Cultivated Amazonia: Indigenous Knowledge in the Construction of Biodiversity and Ecosystems

The idea that much of the Amazonian forests have remained untouched throughout human history has long fascinated naturalists, policymakers, journalists, and natural and social scientists worldwide. For many centuries, Western science overlooked the contributions of Indigenous peoples to the shaping of Amazonian ecosystems, and conservation efforts have largely ignored the vital role these populations play in sustaining biodiversity. Recent archaeological research has reshaped the deep Indigenous history of the region, tracing it back at least 12,000 years. In this presentation, I describe evidence of Indigenous management and cultivation across extensive areas of the Amazon traditionally regarded as pristine. I demonstrate how these millennia-old practices have contributed to the forest and the biodiversity we see today. Inspired by Indigenous worldviews, I argue that culture and nature are inseparable, interwoven through Indigenous theories and practices that have been refined and transmitted across generations for millennia. In light of inspiring “socio-ecological hope spots,” I underscore how science and conservation policy must recognise and value Indigenous theories and practices as fundamental to maintaining resilient ecosystems in the face of the multiple crises we are currently experiencing.

Speaker: Carolina Levis (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina – UFSC)