La biodiversidad y la visión de dos mundos: la yuca en occidente y para los indígenas Amazónicos
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J. Selva Andina Biosph.
Abstract
La biodiversidad en el contexto actual de deforestación y cambio climático está en riesgo. Dentro de los principales actores implicados en la protección de la biodiversidad son los pueblos indígenas. Comprender y comparar la visión que ellos tienen de la diversidad y de los mecanismos que la generan con la de la academia representa uno de los retos más importantes. En este artículo de reflexión presentamos algunas ideas sobre la percepción académica de la diversidad haciendo contrastándola con la que presentan algunos pueblos indígenas del Amazonas. La reflexión aprovecha el cultivo de yuca, un cultivo ancestral pilar de la seguridad alimentaria mundial y con un significado simbólico especial para los pueblos indígenas del Amazonas para esta comparación. Se establece que para los indígenas amazónicos la diversidad biológica está asociada con la cultural y que el concepto de diversidad, desde su cosmogonía, abarca aspectos biológicos naturales, culturales e incluso espirituales que definen su identidad, su territorio y por ende todo lo que allí existe. Y aunque para los indígenas amazónicos la diversidad existe desde la creación, ésta solo se materializa a diferentes momentos en el espacio y tiempo. También se presenta la importancia que tiene la chagra y la mujer chagrera como motor inconsciente de la diversidad de yuca y su papel protagónico en la conservación de esta diversidad. Finalmente se hace una reflexión sobre la importancia de mantener las prácticas indígenas vivas en pro de la protección y conservación de la diversidad biológica y cultural en las selvas amazónicas.
Biodiversity in the current context of deforestation and climate change is at risk. One of the main actors involved in biodiversity protection are indigenous peoples. Understanding and comparing their vision of diversity and the mechanisms that generate it with that of academia represents one of the most important challenges. In this reflection paper we present some ideas on the academic perception of diversity by contrasting it with that presented by some indigenous peoples of the Amazon. The reflection takes advantage of the cultivation of cassava, an ancestral crop that is a pillar of global food security and has a special symbolic meaning for the indigenous peoples of the Amazon for this comparison. It is established that for the Amazonian indigenous peoples, biological diversity is associated with cultural diversity and that the concept of diversity, from their cosmogony, encompasses natural biological, cultural and even spiritual aspects that define their identity, their territory and therefore everything that exists there. And although for the Amazonian indigenous people, diversity has existed since creation, it only materialises at different moments in space and time. The importance of the chagra and the chagrera woman as the unconscious driving force behind the diversity of cassava and their leading role in the conservation of this diversity is also presented. Finally, a reflection is made on the importance of keeping indigenous practices alive for the protection and conservation of biological and cultural diversity in the Amazon rainforests.
Biodiversity in the current context of deforestation and climate change is at risk. One of the main actors involved in biodiversity protection are indigenous peoples. Understanding and comparing their vision of diversity and the mechanisms that generate it with that of academia represents one of the most important challenges. In this reflection paper we present some ideas on the academic perception of diversity by contrasting it with that presented by some indigenous peoples of the Amazon. The reflection takes advantage of the cultivation of cassava, an ancestral crop that is a pillar of global food security and has a special symbolic meaning for the indigenous peoples of the Amazon for this comparison. It is established that for the Amazonian indigenous peoples, biological diversity is associated with cultural diversity and that the concept of diversity, from their cosmogony, encompasses natural biological, cultural and even spiritual aspects that define their identity, their territory and therefore everything that exists there. And although for the Amazonian indigenous people, diversity has existed since creation, it only materialises at different moments in space and time. The importance of the chagra and the chagrera woman as the unconscious driving force behind the diversity of cassava and their leading role in the conservation of this diversity is also presented. Finally, a reflection is made on the importance of keeping indigenous practices alive for the protection and conservation of biological and cultural diversity in the Amazon rainforests.
Description
Vol. 13, No. 1