Ethnoecology in the Colombian Amazon: Tikuna-Wildlife Interactions in Amacayacu National Park

This study examines human-wildlife interactions in Amacayacu National Park in the Colombian Amazon (3°02’-3°47’ S, 69°54’-70°25’ W). It explores localconcepts of nature to contribute towards culturally relevant conservation thatprovides long-term solutions to environmental issues. Research was carried out with indigenous people from the Tikuna communities of Mocagua (population=511) and San Martín (population= 480). Male and female participants between 3-78 years took part (n=228). A multi-methods approach was adopted to assess the social, cultural, nutritional and economic significance of wildlife, and findings favour the implementation of holistic biocultural conservation methods. I carried out all-occurrence sampling, participant observation, semi-structured interviews and workshops, as well as acquiring information through one-to-one conversations and group discussions, and by documenting community events and practices using Participatory Film-Making. Dramatisations, games and music sessions were also carried out with children. Quantitative and qaulitative data, obtained during categorisation tasks, suggest gender plays a significant role in establishing people’s knowledge and perceptions about wildlife (comparisons between men and women for food !"=6, df=1, n=105, p<0.05 and pets !"=32, df=1, n=75, p<0.05). The communities’ locations also influence how people use and value wildlife as opportunities through tourism, research and conservation fluctuate. This creates economic and environmental differences which are most prominently reflected in the local diet and people’s livelihood options. Dietary assessments reveal that domestic meat, which must be bought or traded for in near by towns or villages, is consumed in Mocagua (!"=37.44, n=59, df=1, p<0.05) while people go without meat more frequently in San Martín (!"=20.77, n=274, df=1, p<0.05). Conversations with the elderly and the young show that socio-economic factors and dietary taboos vary temporally as well as geographically (comparisons between adults and children in Mocagua !"=45.88, n=183, df=5, p<0.05 and San Martín !"=11.89, n=183, df=5, p<0.05), while the films people made using the video camera further indicate a difference of opinion about what should be the focus of conservation and development in their communities

Plants used by chimpanzees and humans in Cantanhez, Guinea-Bissau. Field guide

This is the final version. Available from LAE/CRIA via the link in this recordThe Portuguese version of this field guide is available in ORE: http://hdl.handle.net/10871/121034FC

Plants used by chimpanzees and humans in Cantanhez, Guinea-Bissau. Field guide

This is the final version. Available from LAE/CRIA via the link in this recordThe Portuguese version of this field guide is available in ORE: http://hdl.handle.net/10871/121034FC

Plantas usadas por chimpanzés e humanos no Cantanhez, Guiné-Bissau. Guia de campo

This is the final version. Available from LAE/CRIA via the link in this recordThe English version of this field guide is available in ORE at: http://hdl.handle.net/10871/121033FC

Plantas usadas por chimpanzés e humanos no Cantanhez, Guiné-Bissau. Guia de campo

This is the final version. Available from LAE/CRIA via the link in this recordThe English version of this field guide is available in ORE at: http://hdl.handle.net/10871/121033FC

Developing an Evidence-Based Coexistence Strategy to Promote Human and Wildlife Health in a Biodiverse Agroforest Landscape

UIDB/04038/2020 UIDP/04038/2020Agroforest mosaics represent one of the most extensive human-impacted terrestrial systems worldwide and play an increasingly critical role in wildlife conservation. In such dynamic shared landscapes, coexistence can be compromised if people view wildlife as a source of infectious disease. A cross-disciplinary One Health knowledge base can help to identify evolving proponents and threats to sustainable coexistence and establish long-term project goals. Building on an existing knowledge base of human–wildlife interactions at Cantanhez National Park (NP), Guinea-Bissau, we developed a causal pathway Theory-of-Change approach in response to a newly identified disease threat of leprosy in the Critically Endangered western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus). The goals of our project are to improve knowledge and surveillance of leprosy in humans and wildlife and increase capacity to manage human–wildlife interactions. We describe the core project activities that aim to (1) quantify space use by chimpanzees across Cantanhez NP and determine the distribution of leprosy in chimpanzees; (2) understand the health system and local perceptions of disease; and (3) identify fine-scale risk sites through participatory mapping of resources shared by humans and chimpanzees across target villages. We discuss the development of a biodiversity and health monitoring programme, an evidence-based One Health campaign, and a One Health environmental management plan that incorporates the sharing of space and resources, and the disease implications of human–non-human great ape interactions. We demonstrate the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement, and the development of strategy that fully considers interactions between people, wildlife, and the environment.publishersversionpublishe

Developing an Evidence-Based Coexistence Strategy to Promote Human and Wildlife Health in a Biodiverse Agroforest Landscape

Agroforest mosaics represent one of the most extensive human-impacted terrestrial systems worldwide and play an increasingly critical role in wildlife conservation. In such dynamic shared landscapes, coexistence can be compromised if people view wildlife as a source of infectious disease. A cross-disciplinary One Health knowledge base can help to identify evolving proponents and threats to sustainable coexistence and establish long-term project goals. Building on an existing knowledge base of human–wildlife interactions at Cantanhez National Park (NP), Guinea-Bissau, we developed a causal pathway Theory-of-Change approach in response to a newly identified disease threat of leprosy in the Critically Endangered western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus). The goals of our project are to improve knowledge and surveillance of leprosy in humans and wildlife and increase capacity to manage human–wildlife interactions. We describe the core project activities that aim to (1) quantify space use by chimpanzees across Cantanhez NP and determine the distribution of leprosy in chimpanzees; (2) understand the health system and local perceptions of disease; and (3) identify fine-scale risk sites through participatory mapping of resources shared by humans and chimpanzees across target villages. We discuss the development of a biodiversity and health monitoring programme, an evidence-based One Health campaign, and a One Health environmental management plan that incorporates the sharing of space and resources, and the disease implications of human–non-human great ape interactions. We demonstrate the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement, and the development of strategy that fully considers interactions between people, wildlife, and the environment