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Participatory Conservation and Local Knowledge in the Amazon Várzea: The Pirarucu Management Scheme in Mamirauá

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Abstract

Participatory natural resource management has become the most used approach to the conservation of the Amazonian várzea. But poor understanding of the process of integration of local knowledge in such conservation schemes impedes further progress. We contribute to this subject by analyzing some of the challenges of one of the most significant schemes of participatory conservation based on local knowledge in the várzea. The scheme relies largely on the knowledge and skills of local fishers, and it has been shown to be very effective at promoting the recovery of previously overexploited populations of the fish pirarucu (Arapaima spp). Our analysis shows that the prevailing practice of simply including local communities in the management process is not sufficient to promote resource conservation. It also is necessary to (i) identify individuals of the communities that possess acute knowledge of natural resources, (ii) develop cost-effective approaches to assess local knowledge in a systematic fashion, and (iii) monitor the effectiveness of participatory schemes at promoting resource conservation. We suggest that conservation and development organizations need to develop further their current practices with the knowledge of local inhabitants, if that knowledge is to contribute further to the conservation of the várzea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, 615 Erie Blvd, Syracuse, NY, 13204-2483, USA

    Leandro Castello

  2. Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, AV. Brasil 197, Tefé, Amazonas, Brazil

    Leandro Castello & João Paulo Viana

  3. The Woods Hole Research Center, 149 Woods Hole Rd, Falmouth, MA, 02540-1644, USA

    Leandro Castello

  4. Diretoria do Programa Nacional de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Ministério do Meio Ambiente, Brasília, Rua SAUS Qd 3 Bl Cs/n s 715, Brasília Distrito Federal, 70070-030, Brazil

    João Paulo Viana

  5. Center for Environmental Research and Conservation, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY, USA

    Miguel Pinedo-Vasquez

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  1. Leandro Castello
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  2. João Paulo Viana
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  3. Miguel Pinedo-Vasquez
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Correspondence to Leandro Castello .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Columbia University, Center for Environmental Research and Co, Amsterdam Avenue 1200, New York, 10027-7054, New York, USA

    Miguel Pinedo-Vasquez

  2. Ministério da Pesca e Aquicultura - MPA, Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco D, Brasília, DF, 70043-900, Brazil

    Mauro L. Ruffino

  3. The New York Botanical Garden, Street and Kazimiroff Boulevard 200th, Bronx, 10458-5126, New York, USA

    Christine Padoch

  4. , Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, E. Kirkwood Avenue, Student Building 130 701, Bloomington, IN, 47405-7100, USA

    Eduardo S. Brondízio

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Castello, L., Viana, J.P., Pinedo-Vasquez, M. (2011). Participatory Conservation and Local Knowledge in the Amazon Várzea: The Pirarucu Management Scheme in Mamirauá. In: Pinedo-Vasquez, M., Ruffino, M., Padoch, C., Brondízio, E. (eds) The Amazon Várzea . Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0146-5_18

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