ONLINE CURRENTS VOL3 - Flipbook - Page 45
“It is a term that somehow invites attention to the connections – tangible and intangible –
between local cultures, territorial governance systems, sustainable livelihood traditions and
the experience of sacredness. The implication is clear: the future of biocultural diversity can
only be as locally-held rights and responsibilities, alive in a community’s own loving hands.” 12
One of the most effective to ensure the protection of existing forests is to respect and involve
indigenous communities, who collectively hold a wealth of knowledge based on generations
of trial and error, and an intrinsic appreciation of their natural resources. 13 Communities
currently hold legal rights to manage and reside in one-eighth of the world’s forests, but
many are still fighting to have their territories officially recognized.
“A growing literature shows that, given a favorable policy environment, Indigenous Peoples
and local communities often manage property forests and other natural resources
sustainably,” explained David Kamowitz, head of the Forest and Farm Facility at the FAO.
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“These territories’ forests have been better preserved, even when accounting for things such
as distance from roads and soil fertility. When the territories have formal rights and additional
support, their forests are doing better still.”
Scientists and policymakers are gradually realizing that indigenous ancestral knowledge can
aid reforestation efforts. In the Peruvian Amazon, indigenous farmers have mixed biochar with
natural fertilizer for centuries. Researchers recently tested this technique and found that it
consistently produces significantly taller trees with thicker trunks and foliage than soil that
has not been treated this way. 15
Planting indigenous tree species is another way to add multifaceted value to reforestation
projects. These species are better suited to local conditions and often provide additional
benefits: medicinal or food products, high-quality timber, soil enrichment through “fixing”
nitrogen from the air.
Projects like El Campanario reflect a more socially and ecologically enriching way of doing
things. This approach is not new, even in our post-industrial, chemically saturated world. It ties
into established philosophies like that behind permaculture, a growing movement that
promotes working with rather than against nature, and deeply understanding local ecological
dynamics, to create “food forests” that are sustainable and can support biodiversity in the
long term.
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