Indigenous People as a Indigenous People as a Means of ConservationMeans of Conservation

Katie JorgensonKatie Jorgenson

Caitlin KellyCaitlin Kelly

BackgroundBackground

Amazon rainforest covers 4.1 million Amazon rainforest covers 4.1 million square km of land square km of land

The Amazon is also home to extreme The Amazon is also home to extreme biodiversitybiodiversity

One third of the world’s species can be One third of the world’s species can be found in the Amazon rainforestfound in the Amazon rainforest

Extremely humid with a rainfall exceeding Extremely humid with a rainfall exceeding 2,000 millimeters per year 2,000 millimeters per year

World Bank. "Brazilian Amazon Rain Forest Fact Sheet". 2005. http://web.worldbank.org (8 March 2006).

Photo: http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0403/feature1/zoom2.html

DeforestationDeforestation

Began in the early 1970’sBegan in the early 1970’s Linked to the strength of the economyLinked to the strength of the economy

Large businesses are mostly large cattle Large businesses are mostly large cattle ranchers and agriculture, if they thrive ranchers and agriculture, if they thrive deforestation rates increasedeforestation rates increase

One of the greatest threats to the Amazon One of the greatest threats to the Amazon rainforest is soy bean productionrainforest is soy bean production lot of investment into the farming of soy beans lot of investment into the farming of soy beans

because they are in demandbecause they are in demand

Fearnside, PM. 2005. "Deforestation in Brazilian Amazonia: History, Rates, and Consequences". Conservation Biology 19 (3):680-688.

Deforestation cont’dDeforestation cont’d Increase in deforestation and logging leads to an Increase in deforestation and logging leads to an

increase in forest fires increase in forest fires Fragmented forests dry out easier making it easier to Fragmented forests dry out easier making it easier to

reach conditions that cause forest firesreach conditions that cause forest fires

Causes exploitation of environmentalCauses exploitation of environmental resources resources Loss of habitat to animals and Loss of habitat to animals and

plantsplants Creates soil erosionCreates soil erosion Changes the water cycleChanges the water cycle

Devastating for hydropowerDevastating for hydropower Disturbs river ecosystemsDisturbs river ecosystems

Fearnside, PM. 2005. "Deforestation in Brazilian Amazonia: History, Rates, and Consequences". Conservation Biology 19 (3):680-688.

How Reserves ConserveHow Reserves Conserve

In 1988, Brazil amended its constitution to In 1988, Brazil amended its constitution to protect the lands of indigenous to preserve the protect the lands of indigenous to preserve the environmental and economic stability of the land environmental and economic stability of the land that ensures reproduction of indigenous culture.that ensures reproduction of indigenous culture.

The federally-owned lands traditionally occupied The federally-owned lands traditionally occupied by indigenous peoples are unregulated for by indigenous peoples are unregulated for “resource extraction by third parties” allowing for “resource extraction by third parties” allowing for environmental degradation of these protected environmental degradation of these protected lands from foreign influenceslands from foreign influences Illegal mahogany trade, gold mining, ranchers, and Illegal mahogany trade, gold mining, ranchers, and

road constructionroad construction

Schwartzman, S., and Zimmerman, B. 2005. "Conservation Alliances with Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon". Conservation Biology. 19 (3): 721-727.

How Reserves Conserve cont’dHow Reserves Conserve cont’d

Without “resources for surveillance and Without “resources for surveillance and enforcement,” the impending pressures of enforcement,” the impending pressures of invasive activities risk both the rich biodiversity invasive activities risk both the rich biodiversity of indigenous reserves and the vulnerable of indigenous reserves and the vulnerable traditional cultures inhabiting them.traditional cultures inhabiting them.

A study from the Jackson Hole Research Center A study from the Jackson Hole Research Center concluded that indigenous reserves can inhibit concluded that indigenous reserves can inhibit deforestation despite strong forces around themdeforestation despite strong forces around them 33 of the 38 indigenous reserves studied 33 of the 38 indigenous reserves studied

exhibited .75% deforestation or less while surrounded exhibited .75% deforestation or less while surrounded by areas that are deforested at a rate of 1.5% by areas that are deforested at a rate of 1.5% annually. annually.

