Presentation: Weaving worlds in dispute: traditional knowledge, cosmologies and the management of areas of ecological interest in Latin America

Abstract

The dossier Traditional Knowledge and Management of Areas of Ecological Interest: Case Studies on Disputes and Conflicts in Latin America explores the complex relationship between traditional knowledge, cosmologies, and the management of areas of ecological interest in Latin America. This dossier seeks to highlight how the ways of life of traditional peoples and communities are impacted by environmental management models associated with National States. These models often generate conflicts between local ecosystem management practices and official regulations, resulting in new forms of activism and resistance. The dossier presents case studies that illustrate the tensions and resistance strategies employed by these communities in the face of pressures from conservation policies that threaten their territories and ways of life. The five papers collected discuss the impacts of these conflicts on the environment, the landscape, and the dynamics of use and management of territories. In addition, it emphasizes the importance of recognizing and valuing traditional knowledge for the sustainability and resilience of ecosystems, especially in the context of climate change and environmental degradation. Furthermore, the dossier also addresses the complexity of relationships between humans and non-humans, highlighting the need for a critical reassessment of hegemonic ontologies and epistemologies. Thus, the dossier is part of a vibrant field of research, with theoretical and conceptual contributions from contemporary Anthropology and Social Sciences, as it seeks to offer a comprehensive and in-depth view of the issues addressed, highlighting the relevance and urgency of debating traditional knowledge and the management of areas of ecological interest in Latin America.