DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Voices of Indigenous Amazonia: historical processes of sociobiodiversity in the face of the challenges of the Anthropocene

Project disclaimer

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Description

The Voices of Indigenous Amazonia project proposes to study Amazonian biodiversity and its long-term interactions with Indigenous peoples in three regions characterized by complex sociocultural systems: the Upper Negro Indigenous Territory (Amazonas state); the Xingu Indigenous Territory (Matto Grosso state); and the Kayapó Indigenous Territory (Pará state). These territories stand out for their varied and complex ethnic, historical, and socio-environmental configurations, which include ethnobiological knowledge that is specific to each region. In this project we propose to combine human and biological sciences with Indigenous knowledge to increase our efficiency in producing knowledge about Amazonia. We propose to document biodiversity and its relationship with knowledge and sociocultural practices of present and past Indigenous peoples through: 1) biological inventories of species little known to Western science; 2) characterizing Indigenous landscapes through participatory mapping and remote sensing; 3) fostering exchanges of biodiversity-related knowledge between scientific and Indigenous knowledge; 4) recording long-term anthropogenic changes in vegetation, fauna, and soils ; and 5) collaboratively producing relevant ethnographic, linguistic, and sociocultural documentation. Supported by multifaceted biological studies (descriptions of new species, taxonomic revisions, morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses, distribution modelling and species richness) integrated with studies of traditional Indigenous knowledge, including its role in the domestication of plants and landscapes, as well as studies of millennia-old environmental management technologies within different Indigenous territories, the project will enable large-scale analyses of biological and sociocultural diversity while mitigating existing taxonomic gaps in poorly sampled yet well-preserved regions of Brazilian Legal Amazonia. At a broader level, the project will produce relevant contributions to tackle the current climate emergency and socio-environmental challenges of the Anthropocene, which compromises forests, resources, and the continuity of the lifeways of our partners, Indigenous peoples of Amazonia.

Objectives

ISPF aims to foster prosperity by solving shared global research and innovation challenges. This will be done through working closely with international partners to: support research excellence and build the knowledge and technology of tomorrow strengthen ties with international partners that share our values; enable researchers and innovators to cultivate connections, follow their curiosity and pioneer transformations internationally, for the good of the planet. Activities under ISPF ODA aim to deliver research and innovation partnerships with low- and middle-income countries.

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Location

The country, countries or regions that benefit from this Programme.

Brazil

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