ETHNOGEOLOGY IN THE RAIN FOREST: COMBINING MAINSTREAM HYDROLOGY AND UITOTO INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE TO COMPREHEND THE WATER OF THE COLOMBIAN AMAZONIA

Ethnogeology, the scientific study of geological knowledge of groups such as indigenous peoples, can be combined with mainstream geological sciences to enhance our understanding of Earth systems. We present a case study in the Amazon rainforest, a place extensively studied by both mainstream scientists and aboriginal peoples, such as the Uitoto. We argue that knowledge held by Uitoto experts about Amazonian geology and hydrology is robust, empirical, and in many cases more nuanced than mainstream scientific knowledge. We applied methods from ethnography and earth science to examine the Uitoto’s traditional ecological knowledge about water, and how that knowledge correlates with what mainstream earth scientists know. The study demonstrates how ethnogeology can be applied in a water-rich environment to: (1) compare knowledge about the natural history of an area, (2) study the geological resources available and their uses, and (3) explore the bases of native classification schemes with mainstream science methods. We found parallels and complementary concepts in the two bodies of knowledge. Our results suggest that the Uitoto have a meticulous taxonomy for water and wetlands: knowledge that is essential to protect, conserve, and manage water resources. Sharing between mainstream and indigenous researchers can improve geological and environmental knowledge on both sides, and provide solutions for current regional environmental problems such as increased pressure on water resources and impacts of climate change.