This paper explores a working hypothesis related to groups of human po
pulations acting as disturbance agents in the Amazon. Three theoretica
l premises framing the main argument are presented (centered on concep
ts of environmental disturbance and eco-cultural process). However, mo
re than theoretical, this paper is descriptive and its data come mostl
y from a non-exhaustive review of the human ecology literature. The cu
ltural as well as biological heterogeneity of the Amazon is underlined
. A brief overview of the possible human ways of life during the pre-E
uropean colonization period is also offered here. The basic idea is to
illustrate human activities as potentially dynamic and central in the
maintenance of the Amazonian ecosystem, including its richness and co
mplexities. In support of this argument, the author selected seven exa
mples to illustrate the ecological behavior of some contemporary Amazo
nian human groups such as Ka'apor, Siriono, Kayapo, Runa, Piaroa, Hoti
, etc. Underlying the argument of this paper is the attempt to contras
t two ideological perspectives about human-nature interactions: the vi
ewpoint supported by the mainstream western belief than humans form a
system apart from nature, and the standpoint vindicated by more ecolog
ically attuned theories which considers humans to be a part of nature
and thus together comprising a rather dynamic system. The first ideolo
gy, has usually conceived of human behavior toward nature as that of s
tewardship; thus, this anthropocentric view considers man as a cardina
l element to ecosystem maintenance. The second ideology heralds a bioc
entric perspective, in which humans are equal to other species except
that their behavior is still often perceived as damaging in general. T
he argument advanced here develops an ecocentric perspective, but even
further, it elaborated a holistic vision of the human-nature relation
ship as art (in its literal meaning from Latin ars, ability, expertise
, skill), that is creative, triggering ecological processes beyond tho
se attempting to satisfy their needs.