Nepstad, D., Schwartzman, S., Bamberger, B., Santilli, M., Ray, D., Schlisinger, P., Lefebvre, P., Alencar, A., Prinz, E., Fiske, Greg, and Rolla, Alicia. 2006. “Inhibition of Amazon Deforestation and Fire by Parks and Indigenous Lands”. Conservation Biology 20 (1): 65-73.

Indigenous Reserves and Areas of Indigenous Reserves and Areas of Active Forest FiresActive Forest Fires

The state of the Brazilian The state of the Brazilian Amazon from GOES Amazon from GOES satellite in 1998: (a) natural satellite in 1998: (a) natural distubrances in the Brazilian distubrances in the Brazilian Amazon, gray lines indicate Amazon, gray lines indicate highways, while the highways, while the Indigenous Reserve, labeled Indigenous Reserve, labeled “Ka” represents the Kayapo “Ka” represents the Kayapo reserve; (b) Red indicates reserve; (b) Red indicates active fires detected by the active fires detected by the GOES satellite during 1998. GOES satellite during 1998. (Nepstad et al. 2005)(Nepstad et al. 2005)

Benefits of Communal Benefits of Communal Conservation EffortsConservation Efforts

From Forest Trends and Ecoagricultural PartnersFrom Forest Trends and Ecoagricultural Partners

A commitment of resident peoples to biodiversity conservation and A commitment of resident peoples to biodiversity conservation and a willingness to invest over the long-term, reducing the costs of a willingness to invest over the long-term, reducing the costs of conservation.conservation.

Income generated to reduce poverty, sustain livelihoods and reduce Income generated to reduce poverty, sustain livelihoods and reduce pressures.pressures.

A wider range of ecosystems and biodiversity protected across A wider range of ecosystems and biodiversity protected across biological corridors and political boundaries.biological corridors and political boundaries.

An approach consistent with movements for Indigenous Peoples’ An approach consistent with movements for Indigenous Peoples’ greater land rights and an asset for creation among the poor.greater land rights and an asset for creation among the poor.

An approach that facilitates the application of indigenous ecological An approach that facilitates the application of indigenous ecological knowledge to management and protection.knowledge to management and protection.

More local employment and expertise created for biodiversity More local employment and expertise created for biodiversity conservation, complementing expertise in parks and forest conservation, complementing expertise in parks and forest agencies and reducing the dependency on top-down initiatives.agencies and reducing the dependency on top-down initiatives.

More financial resources mobilized, increasing the available funds More financial resources mobilized, increasing the available funds for ecologically critical protected areas.for ecologically critical protected areas.

Molnar, Augusta, Scherr, Sara J., and Khare, Arvind. “Who Conserves the World’s Forests? A New Assessment of Conservation and Trends”. Forest Trends and Ecoagricultural Partners: Washington DC, 2004. 12-14, 48-50.

Kayapó Case StudyKayapó Case Study Conservation International in Brazil forged an Conservation International in Brazil forged an

alliance with the Kayapó people in 1992alliance with the Kayapó people in 1992 Their territories contain more than thirteen Their territories contain more than thirteen

million hectares of Amazonian forest within the million hectares of Amazonian forest within the Parà and Mata Grosso statesParà and Mata Grosso states

The alliance aimed to curb The alliance aimed to curb the allure of contracts that the allure of contracts that cause reserve destruction, cause reserve destruction, such as mahogany logging such as mahogany logging and gold mining, which and gold mining, which provide the Kayapó people provide the Kayapó people with income to further with income to further protect their lands.protect their lands.

Photo: http://gruppen.greenpeace.de/aachen/wald-fotos-indianer.htmlZimmerman, B., Peres, C.A., Malcolm, J.R., and Turner, T. 2001. “Conservation

and Development Alliances with the Kayapo of South-Eastern Amazonia, a Tropical Indigenous People”. Environmental Conservation 28 (1): 10-22.

Kayapó Case StudyKayapó Case Study cont’d cont’d

The project also strove to empower the The project also strove to empower the indigenous leaders’ development decisions by indigenous leaders’ development decisions by providing them with research information. providing them with research information.

