High overlap between traditional ecological knowledge and forest conservation found in the Bolivian Amazon

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Indigenous studies
• Conservation biology

Background:

• Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is proposed as crucial for forest conservation.
• Empirical evidence on TEK's association with forest conservation is limited.
• Fine-scale spatial overlap between TEK and forest conservation remains unevaluated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the association between Tsimane' Amerindian TEK and forest conservation.
• To evaluate the spatial overlap of TEK and forest conservation at the village level.
• To inform conservation and climate policies by understanding the role of indigenous knowledge.

Main Methods:

• Case study with 624 Tsimane' households across 59 villages in the Bolivian Amazon.
• Estimation of TEK through household surveys.
• Assessment of forest conservation using remote sensing data.
• Statistical and spatial analyses to determine associations and overlaps.

Main Results:

• Tsimane' TEK shows a significant positive association with forest conservation.
• Acculturation variables exhibit stronger, negative associations with forest conservation.
• A significant spatial overlap exists between Tsimane' TEK levels and forest conservation.

Conclusions:

• TEK is a significant factor in forest conservation, though acculturation poses a challenge.
• Protecting indigenous cultural systems is essential for effective conservation and climate policy.
• Findings offer insights for integrated development, conservation, and climate strategies.