|
Background - Valle de los Chilchos 2004-2005 Inge Schjellerup
Objectives
The overall objective of the project is to investigate land use change in a
Peruvian montane cloud forest over a time span of five hundred years,
focusing on the past fifty years. A diachronic analysis will be able to
identify how local, national and international decision-making processes
have influenced the settlement patterns and agricultural land use. A
disastrous development within the past forty years has resulted in severe
destruction of important eco-zones rich in biodiversity.
Valle de los Chilchos is an isolated valley with no road connections
covering app. 75 km2 in the department of Amazonas in northern Peru, but in
spite of its remote location, population pressures are steadily increasing.
The current project would present a unique opportunity of analyzing a
characteristic, but unexplored cultural environment. Pre-Columbian
agricultural techniques such as terraces and irrigation systems and their
present utilization should be mapped and investigated. The local population
has a growing interest in understanding their surroundings and expects to
include the proposed project in their efforts towards a better management of
the natural resources in the area. A signed application from the inhabitants
is enclosed.
The research will complete IS’ environmental investigations of that part of
the eastern slopes of the Andes in the Amazonas department.To achieve this
objective, a well-established Danish-Peruvian research group
comprising geographers, botanists, archaeologists and anthropologist will
seek to:
- Analyze the local cultural environment and settlement pattern in order to
achieve a systematic insight into the factors that govern land use change
within the limited geographical region of the valley
- Survey, register and map contemporary and historic settlement patterns and
land use using GPS (Global Positioning System), satellite imagery and GIS (Geographical
Information Systems).
- Investigate how the population utilizes the local vegetation along
with its perception of the natural environment, especially in relation to
land use and future planning to promote a sustainable development in the
area.
The main objective of the project is to compare and evaluate this
information in order to understand the interplay between different factors
and define the unique history of civilization in a contact zone, the
so-called Ceja de Selva area, as the Chilchos Valley is one of only a few
passable routes connecting the Andes Mountains and the Amazon lowland.
Background
The eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains are considered of global interest
in terms of biodiversity (Dinerstein et al. 1995, Stotz et al. 1996, Young
og León 1997, 1998). The steep topography results in pronounced climatic
gradients and a wealth of vegetation zones in an area spanning elevations
from 1000-5000 meters above sea level. The zone is mainly covered by mature
rainforests and makes up some of the last unexplored cloud forest areas in
South America. Peasants from the highlands migrate down into the lowlands in
search of new land and with the introduction of cattle and new crops they
degrade large areas of land. In the past 40 years, profound changes have
occurred including the construction of roads and new settlements. In spite
of these dynamic changes, research has mainly focused on the botanical
factors without considered the human impact. Until recently, the Ceja de
Selva area was considered completely uninhabitable. An interdiciplinary
study has only recently been carried out (Schjellerup et al. 2003 in press)
and they are important contributors to understanding the cultural
environment and resource management strategies in the marginalized region.
Theoretical background
In 1994 the book "Historical Ecology: Cultural Knowledge and Changing
Landscapes (Crumley et al.) was published, marking a breakthrough for
landscape studies in cultural history outside of Denmark. The landscape is
often a reflection of both natural and socio-economic impacts that have
shaped the area. The destruction of the natural resources resulting from
inexpedient land use is an important issue today. This emphasizes the
importance of investigating such changes in regions that are exposed to a
constant pressure, but characterized by the absence of previous
investigations.
The permanence of a settlement and the surrounding land use change reflects
the socio-economic, cultural and environmental processes that force the
local population to constantly adapt their resource management strategy and
practice.
Balée (1996) showed how human activities have positively influenced the
biodiversity of the Amazon through a time span of 5000 years. Biologists
have acknowledged that by maintaining a certain level of disturbance (such
as various types of human land use), increased species richness will be the
result. The understanding of man’s role as an agent of environmental changes
in the historical process is of paramount importance in the understanding of
present ecosystems in the cultural environment (Simmons 1997).
