Alison A Ormsby
Biographic Data
| ID | 84775 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Alison A Ormsby |
| GIVEN NAMES | Alison A |
| FAMILY NAME | Ormsby |
| SIGNATURE | ORMSBY A A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of North Carolina at Asheville |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-0662-6819 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 16 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 17 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 16 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2010 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Potential Interpersonal Applications of Cacao
This paper takes an ethnobiological approach to investigate historic and contemporary uses of cacao and its potential interpersonal applications. A literature review summarized past research conducted about the health benefits of cacao, Indigenous and ritual plant uses, and psychoactive effects. Minimal research has been completed on the interpersonal implications of cacao consumption. People globally who facilitate and attend cacao ceremonies cl…
Land of sky and tourists
Synergies and Trade-offs Between Cultural and Natural Values of Sacred Sites – a Case Study of Ancient Burial Mounds in Central Europe
In the Eurasian steppes, ancient burial mounds called ‘kurgans’ are among the most widespread manmade structures. These sacred sites hold cultural values and often provide safe havens for grassland-related plant species. We established links between kurgans' cultural and natural values through a comprehensive multi-layered evaluation of human and landscape history, cultural attributes, and botanical composition on selected mounds in Hungary, Roma…
Religion and Nature Conservation
Sacred groves are community-conserved forests that are protected for cultural reasons. Many also serve a biological conservation value because they harbour a high diversity of species and provide ecosystem services such as watershed values, carbon sequestration, pollination, and seed banks. India has an estimated 100,000 sacred groves. Research conducted in South India found that residents near sacred groves recognized and valued the ecosystem se…
Diverse values and benefits of urban sacred natural sites
Urban sacred natural sites, found globally, are important green spaces that provide cultural and ecological benefits. They are under increasing pressure due to the impacts of urbanization, while at the same time being needed more than ever. They provide both spiritual values as well as ecosystem services such as pollution control. Cases of urban sacred natural sites are presented and compared, ranging from Swayambhu, Nepal to Meiji Jingu, Japan a…
Evaluating the impact of volunteers serving public lands
Volunteers fulfil an important role in operating and maintaining public lands and are therefore vital for the healthy function of California State Parks. Due to budgetary restrictions and increased park acreage, volunteers assume roles that have traditionally been held by ranger staff. Many studies focus on volunteer service in the fields of hospital care, social work and municipal administration, yet few have investigated the impact of volunteer…
Multiple values from the forest
Breaking Green Ceilings
Conservation through Traditional Knowledge
The Cultural Politics of Sacred Groves
Sacred groves are areas that are conserved by communities for spiritual or cultural beliefs. They often have associated limitations on activities within the forest. India is believed to have the highest concentration of sacred groves in the world. However, in our research of devithan s – Nepali sacred groves – in the eastern Himalayan state of Sikkim, India, we reveal that their very existence in India has long remained unacknowledged in sacred n…
Andean Bear Livestock Depredation and Community Perceptions in Northern Ecuador
Human–carnivore conflicts are a major cause of the decline in global carnivore populations. Since 2009, Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) depredation incidents in Ecuador’s northern Andes cordillera have reached unprecedented levels: more than 320 livestock deaths. The objectives of this article were to: evaluate local perceptions and knowledge of the Andean bear in response to frequent depredation incidents; better understand the cattle-raising c…
Analysis of Local Attitudes Toward the Sacred Groves of Meghalaya and Karnataka, India
The sacred groves of India represent a long-held tradition of community management of forests for cultural reasons. This study used social science research methods in the states of Meghalaya and Karnataka to determine local attitudes toward the sacred groves, elements of sacred grove management including restrictions on resource use, as well as ceremonies associated with sacred groves. Over a seven-month period, 156 interviews were conducted in 1…
The role of religion in linking conservation and development
The world’s religions have made a contribution to environmental conservation and sustainable development through faith-based non-governmental organizations. Partnerships between secular conservation and development organizations and faith-based groups, however, are not always easy. Such partnerships face various challenges, including differences in worldviews, conict between identities, and the attitudes and behavior of religious groups that may …
The Impacts of Global and National Policy on the Management and Conservation of Sacred Groves of India
Sacred forests of India
Sacred forests represent an important long-held tradition of conserving specific land areas that have cultural, and often religious, significance. India, with its diversity of cultures and traditions, has over 100 000 sacred forests. Many of these groves are forest fragments in agricultural landscapes. In most cases, community members are at least aware of these fragments, if not actively involved in their protection and management. This review f…
The Effects of an Education Campaign on Beach User Perceptions of Beach-Nesting Birds in Pinellas County, Florida
Much of the suitable habitat for birds that nest on beaches in Florida is managed by municipal and county governments whose primary goal is human recreation. Birds attempting to nest on these beaches are exposed to higher levels of human disturbance and predation by human-associated species than birds on more natural, protected beaches. An education program about the birds was initiated for the beach-going public to increase beach users' knowledg…
The role of religion in linking conservation and development
The world’s religions have made a contribution to environmental conservation and sustainable development through faith-based non-governmental organizations. Partnerships between secular conservation and development organizations and faith-based groups, however, are not always easy. Such partnerships face various challenges, including differences in worldviews, conict between identities, and the attitudes and behavior of religious groups that may …
