Climate change adaptation, development and archaeology in the Amazon

Abstract

Mainstream conservation and management of ecosystems often follow the philosophy that humans need to be excluded from the natural world in order to protect it. While this may be justified in certain isolated cases, ‘fortress-style conservation’ is often problematic. Countless examples exist of native peoples being removed from their homelands in the name of conservation, often from places they have inhabited and influenced for hundreds of years. Ancient landscapes shaped by long-term interactions between humans and their environments show the potent role past human societies have played in shaping the current natural world including cultivation and enhancement of critical ecosystem services. This article explores some of these ancient landscapes, specifically the eathworks in the Lanos de Moxos region of northeastern Bolivia, and asseses their potential as an adaptation and agricultural development strategy in response to anticipated climate change in this part of the Amazon.