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People and the Rainforest
Yanomami
The Yanomami are a people and culture native to the northern Amazon rainforest, spanning the border between Venezuela and Brazil. Like the Chimbu (New Guinea), the Yanomami practice both hunting and shifting-cultivation agriculture.
Game hunted by the Yanomami include deer, tapirs (an animal similar to a pig), monkeys, birds, and armadillos. The Yanomami have hunting dogs to help them search the understory and forest floor for game.
The Yanomami practice slash-and-burn agriculture to clear the land of vegetation prior to farming. Crops grown include cassava, banana, and corn. In addition to food crops, the Yanomami also cultivate cotton, which is used for hammocks, nets, and clothing.
As seen in the Amazon, through combining various crops, animals and trees with different spatial and seasonal arrangements, land-users – ancient tribes and modern farmers both – design their farms to mimic natural processes. In turn, this leads to more productive crops and animals and healthier ecosystems.
Currently about one-fifth of the Amazon is in Indigenous territories, with more informally under Indigenous management, and numerous studies have shown that these areas are the best preserved and most biodiverse. In many cases, these areas have always been used for food production, and in today’s context, often link to markets to provide their Indigenous managers with livelihoods as well.
Expand Amazon land management systems of the past, experts say (globallandscapesforum.org)
Traditional Management Practices
Traditional Management Practices
Amazonian Indigenous and traditional communities have a long history of viewing their landscape as a deeply interconnected system, in which their human use of the biome and the biome’s health are balanced and intertwined.
Indigenous knowledge, passed down through generations, includes understanding the cycles of the forest, knowing which species are best for food, medicine, and materials, and recognizing the signs of ecological imbalance. This knowledge is crucial for sustainable forest management.
Taboos and Spiritual Beliefs
Agroforestry: cultivation of trees alongside crops and/or animals. Agroforestry mimics natural forest systems, enhancing biodiversity and soil quality, and is a key practice in many indigenous communities in the Amazon. It allows for the production of food and other resources without the need for deforestation.
Shifting Cultivation (Swidden Agriculture): a traditional form of agriculture where a plot of forest land is cleared, usually by burning, and then cultivated for a few years. After this period, the land is left fallow to regenerate, and a new plot is cleared. This method allows for soil recovery and maintains forest cover over time.
Polyculture: Unlike monoculture, polyculture involves growing multiple crop species in the same area. This diversity of crops helps prevent pest outbreaks, reduces the need for artificial fertilizers, and can improve soil health. It's a practice that reflects the natural diversity of the rainforest.
Terrace Farming: In hilly or mountainous parts of the Amazon, indigenous people use terrace farming to prevent soil erosion and manage water flow. This practice is important for conserving soil and maintaining agricultural productivity.
Controlled Use of Fire: Traditional communities often use fire in a controlled and knowledgeable way, for clearing land or hunting. They have deep understanding of fire's role in the ecosystem and how to use it in a way that minimizes long-term damage.
Community-Based Conservation: entire community in the management and protection of forest resources, establishing local rules and monitoring systems to prevent overexploitation.
Contemporary Mangement Practices
Contemporary Mangement Practices
Sustainable Forestry: This involves managing forest resources in a way that meets current needs without compromising the ability of the forest to provide for future generations. Techniques include selective logging, reduced-impact logging, and the establishment of forest reserves.
Protected Areas and Reserves: Establishing national parks, nature reserves, and indigenous territories helps protect vast areas of the Amazon from deforestation and degradation. These areas are critical for conserving biodiversity and maintaining ecological processes.
Community-Based Management: Empowering local communities and indigenous peoples to manage their traditional lands can be highly effective. This approach respects local knowledge and practices and often leads to more sustainable outcomes.
Agroforestry and Polyculture: These practices involve integrating trees with crop and animal farming. Agroforestry systems can improve soil quality, enhance biodiversity, and provide a sustainable source of income for local communities.
Eco-Tourism: Promoting responsible tourism that respects the environment and local cultures can provide economic alternatives to destructive practices like logging and mining. This approach can also raise awareness about the importance of rainforest conservation.
