Changes in Traditional Ecological Knowledge teach us adaptive strategies to manage sustainably the tropical rainforest: lessons learnt from the Colombian Amazon

Evaluating the effects of cultural and socioeconomic driving forces on local production and harvesting systems is crucial for the proper understanding of social-ecological dynamics of tropical rainforests in the Amazon region.... [ view full abstract ]

Evaluating the effects of cultural and socioeconomic driving forces on local production and harvesting systems is crucial for the proper understanding of social-ecological dynamics of tropical rainforests in the Amazon region. Current and historical changes in Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) linked with livelihoods of indigenous peoples reveal useful contributions to promote pathways for sustainable social-ecological transformations. Based on six case studies carried out in the Amazon region in Colombia, we described how TEK attributes have changed in the last forty years (1976-2016), and how these changes have modified the management of the rainforest. We present a descriptive and comparative analysis of TEK attributes linked to indigenous production and harvesting systems, taking into account classification methods, land and resource management practices, institutional arrangements, and worldviews of seven indigenous peoples. Additionally, we assessed the implications of these changes in social-ecological dynamics of the rainforest and found general lessons towards sustainability. Results showed some differences in knowledge attributes of different ethnic groups associated with certain historical events. Tracked changes pointed out variations between attributes and change of key variables which strongly drive social-ecological transformations. Our approach to TEK and related shifts brings relevant information about the sustainable use of the rainforest and contributes to the understanding of adaptive strategies developed by indigenous peoples to navigate global change.

Keywords: Traditional Ecological Knowledge, TEK, Tropical Rainforest, Amazon Region, Colombia, Qualitative Comparative Analysis