A CREATIVE PERSPECTIVE OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS BY NATIVE AMAZONIAN HUMAN-POPULATIONS

Authors
Citation
E. Lopezzent, A CREATIVE PERSPECTIVE OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS BY NATIVE AMAZONIAN HUMAN-POPULATIONS, Interciencia, 23(4), 1998, pp. 232
Citations number
84
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Journal title
ISSN journal
0378-1844
Volume
23
Issue
4
Year of publication
1998
Database
ISI
SICI code
0378-1844(1998)23:4<232:ACPOEI>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
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.