DEFINING INDICATORS WHICH MAKE SENSE TO LOCAL PEOPLE - INTRA-CULTURALVARIATION IN PERCEPTIONS OF NATURAL-RESOURCES

The development of culturally relevant indicators of sustainability an d quality of life is a need frequently cited but rarely addressed in t he social science literature. This article presents a method and a cas e study based on an applied ethnoecology approach and utilizing an ada ptation of the Thematic Apperception Test. Pictures of scenes around t he Manupali watershed in Bukidnon, Philippines, were used to elicit pe ople's perceptions and assessments of different environmental features and agricultural practices. Informants' stories were scored based on dominant themes to identify indicators of sustainability and quality o f life that are relevant for different ethnic, gender, and age groups. These contextually sensitive indicators, the authors conclude, differ significantly from externally defined indicators and vary systematica lly as a function of socioceonomic and sociodemographic parameters. Ta king culturally relevant indicators into consideration can help shape development trajectories that local people can identify with and benef it from in the short- and long-term.