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Are Isolated Indigenous Populations Headed toward Extinction?

Robert S Walker¹, Dylan C Kesler², Kim R Hill³

¹Department of Anthropology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America.

|March 9, 2016

Summary

Most isolated indigenous groups in South America are critically endangered, with limited population growth. Current "leave them alone" policies may hasten the extinction of these vulnerable indigenous populations.

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Area of Science:

Environmental science
Indigenous studies
Demography

Background:

Over 50 indigenous groups in lowland South America remain isolated.
Current policies in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru favor non-contact with isolated tribes.
These policies assume isolated populations are healthy and viable long-term.

Purpose of the Study:

To test the assumption of long-term viability for isolated indigenous populations.
To assess the health and growth of isolated groups under current non-contact policies.

Main Methods:

Utilized Landsat satellite remote sensing data to track horticultural clearings over 10-14 years.
Validated and assessed clearing sizes with high-resolution imagery.
Monitored land use changes for 8 isolated indigenous groups.

Main Results:

Only one of the 8 groups showed significant population growth (approx. 400 people, 50 cleared hectares).
The other 7 groups had small villages and gardens with no substantial growth.
Evidence suggests most monitored isolated groups are critically endangered.

Conclusions:

The assumption underlying non-contact policies is flawed.
Urgent re-evaluation of policies is needed for isolated indigenous populations.
Organized contact may be necessary to prevent imminent extinction.