Abstract ID: 724

CONSERVATION OF THE INDIGENOUS TERRITORIES OF THE LOWER PASTAZA RIVER BASIN

The results of the applied research project towards developing a sustainable conservation strategy for the indigenous communities in the lower Pastaza Ecuadorian river basin are shown here and they demonstrate that in spite of the well preserved forest cover in over 95% of the 1’300 000 has. Of the project region, the biodiversity is well under stress because of the over extraction of its fauna by local holders. The work was made by making a predictive model under the analysis of the results of over 300 sampling sites inside the area and making mathematical regressions of the field results and correlating them with distance from the community, population density and habitat type. The social, economical and environmental evaluation were made by a team of over 20 specialists in the fields of Sociology, economy, limnology, ornithology, mastozology, herpetology , geography and ecology. The results were modeled using ARCGIS and validated by field visit to verify results in the field. Results show that the Achuar Territory is well over the environmental capacity while the Shiwiar and Saparo territory is still able to support the extraction pressure they receive. The conservation strategy developed considers that long term conservation of these territories will only uphold if integrated, joined management of the three territories is carried out.

Session:  Public Policies and Sustainable Development - Pan Amazonian research perspectives linking Andean and whole Basin natural and social systems.

Presentation Type:  Oral