Restoration and Reforestation: Efforts to restore degraded land and reforest areas that have been deforested are crucial. These projects not only recover lost forest cover but also help in preserving the ecological balance and enhancing carbon sequestration.
Monitoring and Law Enforcement: Using satellite technology and ground patrols to monitor deforestation and enforce laws against illegal logging and other destructive activities is essential for protecting the Amazon.
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation are important. Additionally, adapting management practices to the changing climate helps in maintaining the resilience of the forest ecosystem.
Research and Education: Ongoing scientific research to understand the Amazon ecosystem and the impacts of human activities is critical. Educating the public and policymakers about the importance of the Amazon for global ecology and climate can support conservation efforts.
International Cooperation and Policy: Given the transnational nature of the Amazon, cooperation among the countries that share this biome is essential. International agreements and policies can help in harmonising efforts to protect and manage the rainforest.
Sustainable Management of the Amazon Rainforest
Sustainable Management of the Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon rainforest is located in the north of South America, spanning an area of around 8 million km2 including parts of Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador Bolivia, Suriname, Guyana and French Guyana.
In some areas of the Amazon rainforest, sustainable management strategies are in place to ensure people today can get the resources they need in a way that ensures future generations can also benefit from the ecosystem. Sustainable management strategies are affected by political and economic factors.
Governance
Governance relates to control of rainforests and who has a say in how rainforests are used. In some areas, rainforests are protected by national and international laws.
In Brazil, the largest protected area of rainforest is the Central Amazon Conservation Complex (CACC). The CACC covers 60000 km2 as is classified as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations, which means it is protected by international treaties. Limits are placed on hunting, logging and fishing and access is limited.
In other areas local communities, with the help of NGOs, are involved in rainforest governance. In Columbia, an organisation known as Natütama is working with the local community in Puerto Nariño to protect river species such as the Amazon River dolphin. Local people are employed to teach members of the community on how to protect habitats and endangered river species. Local fishermen collect information about the number and distribution of species and report illegal hunting.
Commodity Value
Commodity value means assigning a value to different good and services in a rainforest. Sustainable management ensures rainforests are worth. more than the value of the timber and other resources that can be extracted, such as gold. An example of this is sustainable foresty, which balances the removal of trees to sell with the conservation of the forest.
Selective logging involves only removing a small number of trees, allowing the forest to regenerate naturally. This saves money in the long run as logging companies do not need to replace felled trees.
Sustainable logging companies such as Precious Woods Amazon place limits on the number of trees being cut down so the rainforest can recover. They also use a range of species so that none are over-exploited.
International agreements try to reduce illegal logging and ensure timber comes from sustainable sources. The Forestry Stewardship Council allows the use of its logo by companies that operate in a sustainable way so consumers know they are buying sustainable timber.
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a type of tourism that minimises damage to the environment and benefits local people.
An example of an ecotourism project is the Yachana Lodge in Equador. It is located in a remote area of the Amazon Rainforest where local people rely on subsistence farming.
The project employs local people. This provides a reliable source of income and a better quality of life. The project encourages local people to use the rainforest in a sustainable way so tourists continue to visit.
Volunteers work with local Amazon youth who study at the Yachana Technical High School where learning is focused on five main areas:
Rainforest conservation
Sustainable agriculture
Renewable energy
Animal husbandry
Ecotourism
Micro-enterprise development.
Tourists are only allowed to visit in small groups, minimising their impact on the environment. Tourists take part in activities that help raise awareness of conservation issues.
Entrance fees are paid by the tourists which are invested in conservation and education projects.
Palm oil, a crop synonymous with deforestation and community conflicts in Southeast Asia, is making inroads in the Brazilian Amazon, where the same issues are playing out.
Indigenous and traditional communities say the plantations in their midst are polluting their water, poisoning their soil, and driving away fish and game.
Déjà vu as palm oil industry brings deforestation, pollution to Amazon (mongabay.com)
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