The Social Life of Trees: Anthropological Perspectives On Tree Symbolism

Alley, Kelly D.

doi:10.1525/ae.2001.28.3.737

Cited by 3 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As well as having direct use values, trees play important cultural, spiritual, aesthetic, inspirational and recreational roles in many societies (Rival, 1998). This is illustrated by the fact that trees feature in the folklore, myths, tales and legends of most human cultures; trees also contribute to people's sense of place and their cultural connection with a specific location.…”

Section: What Are the Implications Of Tree Extinctions?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientists' warning to humanity on tree extinctions

Rivers

Newton

Oldfield

2022

Plants People Planet

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Societal Impact StatementTrees play vital roles in many of the world's ecosystems while providing many benefits to people. New evidence indicates that a third of tree species are threatened with extinction, representing a tree extinction crisis. Here we demonstrate how tree species extinction will lead to the loss of many other plants and animals and significantly alter the world's ecosystems. We also show how tree extinction will negatively affect billions of people through loss of livelihoods and benefits. We highlight a series of urgent actions needed to avert an ecological, cultural and socio‐economic catastrophe caused by widespread extinction of tree species.SummaryTrees are of exceptional ecological importance, playing a major functional role in the world's ecosystems, while also supporting many other plants, animals and fungi. Many tree species are also of direct value to people, providing a wide range of socio‐economic benefits. Loss of tree diversity could lead to abrupt declines in biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services and ultimately ecosystem collapse. Here we provide an overview of the current knowledge regarding the number of tree species that are threatened with extinction, and the threats that affect them, based on results of the Global Tree Assessment. This evidence suggests that a third of the world's tree species are currently threatened with extinction, which represents a major ecological crisis. We then examine the potential implications of tree extinctions, in terms of the functioning of the biosphere and impacts on human well‐being. Large‐scale extinction of tree species will lead to major biodiversity losses in other species groups and substantially alter the cycling of carbon, water and nutrients in the world's ecosystems. Tree extinction will also undermine the livelihoods of the billions of people who currently depend on trees and the benefits they provide. This warning to humanity aims to raise awareness of the tree extinction crisis, which is a major environmental issue that requires urgent global attention. We also identify some priority actions that need to be taken to reduce the extinction risk of tree species and to avert the ecological and socio‐economic catastrophe that will result from large‐scale extinction of tree species.

show abstract

Section: What Are the Implications Of Tree Extinctions?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientists' warning to humanity on tree extinctions

Rivers

Newton

Oldfield

2022

Plants People Planet

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Furthermore, trees are long-living organisms compared to humans and thus can have strong connections to the personal and family history of humans (Rival, 1998). However, most tree-related research has focused on the physical aspects of relationships, neglecting the social and personal aspects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to material goods and services, trees are also valued spiritually and have been key elements in many mythologies (Harva & Anttonen, 2019). As observed in conflicts, contemporary symbolism associated with trees that may differ culturally around the world includes their role as carriers of cultural, national or political values; symbols of historical continuity; and focal points of local and global ecological concerns (Jones & Cloke, 2002; Rival, 1998). Furthermore, trees are long‐living organisms compared to humans and thus can have strong connections to the personal and family history of humans (Rival, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As observed in conflicts, contemporary symbolism associated with trees that may differ culturally around the world includes their role as carriers of cultural, national or political values; symbols of historical continuity; and focal points of local and global ecological concerns (Jones & Cloke, 2002; Rival, 1998). Furthermore, trees are long‐living organisms compared to humans and thus can have strong connections to the personal and family history of humans (Rival, 1998). However, most tree‐related research has focused on the physical aspects of relationships, neglecting the social and personal aspects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, to capture also the biological and cultural aspects of tree relationships, they need to be studied in relation to environmental humanistic theories and ideas about human–nature relationships. Anthropologists have long acknowledged that cultures as symbolic systems derive symbolic meanings from natural elements (Ingold, 2011; Rival, 1998). The affection towards trees (and towards nature in general) has also been explained through human biological tendencies, to seek connections with the rest of life by perception on environment, and subconscious validation on aspects most useful for human survival.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Do you have a tree friend?—Human–tree relationships in Finland

Vainio,

Korrensalo,

Takala

et al. 2024

People and Nature

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Trees are natural objects that carry practical, cultural and spiritual meanings to humans. Trees are an elemental part of human daily life, both in urban and rural environments, and even in locations where forests are distant. Conflicts related to tree removal in the close environments of humans indicate that individual trees may have special significance. Despite that, we have little knowledge of the ways these relationships are formed and the meanings they carry. To examine how the properties of trees and humans influence the type of relationships that are formed between them, we conducted a large‐scale survey (n = 1758). We used cluster analysis to identify typical groups of trees and human–tree relationships and conducted cross‐tabulation to correlate human and tree types in the relationships. In studying the human–tree relationship, we applied the framework of natureculture to address how the lives of humans and trees are bound together in interspecies relationships. Our results show that the strongest influence on tree–human relationships originates from human lifestyles and nature connections. Consequently, we identified three main types of human–tree relationships: (1) Admiring relationships towards large, old and charismatic trees, primarily grounded in sensory and emotional experiences, are common among urban nature‐loving people. (2) Nurturing relationships that occur with young trees in people's own gardens, which is most typical for rural outdoorspeople owning houses. (3) Nostalgic relationships are associated with trees with symbolic value in the memories of people who no longer have a material connection to an important environment. Our study revealed that the affection of humans for trees in their close environment strongly varied in emotional intensity and practical actions related to trees. We provide new knowledge of the correlations between human and tree characteristics in forming their interspecies relationship and how this relationship affects human emotional well‐being. Based on our findings, we suggest that understanding human–nature interdependence helps to sustain and create emotionally supportive multispecies environments through green design and management. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

show abstract

Elemental Powers: Water Beings, Nature Worship, and Long-term Trajectories in Human-environmental Relations

Strang

2021

Kritisk Etnografi: Swedish Journal of Anthropology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Human societies have developed unique trajectories of engagement with their environments over time. Some of these long-term relationships contain more potential for sustainability than others. Early human societies worshipped 'nature beings', including water serpent deities who manifested the elemental and generative powers of water. Such beliefs supported collaborative and reciprocal efforts to co-exist respectfully with the non-human world: a form of 'conviviality' that maintained highly sustainable lifeways. However, as other societies enlarged, became more hierarchical, and developed more instrumental technologies, they humanised their gods to worship their own rather than non-human powers. This supported ideas about 'dominion' over nature that, in prioritising human needs and interests and externalising their costs, have led directly to the current environmental crisis.Focusing on images and objects representing water deities, and exploring how the role and form of these changed to reflect key transitions in social, political and technical arrangements, this article asks what we can learn from earlier societies, and from contemporary indigenous communities that retain traditional beliefs and values. Is there a creative scope to incorporate the tenets of more sustainable modes of environmental engagement into contemporary debates about 'rights for nature'? Can alternate worldviews assist societies in developing less anthropocentric ways of thinking about and engaging with the non-human world? In the face of contemporary realities, how can we re-establish more convivial human-environmental relations?

show abstract

The Social Life of Trees: Anthropological Perspectives On Tree Symbolism

Abstract: The Social Life of Trees: Anthropological Perspectives on Tree Symbolism. Laura Rival. ed. Oxford: Berg, 1998. ix. 315 pp., photographs, figures, tables, index.

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Scientists' warning to humanity on tree extinctions

Scientists' warning to humanity on tree extinctions

Do you have a tree friend?—Human–tree relationships in Finland

Elemental Powers: Water Beings, Nature Worship, and Long-term Trajectories in Human-environmental Relations

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About