Tales of the Ethnosphere

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"Ethnosphere" is Wade Davis's word for the imaginative contributions of humanity to the planet -- everything from dreams to scientific theories to stories. We may not think of these things as global resources -- like air, water, and green life -- but they truly are. And they, too, are threatened by rampant modernization and globalization. Here are two reports that remind us of the value and show us the urgency of preserving these priceless treasures. -- The Editors

"I really mean it when I say that storytelling can change the world," Wade Davis tells me over the telephone. Despite myself, I'm surprised by his statement. I think of Davis as a man of action, and storytelling strikes me as a rather subtle and hands-off approach to social change. How can telling stories compare to direct actions like documenting rare species of rainforest plants, or raising money for an indigenous group to defend their human rights, or serving in an organization that supports environmentally sensitive economic development? In fact, Davis has done all of these things at one point or another in his career. Yet when I ask him what title best describes his work, he responds: "I define myself as a storyteller."

As explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, Davis travels to places around the world "where the cultural practices, beliefs, and adaptations are so inherently wondrous, merely to know about them is to be dazzled." His 25 years of journeys among indigenous cultures have given him a rare and encompassing view of humanity. Few of us will ever meet in person the mountain people of Chinchero, Peru; the nomadic Ariaal of Kenya; the Penan of the Borneo rainforest; or the river-dwelling culture of the Winikina-Warao in Venezuela. But by sharing the stories of these places and people, Davis invites us along on the journey. We too can bear witness to the diverse ways that our "wildly imaginative and astonishingly adaptive species" manifests itself through culture.

In his latest book, Light at the Edge of the World (National Geographic), a collection of photos from his travels, Davis coined the term ethnosphere to describe his unique vision. He defines the ethno-sphere as "the sum total of all thoughts, dreams, ideas, beliefs, myths, intuitions, and inspirations brought into being by the human imagination since the dawn of consciousness. It's a symbol of all that we've accomplished and all that we can accomplish," he tells me. "The ethnosphere is humanity's great legacy."

The passion in Davis' voice is undeniable. His respect for indigenous people, and his sense that sacredness underpins human evolution, are evident in the words he uses. "Distinct cultures represent unique visions of life itself, morally inspired and inherently right," he says. "It seems to me such an obvious thing that diversity is not just a foundation of stability; it's an article of faith. It's a fundamental indicator of the way God wanted the world to be.

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