Linking Biocultural Memory Conservation and Human Well-Being in Indigenous Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes in the Colombian Pacific Region

Abstract

The Colombian Pacific region is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world; however, it is severely threatened by anthropogenic pressures. In addition, armed conflict and poverty are compounding factors causing the loss of biodiversity and cultural identity. In response to this situation, the Wounaan-Nonam original people of Puerto Pizario and Santa Rosa de Guayacán declared five Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) in 2008. We conducted a study to highlight the link between the conservation of biocultural memory and contributions to human well-being, particularly to human health, in indigenous socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS). Since 2013, the research-action-participation methodology has been applied to recover ecological traditional knowledge on how ancestors managed nature and elements associated with their cosmovision. Following the TNC conservation of areas methodology, eight biological and cultural conservation values were identified for the IPAs and 5-year management plans for conservation were formulated. As a result of this process, we created a tool that involves traditional knowledge to administer the total 1850 hectares covered by the five IPAs. We also found that the main challenges faced by indigenous communities in the management of IPAs as an integral part of the indigenous SEPLS are associated with weak organisational and governance processes. Additionally, we identified the main opportunities ecosystem services offer in the IPAs, which enhance the quality of life and health of the original peoples and ecosystems at a regional level. Finally, the making of handicrafts is identified as an opportunity in these SELPS, as it represents an alternative for generating income through sustainable productive chains in biotrade strategies.