Final answer:
The Kayapó and similar highland societies in Papua New Guinea primarily engage in subsistence agriculture, supplemented by hunting, gathering, and fishing. Their diet consists of staple crops and a variety of meat, fruits, and nuts. Their agricultural practices promote sustainability and environmental management.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main means of making a living among the highland societies in Papua New Guinea, like the Kayapó, include a combination of subsistence agriculture, hunting, gathering, and fishing. These activities involve cultivating staple crops such as sweet potato, manioc, maize, and taro for their diet. Additionally, their sustenance is supplemented by hunting and gathering expeditions where men hunt game and women gather fruits, nuts, and berries. The Kayapó people's diet is rich in wild roots, vegetables, game meat from animals like deer and wild pigs, and fish caught using traditional methods.
The consequent diet of these highland societies consists largely of the harvested crops and the additional nutrition provided by hunted and gathered food. They eat a variety of meat from animals such as armadillos, deer, anteaters, and wild pigs, as well as fruits and nuts collected by the women. Their expert knowledge on plant and animal biodiversity as well as environmental management is crucial for sustaining their way of life. These societies typically practice farming in ways that nurture their environment, ensuring long-term sustainability.