Uncontacted Waorani in the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve: Geographical Validation of the Zona Intangible Tagaeri Taromenane (ZITT)

Abstract

The Tagaeri Taromenane People are two indigenous groups belonging to the Waorani first nation living in voluntary isolation within the Napo region of the western Amazon rainforest. To protect their territory the Ecuadorean State has declared and geographically defined, by Decrees, the Zona Intangible Tagaeri Taromenane (ZITT). This zone is located within the UNESCO Yasuní Biosphere Reserve (1989), one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. Due to several hydrocarbon reserve exploitation projects running in the area and the advancing of a large-scale deforestation front, the survival of these groups is presently at risk. The general aim was to validate the ZITT boundary using the geographical references included in the Decree 2187 (2007) by analyzing the geomorphological characteristics of the area. Remote sensing data such as Digital Elevation Models (DEM), Landsat imagery, topographic cartography of IGM-Ecuador, and fieldwork geographical data have been integrated and processed by Geographical Information System (GIS). The ZITT presents two levels of geographic inconsistencies. The first dimension is about the serious cartographical weaknesses in the perimeter delimitation related to the impossibility of linking two rivers belonging to different basins while the second deals with the perimeter line not respecting the hydrographic network. The GIS analysis results clearly show that ZITT boundary is cartographically nonsense due to the impossibility of mapping out the perimeter. Furthermore, GIS analysis of anthropological data shows presence of Tagaeri Taromenane clans outside the ZITT perimeter, within oil production areas and in nearby farmer settlements, reflecting the limits of protection policies for non-contacted indigenous territory. The delimitation of the ZITT followed a traditional pattern of geometric boundary not taking into account the nomadic characteristic of Tagaeri Taromenane: it is necessary to adopt geographical approaches to recognize the indigenous right to their liveable territories in the complex territorialities enacted by different stakeholders.

Oil Extraction and Indigenous Livelihoods in the Northern Ecuadorian Amazon

“…The results also contain an important message about the consequences of oil production in the NEA, which is now expanding into the extraordinarily biodiverse Yasuní National Park and the territories of indigenous peoples living in isolation (Pappalardo et al, 2013). Given the significant changes that we observe in indigenous livelihoods following oil extraction, our results reinforce the need to give indigenous communities greater control over extractive activities that occur in their territories as well as greater access to information on the potential consequences of these activities.…”

“…Corporate practices of road construction and waste handling have also improved, reducing but not removing environmental impacts (Baynard et al, 2013; Suarez et al, 2013). International and national political opposition to the expansion of oil extraction also continues, but the Ecuadorian government has responded most recently by opening new areas to extraction, including those inhabited by isolated Waorani communities and inside Yasuní National Park (Pappalardo et al, 2013). …”

Participatory GIS in Mapping Ecosystem Services: Two Case Studies from High-Biodiversity Regions in Italy and Peru

“…Our research is based on a combination of methods and tools belonging to both quantitative and qualitative GIS (Kwan and Ding, 2008;Nyegers et al, 2011;De Marchi, 2013;Pappalardo et al, 2013). Survey methodologies for mapping the social values of landscape ES were adapted and implemented for the two study areas after being validated in the field by various key actors.…”

Oil Extraction in the Ecuadorian Amazon: Incorporating Conflict Resolution Theory and Practice

“…Synthesis map: Yasuní National Park (YNP), Waorani Ethnic Reserve (WER), Zona Intangible Tagaeri Taromenane (ZITT) and Oil Blocks. Adapted from Pappalardo, De Marchi, and Ferrarese ().…”

“…For example, the Quechua (also known as Kichwa or Kichua) people are an indigenous group that habitually relies on subsistence farming. Quechua Pappalardo, De Marchi, and Ferrarese ( 2013 ). farmers are frequently fi nding that native crops integral to their daily lives and culture are no longer growing robustly (DW 2014 ). Many have tried to replant produce to no avail; as these strained lands are losing their fertility due to oil contamination, there has also been a reduction in habitable land for indigenous groups (DW 2014 ).…”