Rationale and regional background
The time factor in the accelerating development in the Amazon has been
drastically reduced due to contemporary economic fluctuations and pressures
exerted by local governments. The problems are further complicated by the
lack of scientific data characterizing most part of the region, especially
the missing knowledge about cultural factors. Immigrants from the highlands,
who bring their expertise from a different natural environment, threaten
both the local environment and indigenous peoples from the Amazon. Valle de
los Chilchos is such an area and this issue is a research area that I have
previously worked with (see list of publications).
The forested north-eastern part of the Peruvian montane forest has been
settled and utilized for thousands of years, even though 50 years ago, the
area was considered uninhabitable. However, before the Spanish conquest
prior to 1532, the upper rainforest (Selva Alta) was settled by a number of
indigenous groups and a federation of tribal chiefs, the so-called
Chachapoyas-culture developed monumental architecture (Schjellerup, 1997).
Their agricultural systems of special forms of terraces and irrigation
systems reduced soil erosion, which is frequently occurring today as a
result of over-grazing and cultivation of extremely steep slopes.
During the Spanish colonial period, many people were forced to form large
villages. Landscape changes in the forests were moderate in the beginning of
colonial times, partly also because most of the indigenous population
perished due to the European illnesses. During the past century however,
drastic changes have occurred as a result of the increasing population
pressure, converting large areas from forest to open savanna-like areas with
dispersed trees and shrubs characterized by accelerating erosion. Ancient
relics are bound to disappear and contemporary land use leads to land
degradation in most areas.
From the 1970s, people from the Andean highlands were encouraged to migrate
into the Amazon to breed cattle and grow rice, sugar cane and coffee. The
so-called "colonos" were offered land for free and cheap loans in return for
settling in the lowlands. The result of the agricultural expansion in the
lowlands has lead to land degradation, low agricultural productivity and the
introduction of cattle, which is the main reason for soil erosion (Brack
1997).
It is important that detailed studies of the cultural environment in
eco-zones in the Amazon are given a high priority in order to prevent the
historical dimension from disappearing and to promote a sustainable
development in a delicate environment. The DIVA project (Centre for Research
on Cultural and Biological Diversity) sponsored by the Danish Environmental
Research Programme (Borgtoft et al., 1998) primarily focused on the
biological aspect (Schjellerup et al. 2001) but my most recent research has
focused on a more interdisciplinary study with emphasis on the cultural
background (Schjellerup et al. 2003 in press). Based on my previous research
projects I have established a multi-disciplinary, international research
group that will allow a new generation of young researchers to take over. 90
% of the funds spent on global research are channeled towards specialized
projects while only 10 % is invested in inter-disciplinary and
trans-disciplinary projects (The Abisko Agenda, Research for Mountain Area
Development 2002).
Methods and hypotheses
The scarce documentation of the limited geographical area of the Chilchos
Valley will be updated and integrated into a substantive transdisciplinary
database. Research into historical ecology, archaeology, anthropology,
botany and geography is absent for this area. The extent of the area of
influence in the pre-Columbian era, in colonial times and today will be
investigated using GIS and remote sensing technology to produce thematic
maps showing ancient relics, prehistoric agricultural systems, settlement
patterns and land use and land cover change. The local population has a
worthy knowledge of flora, fauna and soil quality. The natural resources are
threatened but hold a huge potential if utilized in a sustainable way.
The working hypothesis is that changes in the resource utilization is
reflected in the cultural landscape as well as in the changes occurring in
social and economic structures of the community.
The population of Valle de los Chilchos has appealed for such an
investigation (Enc. 1), that will give them a deeper understanding of the
resource utilization. Furthermore, directions towards a more sustainable
development in the future planning will be given and the project is likely
to increase the feeling of cultural identity in the community.
Modules and schedule
The project contains four complimentary modules from four disciplines:
The cultural anthropological module
The anthropological module will investigate the community’s utilization of
natural resources by
- surveying contemporary settlements and neighboring agricultural units and
- participatory observation combined with structured and semi-structured
interviews with special consideration to the local perception of land use
and traditions handed over orally.
The module will also encompass studies of
historical files from administrative reports in the national archives. The
anthropologists will cooperate with the botanical module regarding the
construction of ethno-botanical inventories.
