Ecological Keystones & Resource Management in the Highland of Palawan: A Case Study in the Singnapan Valley

Abstract

This article examines different types of ecological keystones according to their systemic function, a case study in the upland part of south western Palawan. For this purpose, a basic ethnographical introduction of the different economical activities of a case study is provided. Then, the seasonal resource availability of the most important plant species is analyzed in order to compare it with cultural preferences, daily economic behaviour, and consumption. The result shows the essential and complex role of the different plants as keystone metaphors in a social ecological system. Further, the study can reveal some conclusions to the question whether the evolution of keystones is given by environmental conditions or cultural values.