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Ethnomapping in Amazonian Indigenous Communities

 

Ethnomapping in Amazon

Defining communities in an indigenous reserve through ethnomapping.
 © David Cleary/TNC

Why are indigenous reserves so important to Amazon conservation?

Conservation in indigenous lands is a principal strategy of the Conservancy’s Amazon Conservation Program due to the extent and cultural and ecological significance of these areas. Approximately 22% of the Amazon Basin is comprised of indigenous reserves, situated on lands universally recognized as among the highest priorities for conservation in the world today. In fact, these areas cover an area more than the size of Texas, California and Florida combined. Furthermore, these areas are of cultural value—in the Brazilian Amazon alone, there are at least 225,000 indigenous people speaking 100 different languages. Largely intact, indigenous reserves are often literally holding the line on deforestation.

Meet Marcio Sztutman, Amazon Indigenous Communities Liason     
Marcio Sztutman is interviewed about what inspires him to work in conservation and the rewards and challenges of working in the Amazon.

Marcio Sztutman, ethnomapping

Conservancy Indigenous Communties Liason Marcio Sztutman (left) helps prepare a presentation on the results of an ethnomapping exercise.
© Luciene Pohl

Modern technology meets indigenous knowledge in the Amazon
 

Since 2001, the Conservancy has utilized an innovative conservation tool known as “ethnomapping” as a key process in its work with indigenous peoples of the Amazon. This participatory mapping is done in close collaboration with all members of indigenous communities and is an important step in the development of natural resource management plans for their reserves.

The mapping process begins with a satellite image of the region or reserve. Through consultative meetings in the villages, traditional knowledge of natural areas is pinpointed and drawn on the imagery. Communities often identify: villages, areas of abundant natural resources, locales of threats such as invasions by non-indigenous people to illegally hunt, mine, or log, hunting and fishing zones, nesting areas and and areas of species occurence, and historic, cultural and spiritual sites.  

After the mapping process is complete (a process that often takes months), the maps are digitized, printed and returned to the communities. The communities can then use them as a primary tool in the comprehensive planning and management of natural resources within their reserves. The maps are also powerful instruments in the development of public policies and enforcement as they can be used by the indigenous peoples to show lawmakers and local authorities natural areas under threat or invasion.

Ethnomapping is a step in developing culturally appropriate natural resource management plans in indigenous reserves. It is just one planning tool that is helping indigenous people determine the future of the Amazon.