lost by rain forest destruction. The people of the forests possessamazing knowledge in using the plants, trees, and other forest resources. The tribes utilize their resources to sustain all aspects of their lives fromeating to healing. For example, journalist Anne Hornaday got to experience some of methods used by the tries when she visted the Amazon. By striking a tree with his machete, Anne's guide was able to predict theweather, "When many birds answer, that means rain is coming" (Hornaday28). As the natives examined the trees of the forest, her guide expalined that the men check to see if fruit has been eaten off the trees. They candetermine which direction to continue their hunt simply by following the tracks of whichever animal ate the fruit. Native fisherman use the barkfrom hairari trees to drag the rivers and stun the fish they need to catch(28).Also, the native people have a natural sense of direction. The tribes chart vast distances of the pacific Ocean using only "...their knowledge ofcurrents and the feel of intermittent waves that bounce off distance islands(Hornaday 29). Their methods may seem primitve, but the ways of the rainforest people have come to be respected and valued by scientists and conservationists. In addition, The farming methods of the people are excellent in preservation of the land and abudnant in production. They farm without irrigation and have developed an in-depth understanding of plant life (29). Furthermore, this knowledge of plants if not only used incultivating, but also in one of the most fascinatign aspects of the tribes'wisdom: their natural healing methods. Tribal healers, called shamans,are able to treat illnesses from colds to wounds. The treatments, such asusing termites and poisonous plants to heal wounds, may seem exotic orunlikely, but are amazing in their results. Remarkably, medical proffesionals are turing to the healers in their reseach. The knowledge of the healers i...
