Indigenous knowledge networks in the face of global change
Open accessAbstract
Significance: The knowledge of nonliterate societies may vanish in silence jeopardizing indigenous peoples’ livelihoods. Yet, this cultural component is missed by studies on ecosystem services that have historically emphasized the biological dimension. Here we fill this gap by introducing indigenous knowledge networks representing the wisdom of indigenous people on plant species and the services they provide. This approach allows us to assess how knowledge held by 57 Neotropical indigenous communities is structured locally and regionally, how it is influenced by turnover in biological and cultural heritage, and how the progressive loss of biocultural heritage may undermine the resilience of these communities.
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These impacts would involve irreversible loss of biodiversity, socioeconomic and cultural values.
“These impacts would also involve irreversible loss of biodiversity, socioeconomic and cultural values1,7–9.”
From Critical transitions in the Amazon forest system (2024) · cites this paper as [9]
The Abstract reports that the combined loss of plant species and cultural knowledge erodes indigenous knowledge networks, and that lost knowledge may jeopardize livelihoods. It does not establish that the resulting losses of biodiversity, socioeconomic values, and cultural values are all irreversible. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIndigenous peoples and local communities would be harmed by forest loss in terms of their livelihoods, lifeways and knowledge systems.
“Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) would be harmed by forest loss in terms of their livelihoods, lifeways and knowledge systems that inspire societies globally1,7,9.”
From Critical transitions in the Amazon forest system (2024) · cites this paper as [9]
The Abstract says loss of plant species and cultural heritage can erode indigenous knowledge, threaten human well-being, and jeopardize livelihoods; Fig. 1 also shows how plants figure in daily life. But the study concerns 57 Neotropical indigenous communities and models plant-species loss, not forest loss and its effects on Indigenous peoples and local communities generally. (LLM, conf=0.83)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredContinued loss of ecological knowledge will undermine the capacity of IPLCs to manage and protect Amazonian forests, further reducing their resilience to global changes.
“Continued loss of ecological knowledge will undermine the capacity of IPLCs to manage and protect Amazonian forests, further reducing their resilience to global changes9.”
From Critical transitions in the Amazon forest system (2024) · cites this paper as [9]
The Abstract says progressive loss of biocultural heritage may undermine the resilience of the communities studied, and that knowledge loss constrains their ability to benefit from nature’s services. It does not establish that knowledge loss undermines their capacity to manage or protect Amazonian forests; the Study Area section also includes communities outside Amazonia. No page numbers are provided in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.87)
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Critical transitions in the Amazon forest system
Flores, B. M., Montoya, E., Sakschewski, B., Nascimento, N., Staal, A., Betts, R. A., Levis, C., Lapola, D. M., Esquível-Muelbert, A., Jakovac, C., et al. (2024) · Nature · doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06970-0 · Cited by 607 · see citing works
- Authors
- Cámara-Leret, R., Fortuna, M. A., & Bascompte, J.
- Affiliations
- Identification and Naming Department, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AE, United Kingdom;
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Venue
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2019-05
- Volume
- 116
- Issue
- 20
- Pages
- 9913-9918
- ISSN
- 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-6490
- PMC
- PMC6525496
- OpenAlex
- W2943728419
- Cited by
- 127
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 9.98
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
- Funders
- Swiss National Science Foundation (31003A_169671)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Environmental and Cultural Studies in Latin America and Beyond
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Agriculture
- Keywords
- indigenous knowledge, knowledge networks, plant species loss, cultural heritage, cultural diffusion, biodiversity loss, conservation policy
- MeSH terms
- Indigenous Peoples, Animals, Humans, Indians, South American, South America, Knowledge, Ethnobotany, Arecaceae
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