Chapter 10: Critical interconnections between the cultural and biological diversity of Amazonian peoples and ecosystems

Abstract

In this chapter, we explore important interconnections between biological and cultural diversity in the Amazon, defined as biocultural diversity. Biocultural diversity considers the diversity of life in all its di- mensions, including biological, sociocultural, and linguistic aspects, which are interconnected and have co-evolved as social-ecological systems. This chapter focuses on the worldviews, knowledge systems, live- lihood strategies, and governance regimes of Amazonian peoples as documented in ethnographic, ethno- biological, and human ecology studies beginning in the mid-to-late twentieth century. The focus here is on Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) across Amazonian countries and the territory of French Guiana. We synthesize important social and political processes that have led to the formal recog- nition of IPLCs’ lands and/or territories across the Amazon, notwithstanding persistent gaps, challenges, and obstacles to the recognition, consolidation, and protection of these areas, which will be discussed in other chapters of this report. The Amazon’s immense cultural diversity is manifested through approxi- mately 300 spoken Indigenous languages, expressed in worldviews and spiritual relationships with na- ture. IPLCs have played a critical role in shaping, protecting, and restoring Amazonian ecosystems and biodiversity under changing contexts, despite ongoing historic processes including genocide, disease, vi- olence, displacement, and conflicts between the conservation and development agendas. Amazonian peo- ples hold diverse and interconnected livelihood strategies, including agriculture and agroforestry, fisher- ies and aquatic management, hunting, resource gathering and extraction, and rural/urban market-based economic activities and wage-based employment in different sectors. These activities and practices are influenced to varying extents by seasonal and geographical variations, ecosystem features, cultural diver- sity, market forces, and public policies. We highlight the important role played by women in protecting agrobiodiversity, promoting food security and sovereignty in the Amazon. Policies aiming to conserve and use Amazonian biodiversity need to recognize the sociocultural and territorial rights of IPLCs, and be in- tegrative of Indigenous and local knowledge, languages, worldviews, and spiritual practices. Athayde S, Shepard GH Jr, Cardoso TM, van der Voort H, Zent S, Rosero-Peña M, Zambrano AA, Surui G & Larrea-Alcázar DM. 2021. Chapter 10: . In: Nobre C, Encalada A, Anderson E, Roca Alcazar, FH et al. (Eds). Amazon Assessment Report 2021. Science Panel for the Amazon/United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, New York. Available from https://www.theamazonwewant.org/spa-reports/