Revalorization of ancestral indigenous knowledge
From the characterization of subsistence hunting to its communitarian management. Applied participative research with Maya-Q´eqchi´ communities in the Ecoregion Lachuá, Guatemala
How did it all start:
Wildlife hunting for domestic consumption (subsistence hunting) is a very common activity that is part of the cultural identity of many indigenous communities of Guatemala's rural area, but it has been poorly studied in our country. However, unmanaged subsistence hunting is a serious threat for wild animal populations and can cause drastic effects and negative alterations in the natural dynamics of ecosystem.
The Ecoregión Lachua is home to 55 Maya-Q´eqchi´ communities that still have agriculture and forest use practices, such as wildlife hunting, that are traditionally carried out in a way that contributes to the sustainability of these natural resources. Maya-Q´eqchi´ cosmovision has many traditional elements that promote and favor a responsible and respectful use of nature.
In 2000, the School of Biology of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala started a subsistence hunting characterization project in communities neighboring the Laguna Lachua National Park to determine its local tendencies. This study initially started with nine local hunters from five communities that collaborated with the project filling out registry forms with the biological information about the animals they hunted.
In 2002, Marleny Rosales-Meda became a member of the research team and worked collecting part of the registry forms, carrying out training workshops for local hunters and analyzing the information gathered until that date. The result of these analysis showed that subsistence hunting is a very important activity for Maya-Q´eqchi´ communities of the study area, because it provides economic and social benefits. As main products of the analysis of these hunting tendencies, a "Wildlife reproduction calendar" and a "Preliminary proposal for subsistence hunting management in local communities of the Ecoregion Lachua" were formulated. Both proposals needed to be improved and strengthened through their consensus with local people and broadening the sample to more communities in the Ecoregion. That is why in 2004, 36 subsistence hunters from 14 local communities collaborated with the project providing information about wildlife they hunted and we also started a subsistence hunting management initiative.
The research team began promoting and carrying out participative efforts guided towards establishing a communitarian subsistence hunting management system. These efforts allowed us achieve the consensus and validation of the "First Communitarian Agreements for Subsistence Hunting Management", which were proposed and signed by leaders/authorities of 15 local communities.
Currently, the staff are carrying out a long-term Participative Bilingual Environmental Education Program -PBEEP- that emerged from a local initiative. Our PBEEP is aimed to give continuance to the previous research and management phases through an education, awareness and dissemination phase of the efforts carried out until today regarding conservation, communitarian management and sustainable use of wildlife.
The first phase of the PBEEP started in July 2008 after winning the prestigious "Whitley Award" Prize given by HRH Princess Anne, The Whitley Fund for Nature and The Weston Family during the Whitley Awards Ceremony in London for its pioneer participative and integrated conservation scope (http://www.guatemala-times.com/news/international/94-international/232-princess-rewards-guatemalan-wildlife-biologist.html).
The project is being constructed, planned and carried out with leaders, authorities and organizations from 21 local communities, government organizations and NGOs that work in the Ecoregion Lachua, making a strong link between the importance of wildlife conservation and traditional Maya-Q´eqchi´ knowledge, cosmovision and spirituality.
The latest news from Ecoregion Lachua, rescue and revalorization of ancestral Q´eqchi´ knowledge that is strongly related with the respectful and responsible use of nature.
A main cornerstone of the Participative Bilingual Environmental Education Program (PBEEP) that biologists Marleny Rosales-Meda and Maria Susana Hermes carry out with Maya-Q´eqchi´ communities that neighbor Laguna Lachua National Park (LLNP) is linking scientific and traditional knowledge to favor the long-term conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in the Ecoregion Lachua. A key objective of this innovative Program is to promote the rescue and revalorization of ancestral Q´eqchi´ knowledge that is strongly related with the respectful and responsible use of nature.
Since March 2009, the PBEEP has positively involved more than 100 Maya-Q´eqchi´ elders (men & women) from 10 local communities in a participative process to gather and share their traditional knowledge and spiritual values with children and teenagers. During interviews, elders expressed their concern to the fact that traditional tree planting knowledge is rapidly being lost in their communities. That is why Rosales and Hermes, coordinators of the PBEEP, proposed to elders and LLNP managers a proposal to carry out a different kind of reforestation activity guided towards rescuing and transmitting traditional trees planting values and wisdom to children and teenagers from five communities of the Ecoregion Lachua. For this purpose, park rangers from LLNP previously constructed a plant nursery with 1,800 native trees that have important uses (wood, food, medicine) and special meaning for Q´eqchi´ people.
The "First activity of transmission of traditional Q´eqchi´ knowledge about tree planting" was carried out on October 2009. To start the activity, local elders organized a special ceremony (Mayejak) to bless the life of the little trees and ask for Mother Earth´s permission to plant them. Adults, teenagers, children and elders from five local communities participated in this ceremony that was celebrated in the community of San Jose Icbolay. During the next three days, elders shared their ancestral values, knowledge and practices regarding tree planting with more than 400 children and teenagers.
To favor the children and teenager´s sense belonging, they were given a diploma with motivational messages and were asked to put a special name to their trees. Each of them signed and kept the diploma as a symbol of the commitment they made to plant, respect and take care of the small trees so that they can be useful for them in the future.
This activity is a pioneer reforestation effort where biologists, park managers, elders and the youth of the Ecoregion Lachua work hand to hand in favor of the conservation and good use of tree, considering ancestral respect towards Mother Nature as a cross cutting topic. We hope to continue promoting this type of intercultural activities that promote viable conservation under a framework of cooperation and respect towards traditional practices.
INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THE PROJECT
The current work is possible thanks to the valuable support of the following institutions, organizations and individuals:
- School of Biology, Faculty of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of San Carlos of Guatemala
- The Whitley Fund for Nature and The Weston Family
- Laguna Lachua National Park (INAB/CONAP/MAGA)
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
- International Institute in Conservation and Wildlife Management (ICOMVIS), National University, Costa Rica
- Idea Wild
- Association of Friends for Development and Peace (ADP)
- National Organization for Environmental Conservation (ONCA)
- Ak´ Kutan Centre Bartolomé de Las Casas
- Laguna Lachuá Project-INAB/UICN
- Association of First and Second Degree CommunitarianCouncils of the Region of Santa Lucia and Salacuim
- Chajumpec Nueve Cerros & Entre Rios Private Reserves
- Mayan League of Guatemala, with special thanks to Dr. Daniel Matul
- Association Creative Ixcán
- Organization Oxlajuj Ajpop
- Sembrador Radio Station, Pastoral Social, Ixcan
- Darcy J. Anderson, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Dr. Manuel Spínola, ICOMVIS, Costa Rica
- Pocolá Communitarian Radio Station, Alta Verapaz
- La Pasion Theatre Group, Santa Maria Samococh, El Quiché
- Laboratory of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensors, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, with special thanks to Dr. Edwin Castellanos and Dr. Jorge Roldán
- MSc. Abel Alejandro Anzueto, Universidad del Valle Guatemala
Institutions and organizations that have supported the previous phases of the project:
- Research and Monitoring Program of the Ecoregion Lachuá, School of Biology, University of San Carlos of Guatemala
- General Research Department -DIGI-, University of San Carlos of Guatemala
- Norwegian Council of Universities -NUFU-
- Laguna Lachua National Park (INAB/CONAP/MAGA)
- National Organization for Environmental Conservation (ONCA)
- Laguna Lachuá Project-INAB/UICN
- Equilibrium Fund
For more information, please contact the project coordinators at:
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Credits of photographs: Vilma Quim, Marleny Rosales & Maria Hermes
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