Landscape Change in Western Amazonia^*

* This research was supported at different stages by the Tinker Foundation, the College of Liberal Arts of the University of Texas at Austin, the National Science Foundation, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. In Ecuador, our special thanks to Nacionalidad Achuar del Ecuador and Nacionalidad Shiwiar del Ecuador for allowing this research and providing the institutional support. Julian Ilianes, Eddie Villamil, Santiago Ayuy, and Clemente Tiriats provided invaluable assistance during our fieldwork. Jin‐Kyu Jung, Martha Groom, Kimberly Williams‐Guillén, and three anonymous reviewers provided insightful comments on previous versions of this document.

Abstract

Changes in settlement patterns have influenced food‐production systems and territorial organization in western Amazonia, and landing strips have affected current land‐use patterns in indigenous territories in the region. In this study we characterize riverine and interfluvial production systems in the lower Pastaza River Basin in Ecuador, using historical ethnographic records, remotely sensed data, surveyed information, and statistical descriptions. Results show that nucleation of settlements around landing strips has increased indigenous people's control over their ancestral territories and changed the political and geographical landscape. At the same time, nucleation is slowly transforming indigenous livelihoods from mobile cultivation and foraging to sedentary farming. Even though indigenous communities will eventually become integrated into the national economy, the main elements of the traditional food‐production system will likely remain the same. Development policies should respond to local land‐management strategies in order to ensure the long‐term sustainability of Amazonian socioecological systems.

• Ecuador
• indigenous peoples
• production systems
• settlement patterns
• western Amazonia

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Santiago López

Dr. López is an assistant professor of geography in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington‐Bothell, Bothell, Washington 98011; [[email protected]].

Rebecca Beard

Ms. Beard is a research consultant at Defenders of Wildlife, Washington, D.C. 20036.

Rodrigo Sierra

Dr. Sierra is a research associate and project coordinator at the Fundación Ecuatoriana de Estudios Ecológicos‐EcoCiencia, Quito, Ecuador EC170104; [rsierra@geo‐is.com].