Traditional views of ecosystems and their management

Background/Question/Methods

The Wapichan people of the South Rupununi of Amazonian, Guyana, South America have lived for millenia with their forests, savannahs, mountains and rivers.  From 2000 to 2011, the Wapichan completed a self-survey of all villages and villagers to assess the state of our cultural interactions with our environment.

Results/Conclusions

We discovered that we continue to maintain strong cultural, spiritual and physical relationships with our lands and its resources, one based on an understanding of an inter-dependence between the environment and people. The Wapichan continue to consider the land a mother, one who provides for her children and therefore needs care if she is to continue providing for us. To maintain healthy livelihoods great care is taken and respect given in how we use the land and its resources.  Wapichan traditional knowledge is therefore rich in the understanding of the ways and importance of the land and its resources. Use of resources is guided by the belief that all resources and certain places have spirit masters who guard and care for them. Customary laws on utilisation, care and views of the land and its resources are thus grounded in respect and understanding.  For example, laws concerning fishing emphasize rotational fishing so areas are not overharvested. We also regulate the number of fish that can be taken and methods used in key places during spawning season. Similarly, hunters know that game should not be hunted during breeding season and that you should only hunt enough for what is needed. In addition, places where a specific spirit master lives must be avoided by hunters. Protection of vulnerable places like water springs, creek sources, gathering grounds, multiplying grounds and key habitats are particularly important. Farms are not encouraged in areas that are rich with trees that produce useful fruits and other materials.

More recent additions to our tradional cultural means of regulating inetractions with the environment include indentifying and establishing conservation reserves (regeneration, utilisation, conservation, wildlife areas, etc) on different parts of our lands.  These are important ways communities have used to maintain healthy ecosystems. Some of which are being codified and adopted into village rules and regulations.  A recent action has been the development of reseource and place management agreements between communities for key resources and places. We have also codified our traditional fire calendar to enhance management of our savannahs and pass on traditional knowledge to our younger generation.