Indigenous People as a Means of Conservation Katie Jorgenson Caitlin Kelly

Background  Amazon rainforest covers 4.1 million square km of land  The Amazon is also home to extreme biodiversity  One third of the world’s species can be found in the Amazon rainforest  Extremely humid with a rainfall exceeding 2,000 millimeters per year World Bank. "Brazilian Amazon Rain Forest Fact Sheet" (8 March 2006). Photo:

Deforestation  Began in the early 1970’s  Linked to the strength of the economy Large businesses are mostly large cattle ranchers and agriculture, if they thrive deforestation rates increase Large businesses are mostly large cattle ranchers and agriculture, if they thrive deforestation rates increase  One of the greatest threats to the Amazon rainforest is soy bean production lot of investment into the farming of soy beans because they are in demand lot of investment into the farming of soy beans because they are in demand Fearnside, PM "Deforestation in Brazilian Amazonia: History, Rates, and Consequences". Conservation Biology 19 (3):

Deforestation cont’d  Increase in deforestation and logging leads to an increase in forest fires Fragmented forests dry out easier making it easier to reach conditions that cause forest fires Fragmented forests dry out easier making it easier to reach conditions that cause forest fires  Causes exploitation of environmental resources  Loss of habitat to animals and plants  Creates soil erosion  Changes the water cycle Devastating for hydropower Devastating for hydropower Disturbs river ecosystems Disturbs river ecosystems Fearnside, PM "Deforestation in Brazilian Amazonia: History, Rates, and Consequences". Conservation Biology 19 (3):

How Reserves Conserve  In 1988, Brazil amended its constitution to protect the lands of indigenous to preserve the environmental and economic stability of the land that ensures reproduction of indigenous culture.  The federally-owned lands traditionally occupied by indigenous peoples are unregulated for “resource extraction by third parties” allowing for environmental degradation of these protected lands from foreign influences Illegal mahogany trade, gold mining, ranchers, and road construction Illegal mahogany trade, gold mining, ranchers, and road construction Schwartzman, S., and Zimmerman, B "Conservation Alliances with Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon". Conservation Biology. 19 (3):

How Reserves Conserve cont’d  Without “resources for surveillance and enforcement,” the impending pressures of invasive activities risk both the rich biodiversity of indigenous reserves and the vulnerable traditional cultures inhabiting them.  A study from the Jackson Hole Research Center concluded that indigenous reserves can inhibit deforestation despite strong forces around them 33 of the 38 indigenous reserves studied exhibited.75% deforestation or less while surrounded by areas that are deforested at a rate of 1.5% annually. 33 of the 38 indigenous reserves studied exhibited.75% deforestation or less while surrounded by areas that are deforested at a rate of 1.5% annually. Nepstad, D., Schwartzman, S., Bamberger, B., Santilli, M., Ray, D., Schlisinger, P., Lefebvre, P., Alencar, A., Prinz, E., Fiske, Greg, and Rolla, Alicia “Inhibition of Amazon Deforestation and Fire by Parks and Indigenous Lands”. Conservation Biology 20 (1):

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

Benefits of Communal Conservation Efforts From Forest Trends and Ecoagricultural Partners  A commitment of resident peoples to biodiversity conservation and a willingness to invest over the long-term, reducing the costs of conservation.  Income generated to reduce poverty, sustain livelihoods and reduce pressures.  A wider range of ecosystems and biodiversity protected across biological corridors and political boundaries.  An approach consistent with movements for Indigenous Peoples’ greater land rights and an asset for creation among the poor.  An approach that facilitates the application of indigenous ecological knowledge to management and protection.  More local employment and expertise created for biodiversity conservation, complementing expertise in parks and forest agencies and reducing the dependency on top-down initiatives.  More financial resources mobilized, increasing the available funds 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, ,

Kayapó Case Study  Conservation International in Brazil forged an alliance with the Kayapó people in 1992  Their territories contain more than thirteen million hectares of Amazonian forest within the Parà and Mata Grosso states  The alliance aimed to curb the allure of contracts that cause reserve destruction, such as mahogany logging and gold mining, which provide the Kayapó people with income to further protect their lands. Photo: Zimmerman, B., Peres, C.A., Malcolm, J.R., and Turner, T “Conservation and Development Alliances with the Kayapo of South-Eastern Amazonia, a Tropical Indigenous People”. Environmental Conservation 28 (1):

Kayapó Case Study cont’d  The project also strove to empower the indigenous leaders’ development decisions by providing them with research information.  Protect broadleaf mahogany populations from harvest, ensuring the biological diversity of the reserve.  The alliance created the Pinkaiti ecological research station that would attract researchers to the reserve. Zimmerman, B., Peres, C.A., Malcolm, J.R., and Turner, T “Conservation and Development Alliances with the Kayapo of South-Eastern Amazonia, a Tropical Indigenous People”. Environmental Conservation 28 (1):

Kayapó Reserve: A Success Story  The benefits of increased research opportunities from research station include Preserving indigenous knowledge within research studies Preserving indigenous knowledge within research studies Sustain the local economy by creating employment positions at the ecological research station Sustain the local economy by creating employment positions at the ecological research station Continuing to validate the Kayapó people from mutually advantageous relationships with outside influences Continuing to validate the Kayapó people from mutually advantageous relationships with outside influences The infrastructure created for research stations may accrue other occasions for economic growth of the Kayapó people The infrastructure created for research stations may accrue other occasions for economic growth of the Kayapó people Non-invasive ecotourism Non-invasive ecotourism Producing other non-timber goods, such as brazil nuts Producing other non-timber goods, such as brazil nuts Zimmerman, B., Peres, C.A., Malcolm, J.R., and Turner, T “Conservation and Development Alliances with the Kayapo of South-Eastern Amazonia, a Tropical Indigenous People”. Environmental Conservation 28 (1):

Amazon Conservation Team  Mission statement: “to work in partnership with indigenous people in conserving biodiversity, health, and culture in tropical America"  Believes that biodiversity conservation is most obvious where indigenous cultures thrive  ACT provides indigenous people with the means to conserve their land “About ACT" (4 March 2006).

Mapping Projects  Brought together 14 of the tribes of the Xingu  Indigenous people create their own maps with guidance from ACT members  Maps are used to guide future planning, risk assessment, and the assessment of areas that are in need of protection  Maps have help protect the borders from illegal activities Photo: "ACT Projects" (4 March 2006).

Mapping cont’d  Provided strategic placement of new villages on borders  Brazil’s environmental protection agency has teamed up with tribes to manage the parks natural resources  Signed agreements have been made to introduce protection activities into other territories that are in need of environmental protection "ACT Projects" (4 March 2006).

Shamans and Apprentices Program  Keep culture and traditional values of the indigenous people alive  Elder teaches a younger member in the tribe traditional medicine "ACT Projects" (4 March 2006).  Thousands of years of knowledge is passed on  ACT establishes new healthcare programs Provides traditional healing and western medicine Provides traditional healing and western medicine Photo: