Early eco-agrarian adaptations in Malta.

Indigenous knowledge is generated at a local level and is unique in its culture and society. The Maltese rural landscape, being one of the most anthropomorphic in the world, describes a wealth of indigenous knowledge on how to thrive in arid conditions on land that is barren of soil. The most visible features of the present landscape are the characteristic field terraces with their dry rubble wall containment that in most cases represent the boundary wall of man-made "Campi Artificiali." These features constitute an inestimable rural attribute that has facilitated human habitation of the islands. Additionally, distinctive water harvesting and dryland cultivation techniques were also employed by Maltese farmers to sustain a living in an often-arid environment. Recognizing the importance of indigenous knowledge and locally developed technologies can facilitate the cost-effectiveness of development or conservation interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]