FROM HISTORICAL ECOLOGY TO HYSTERICAL ECOLOGY? Untangling past landscapes to better determine the nature of anthropogenic landscapes

A number of scholars note that many landscapes deemed as "natural" often overlook the human impact on the environment, past and present.  Many areas throughout the world are covered with vegetation that occurs in the wake of human activity, embracing both conscious and unconscious decisions that invariably introduce a unique species profile in certain landscapes.  While some observers often tout conscientious management regimes, others note that some landscapes are merely the net effect of human disturbance.  In this session we present papers that elaborate on these dynamics in an attempt to untangle the nature of anthropogenic landscapes, exploring indigenous knowledge, historical impacts on the environment, and the interplay between humans to assess the nature of these areas.  In this manner, we aim to present papers that also discuss the value of anthropogenic areas.