Ecological and environmental anthropology: history, concepts, and analytical perspectives

Abstract

Environmental transformations observed in recent decades have intensified debates about the relationships between human societies and ecological systems, highlighting the need for analytical approaches capable of integrating cultural, political, and ecological dimensions of socio-environmental dynamics. Within the field of Ecological and Environmental Anthropology, different theoretical traditions have sought to interpret these interactions through diverse analytical perspectives. This theoretical essay critically examines three central approaches — Cultural Ecology, Political Ecology, and Bioculturality — discussing their conceptual foundations, historical trajectories, and analytical contributions to understanding the relationships between nature and culture. From a methodological standpoint, the study is characterized as a theoretical essay grounded in an interpretive literature review and conceptual analysis, based on the selection of classical and contemporary works in environmental anthropology and socio-ecological sciences. It prioritizes contributions with well-established theoretical relevance that are widely cited in debates within the field. The analysis shows that these perspectives illuminate complementary dimensions of socioecological dynamics. More specifically, Cultural Ecology emphasizes adaptive processes between cultural practices and environmental conditions; Political Ecology analyzes power relations and inequalities that structure access to what are conventionally referred to as natural resources; and the biocultural approach highlights the interdependence between biological and cultural diversity in socioecological systems. Comparative analysis indicates that integrating these perspectives provides a more comprehensive interpretive framework for addressing contemporary challenges related to sustainability and environmental management.