Protect broadleaf mahogany populations from Protect broadleaf mahogany populations from harvest, ensuring the biological diversity of the harvest, ensuring the biological diversity of the reserve. reserve.

The alliance created the Pinkaiti ecological The alliance created the Pinkaiti ecological research station that would attract researchers research station that would attract researchers to the reserve.to the reserve.

Zimmerman, B., Peres, C.A., Malcolm, J.R., and Turner, T. 2001. “Conservation and Development Alliances with the Kayapo of South-Eastern Amazonia, a Tropical Indigenous People”. Environmental Conservation 28 (1): 10-22.

Kayapó Reserve: A Success StoryKayapó Reserve: A Success Story The benefits of increased research opportunities The benefits of increased research opportunities

from research station includefrom research station include Preserving indigenous knowledge within research Preserving indigenous knowledge within research

studiesstudies Sustain the local economy by creating employment Sustain the local economy by creating employment

positions at the ecological research stationpositions at the ecological research station Continuing to validate the Kayapó people from Continuing to validate the Kayapó people from

mutually advantageous relationships with outside mutually advantageous relationships with outside influencesinfluences

The infrastructure created for research stations may The infrastructure created for research stations may accrue other occasions for economic growth of the accrue other occasions for economic growth of the Kayapó peopleKayapó people

Non-invasive ecotourismNon-invasive ecotourism Producing other non-timber goods, such as brazil nutsProducing other non-timber goods, such as brazil nuts

Zimmerman, B., Peres, C.A., Malcolm, J.R., and Turner, T. 2001. “Conservation and Development Alliances with the Kayapo of South-Eastern Amazonia, a Tropical Indigenous People”. Environmental Conservation 28 (1): 10-22.

Amazon Conservation TeamAmazon Conservation Team

Mission statement: “to work in partnership Mission statement: “to work in partnership with indigenous people in conserving with indigenous people in conserving biodiversity, health, and culture in tropical biodiversity, health, and culture in tropical America" America"

Believes that biodiversity conservation is Believes that biodiversity conservation is most obvious where indigenous cultures most obvious where indigenous cultures thrivethrive

ACT provides indigenous people with the ACT provides indigenous people with the means to conserve their landmeans to conserve their land

“About ACT". 2006 http://amazonteam.org/about.html (4 March 2006).

Mapping ProjectsMapping Projects

Brought together 14 of the tribes of the Brought together 14 of the tribes of the XinguXingu

Indigenous people create their own maps Indigenous people create their own maps with guidance from ACT memberswith guidance from ACT members

Maps are used to guide future planning, Maps are used to guide future planning, risk assessment, and the assessment of risk assessment, and the assessment of areas that are in need of protectionareas that are in need of protection

Maps have help protect the borders from Maps have help protect the borders from illegal activitiesillegal activities

Photo: http://amazonteam.org/northeast.html"ACT Projects". 2006 http://amazonteam.org/projects.html (4 March 2006).

Mapping cont’dMapping cont’d

Provided strategic placement of new Provided strategic placement of new villages on bordersvillages on borders

Brazil’s environmental protection agency Brazil’s environmental protection agency has teamed up with tribes to manage the has teamed up with tribes to manage the parks natural resourcesparks natural resources

Signed agreements have been made to Signed agreements have been made to introduce protection activities into other introduce protection activities into other territories that are in need of territories that are in need of environmental protectionenvironmental protection

"ACT Projects". 2006 http://amazonteam.org/projects.html (4 March 2006).

Shamans and Apprentices ProgramShamans and Apprentices Program

Keep culture and traditional values of the Keep culture and traditional values of the indigenous people aliveindigenous people alive

Elder teaches a younger member in the Elder teaches a younger member in the tribe traditional medicinetribe traditional medicine

"ACT Projects". 2006 http://amazonteam.org/projects.html (4 March 2006).

Thousands of years of Thousands of years of knowledge is passed onknowledge is passed on

ACT establishes new healthcare ACT establishes new healthcare programsprograms Provides traditional healing and western Provides traditional healing and western

medicinemedicine Photo: http://amazonteam.org/northeast.html