The archaeological module
The archeological module will survey and map pre-Columbian sites and perform
sample excavations. Pollen analysis of revealed material will be carried out
and analyzed considering the overall objective of the project. Studies from
other parts of Amazonas have shown that pre-Columbian cultures developed
technical solutions to avoid soil erosion and wet soils by constructing
special high-beds. The archaeological module will document historical land
use and work with the anthropological and botanical modules to draw
conclusions about the causes of earlier land use patterns.
The botanical module
In the botanical module, plant material will be collected along with
transect and plot analysis of vegetational composition as well as
ethno-botanical investigation. Possible changes in species composition will
be analyzed at archaeological sites and in the valley in general. The
botanical studies will consider the vegetational history, which is of great
importance in order to designate a sustainable development of the biological
diversity. A number of new species are expected to be discovered.
The geographical module
All data from the modules mentioned above regarding settlement patterns,
land use, pre-Columbian sites and botanical data will be mapped using remote
sensing and GPS (Global Positioning System). The data will be managed in a
GIS (Geographical Information System) and satellite imagery will be analyzed
to map land use change using a time series of satellite imagery if the
valley. This will result in a number of thematic maps of land use and the
identification of areas that are especially vulnerable. Future development
scenarios will be modeled.
Schedule
The first year will be dedicated to literature search, historical archive
studies, two months of field work including all modules, and reporting
The second year and a half will include processing of the data from the four
modules for finalizing the manuscript for monographic publication and
articles in relevant scientific journals.
Collaborators are the the Ethnographical Collection, The National Museum of
Denmark, Institute of Geography, University of Copenhagen, Universidad
Nacional de Trujillo, Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego, Universidad San
Agustin, Arequipa, the Field Museum of Chicago and the Paleo Research
Institute Golden Colorado.
Literature
Balée, William L. 1996. Advances in Historical Ecology. Columbia University
Press.
Borgtoft, H., Skov, F., Fjeldså, J., Schjellerup, I. & Øllgaard, B.,.1998.
People and Biodiversity. two case studies from the Andean foothills of
Ecuador. DIVA. Technical report No.3. Centre for Research on the Cultural
and Biological Diversity of Andean rainforest. The Danish Environmental
Research Programme.
Brack, A. 1997. Pobreza y manejo adecuado de los recursos en la Amazonia
Peruana. Revista Andina 15:15-40.
Crumley, Carole L. 1994. ed. Historical Ecology: Cultural Knowledge and
Changing Landscapes. School of American Research Advanced Seminar Series.
Dinerstein,E., D.M. Olson, D.J. Graham, A.L.Webster, S.A.Primm,
M.P.Bokbinder, & G.Ledec. 1995. A Conservation Assessment of the Terrestrial
Ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean. World Life Fund and World
Bank, Washington D.C.
Stotz, D.E., J.W. Fitzpatrick, T.A. Parker III, & D.K. Moskovits. 1996.
Neotropical Birds: Ecology and Conservation. University of Chicago Press,
Chicago.
Schjellerup, I. 1997. Incas and Spaniards in the Conquest of the Chachapoyas.
Göteborg University Press.
Schjellerup, I., Achutequi, E., Quipuiscoa, V., Fjeldså, J. and Samamé, M.
2001. Wayko-Lamas: la gente y la biodiversidad. DIVA Report No.9. Centro
Bartolome de las Casas, Lima.
Schjellerup, I, M.Kamp Sørensen, C. Espinoza, V. Quipuscoa, V.Peña: 2003 The
forgotten Valleys- Past and Present in the Human Utilization of the Ceja de
Selva Environment, north-eastern Peru in English and in Spanish. The
National Museum of Denmark.
Simmons, I. G. 1997. Humanity and Environment. Longman.
Young, K. R. & B. León. 1997. Eastern Slopes of the Andes, Peru. Pages
490-495 in S.D. Davis, V.H. Heywood, O. Herrera-MacBryde, J. VillaLobos, &
A.C. Hamilton (eds.) Centres of Plant Diversity: A Guide and Strategy for
their Conservation. Vol.3, The Americas. World Wide Fund for nature and
World Conservation Union, Cambridge, UK.
Young, K.R. & B. León. 1998. Peru´s humid eastern montane forests: An
overview of their physical settings, biological diversity, human use and
settlement, and conservation needs. DIVA technical report No.5. The Danish
Environmental Research Programme |
|
