Language and nature in South Arabia: Ethnographic description of traditional practices of Dhofar and al-Mahra

This thesis examines the biocultural (linguistic, cultural, and biological) diversity of Dhofar, Oman and al-Mahra, Yemen through the lens of resilience theory and adaptive management. This approach contrasts with conservationism which resists the disturbances and the changes that come with them. Instead, resilience is built into systems, such as biocultural diversity, by managing the adaptations these systems make in response to inevitable disturbances. The biocultural diversity in Dhofar is facing unprecedented disturbances through rapid socioeconomic change, increased wealth, and increased human and livestock populations. This research examines traditional institutions and evaluates their strength, describes the link between the language and ecosystem, and investigates disruptions and current adaptations in light of how these can be managed to encourage resilience and sustainability.