Two cultures and tragedy of the commons.

The article comments on two groups comprising the intellectual life of the whole western society, namely, literary intellectuals and scientists, using the case of land management in Africa. Criticisms of the research agenda incurred by the British Department for International Development are described. Land tenure reforms underway in African are examined. The importance for African ecologists to be interdisciplinary is underscored. Ways to avoid policy pitfalls associated with the two cultures divide are discussed.