With stories and humor, Maria Fadiman talks about the interconnection of people and plants in the Amazon.

Dr. Maria Fadiman works with the human/environmental aspect of conservation. She received a PhD in Geography and an MA in Latin American Studies. She was named one of National Geographic's Emerging Explorers in 2006. She is an associate professor of Geography at Florida Atlantic University and a writer of academic articles and adventure essays. Her research focuses on ethnobotany, the study of the relationship between people and plants. She works primarily in rural areas with indigenous people and subsistence agriculturalists.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx.