The floodplain forests of the Amazon, the world's largest river, are among the most threatened habitats in South America. Yet little is known about how these unique, seasonally flooded forests were used in the past, or their current importance to farmers, livestock owners, and fisherfolk. This book explores the natural history knowledge of the floodplain inhabitants and how we might better use their knowledge to promote sound conservation and developmentpolicies.

Nigel Smith has conducted field work in Amazonia for over a quarter of a century. He is the author of numerous books, including Floods of Fortune: Ecology and Economy Along the Amazon and The Enchanted Amazon River Forest: Stories from a Vanishing World. He consults with various organizations, including the World Bank, on sound practices for conservation and development, and is a fellow of the Linnean Society of London and the Guggenheim Foundation in New York.