, and evolving trends. This work not only contributes to ecological and anthropological scholarship but also serves as a testament to the dynamic relationship between humans and their environment.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1971.