Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2017
Keywords
Social ecology, ethno-ecology, agroecology, traditional ecological knowledge, indigenous knowledge, ecosystem services, environmental management, sustainability
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1080/21513732.2017.1285814
Abstract
This study argues that a critical element in the success of an ecosystem service (ES) approach at any level is the higher qualitative valuation of local traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). As such, the objectives of this research were to illustrate the role of TEK in agroecological systems in Peru and to develop recommendations about this type of knowledge acquisition. The data were gathered using interviews and focus groups with subsistence farmers along with key informant interviews to elicit TEK at local and regional scales in five provinces in the Lake Titicaca region of Puno, Peru. Qualitative analysis revealed dominant themes of TEK provided by farmers and key informants, and how this knowledge can enhance the application of an ES approach for environmental management. Climate variability, predicting the timing of seasonal changes, water availability, and adapting the agricultural calendar and agricultural techniques were all central themes. This research concludes that environmental management decisions in the Puno region of Peru are being informed and improved through the use of TEK. Supporting previous research, we propose that agroecological systems, at their core, need to respect the integrity and sanctity of TEK and value it properly within any practical solution for environmental resource management.
Rights Information
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management, v. 13, issue 1, p. 150-161
Scholar Commons Citation
Saylor, Christina R.; Alsharif, Kamal; and Torres, Hannah, "The Importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Agroecological Systems in Peru" (2017). School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications. 1317.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/geo_facpub/1317