The Impacts of Global and National Policy on the Management and Conservation of Sacred Groves of India
Breaking Green Ceilings
Land of sky and tourists
Synergies and Trade-offs Between Cultural and Natural Values of Sacred Sites – a Case Study of Ancient Burial Mounds in Central Europe
In the Eurasian steppes, ancient burial mounds called ‘kurgans’ are among the most widespread manmade structures. These sacred sites hold cultural values and often provide safe havens for grassland-related plant species. We established links between kurgans' cultural and natural values through a comprehensive multi-layered evaluation of human and landscape history, cultural attributes, and botanical composition on selected mounds in Hungary, Roma…
Sacred forests of India
Sacred forests represent an important long-held tradition of conserving specific land areas that have cultural, and often religious, significance. India, with its diversity of cultures and traditions, has over 100 000 sacred forests. Many of these groves are forest fragments in agricultural landscapes. In most cases, community members are at least aware of these fragments, if not actively involved in their protection and management. This review f…
The Effects of an Education Campaign on Beach User Perceptions of Beach-Nesting Birds in Pinellas County, Florida
Much of the suitable habitat for birds that nest on beaches in Florida is managed by municipal and county governments whose primary goal is human recreation. Birds attempting to nest on these beaches are exposed to higher levels of human disturbance and predation by human-associated species than birds on more natural, protected beaches. An education program about the birds was initiated for the beach-going public to increase beach users' knowledg…
The role of religion in linking conservation and development
The world’s religions have made a contribution to environmental conservation and sustainable development through faith-based non-governmental organizations. Partnerships between secular conservation and development organizations and faith-based groups, however, are not always easy. Such partnerships face various challenges, including differences in worldviews, conict between identities, and the attitudes and behavior of religious groups that may …
The Impacts of Global and National Policy on the Management and Conservation of Sacred Groves of India
Analysis of Local Attitudes Toward the Sacred Groves of Meghalaya and Karnataka, India
The sacred groves of India represent a long-held tradition of community management of forests for cultural reasons. This study used social science research methods in the states of Meghalaya and Karnataka to determine local attitudes toward the sacred groves, elements of sacred grove management including restrictions on resource use, as well as ceremonies associated with sacred groves. Over a seven-month period, 156 interviews were conducted in 1…
Andean Bear Livestock Depredation and Community Perceptions in Northern Ecuador
Human–carnivore conflicts are a major cause of the decline in global carnivore populations. Since 2009, Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) depredation incidents in Ecuador’s northern Andes cordillera have reached unprecedented levels: more than 320 livestock deaths. The objectives of this article were to: evaluate local perceptions and knowledge of the Andean bear in response to frequent depredation incidents; better understand the cattle-raising c…
The Cultural Politics of Sacred Groves
Sacred groves are areas that are conserved by communities for spiritual or cultural beliefs. They often have associated limitations on activities within the forest. India is believed to have the highest concentration of sacred groves in the world. However, in our research of devithan s – Nepali sacred groves – in the eastern Himalayan state of Sikkim, India, we reveal that their very existence in India has long remained unacknowledged in sacred n…
Conservation through Traditional Knowledge
Diverse values and benefits of urban sacred natural sites
Urban sacred natural sites, found globally, are important green spaces that provide cultural and ecological benefits. They are under increasing pressure due to the impacts of urbanization, while at the same time being needed more than ever. They provide both spiritual values as well as ecosystem services such as pollution control. Cases of urban sacred natural sites are presented and compared, ranging from Swayambhu, Nepal to Meiji Jingu, Japan a…
Evaluating the impact of volunteers serving public lands
Volunteers fulfil an important role in operating and maintaining public lands and are therefore vital for the healthy function of California State Parks. Due to budgetary restrictions and increased park acreage, volunteers assume roles that have traditionally been held by ranger staff. Many studies focus on volunteer service in the fields of hospital care, social work and municipal administration, yet few have investigated the impact of volunteer…
Multiple values from the forest
Breaking Green Ceilings
Religion and Nature Conservation
Sacred groves are community-conserved forests that are protected for cultural reasons. Many also serve a biological conservation value because they harbour a high diversity of species and provide ecosystem services such as watershed values, carbon sequestration, pollination, and seed banks. India has an estimated 100,000 sacred groves. Research conducted in South India found that residents near sacred groves recognized and valued the ecosystem se…
Synergies and Trade-offs Between Cultural and Natural Values of Sacred Sites – a Case Study of Ancient Burial Mounds in Central Europe
In the Eurasian steppes, ancient burial mounds called ‘kurgans’ are among the most widespread manmade structures. These sacred sites hold cultural values and often provide safe havens for grassland-related plant species. We established links between kurgans' cultural and natural values through a comprehensive multi-layered evaluation of human and landscape history, cultural attributes, and botanical composition on selected mounds in Hungary, Roma…
Land of sky and tourists
Potential Interpersonal Applications of Cacao
This paper takes an ethnobiological approach to investigate historic and contemporary uses of cacao and its potential interpersonal applications. A literature review summarized past research conducted about the health benefits of cacao, Indigenous and ritual plant uses, and psychoactive effects. Minimal research has been completed on the interpersonal implications of cacao consumption. People globally who facilitate and attend cacao ceremonies cl…
Geography (11 works) · Political science (9 works) · Archaeology (7 works) · Sociology (6 works) · Agroforestry (5 works) · Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management (5 works) · Ecology (5 works) · Agriculture (4 works) · Anthropological Studies and Insights (4 works) · Business (4 works)