Plant Biodiversity Knowledge Varies by Gender in Sustainable Amazonian Agricultural Systems Called Chacras

Carmen X. Luzuriaga-Quichimbo, Míriam Hernández del Barco, José Blanco-Salas, Carlos E. Cerón-Martínez and Trinidad Ruiz-Téllez
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Carmen X. Luzuriaga-Quichimbo: CENBIO, Universidad UTE, Quito 170147, Ecuador
Míriam Hernández del Barco: Departamento de Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales y Matemáticas, Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain
José Blanco-Salas: Departmento de Biología Vegetal, Ecología y Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Carlos E. Cerón-Martínez: Herbario Alfredo Paredes, QAP, Universidad Central de Ecuador, Quito 170147, Ecuador
Trinidad Ruiz-Téllez: Departmento de Biología Vegetal, Ecología y Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 15, 1-13

Abstract: Chacras, which are Amazonian agricultural systems, are examples of traditional agricultural management that are sustainable. They are also characteristic of the identities of different ethnographic groups in tropical America. However, information regarding the botanical characterization of chacras is scant. In tropical rural communities, there is a gender bias hypothesis that makes women potential reservoirs of traditional chacras plant knowledge. We present an experimental study in order to demonstrate if this knowledge difference really exists and to plan accordingly. We performed workshops in an isolated Kichwa community from Amazonian Ecuador. We calculated the cultural signififcance index (CSI) for 97 local flora plants. Our results revealed statistically significant differences. They were coherent with the Kichwa worldview and the structure of their society. We concluded that gender perspective must be taken into account in biodiversity conservation programs, such as, for example, those to implement the resilient agricultural practices of tropical contexts promoted by The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SGD2).

Keywords: biodiversity conservation; Amazonian indigenous; women; agroecological production; livelihood; economic growth; sustainable development goals; security food; traditional knowledge; ethnobotany (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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