Environmental Science & Policy 5 (2002) 43–53 A tradition of change: the dynamic relationship between biodiversity and society in sector Muyuy, Peru Miguel Pinedo-Vasquez a,∗ , José Barletti Pasqualle b,1 , Dennis Del Castillo Torres c,2 , Kevin Coffey d,3 a Center for Environmental Research and Conservation, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Avenue, MC 5557, New York, NY 10027, USA b PLEC-Peru sub-cluster, Iquitos, Peru Urb. Virgen de Loreto J-20, Iquitos, Peru c Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonia Peruana-IIAP, Avenue Abelardo Quiñones Km 2.5, Iquitos, Peru d Greeley Memorial Laboratory, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, 370 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA Abstract The theme of biodiversity and society provides an opportunity to look beyond skewed environmental ideologies that impel biodiversity researchers to ignore land “tarnished” by humans in search of “pristine” ecosystems. Data reported and analyzed in this paper test and draw conclusions based on a non-partisan stance that recognizes biodiversity as a product of complex natural and anthropogenic interactions. The data in this paper describes this process in the Amazon floodplain of sector Muyuy, Peru. A smallholder tradition of adaptive change in this highly precarious and unstable landscape provides a dynamic foundation upon which biodiversity is produced, managed and conserved. To examine this tradition of appropriate response to change, data was collected on land-cover dynamics using Landsat images and biodiversity inventories and household surveys of resource use technologies and conservation practices were carried out. Through complex agricultural technologies, sector Muyuy smallholders, known as ribereños, use a highly differentiated and dynamic environment to produce a great diversity of crops while creating habitats for endangered and over-exploited species of fish and river turtles, plants, and other species. Ribereños are smallholder farmers, fishermen and forest managers. They are the descendents of several indigenous groups as well as migrants from Europe, Asia and Africa. Most of the rural inhabitants of Peruvian Amazonia are ribereños. In Muyuy, we found that ribereños manage an average of 76 tree species perha, including tropical cedar and other over-exploited timber species. We conclude that meaningful attempts at biodiversity conservation must begin at the interface between ecological and social processes and incorporate locally developed knowledge and practice. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. Keywords: Smallholders; Floodplain; Amazon; Biodiversity; Ribereños 1. Introduction The theme of biodiversity and society provides an oppor- tunity to look beyond skewed environmental ideologies that lead biodiversity researchers to ignore land “tarnished” by humans in search of “pristine” ecosystems. Many experts suggest that biodiversity is the result of natural processes (Terborgh, 1999) and relegate social processes to a category of “disturbances”. In contrast, the anthropocentric point of view, proposed by many social scientists, argues that much biodiversity—including that in Amazonia—is largely the result of long-term human intervention and manipulation ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-212-854-8178; fax: +1-212-854-8188. E-mail addresses: map57@columbia.edu (M. Pinedo-Vasquez), wigint@iquitos.net (J. Barletti Pasqualle), preside@iiap.org.pe (D. Del Castillo Torres), kevin.coffey@yale.edu (K. Coffey). 1 Tel.: +51-94-23-1415. 2 Tel.: +51-94-26-5515; fax: +51-94-26-5527. 3 Tel.: +1-203-432-5100; fax: +1-203-432-5942. of natural processes (Raffles, 1998). The major objective of the data reported and analyzed in this paper is to test and draw practical conclusions, evaluating partisan positions in favor of a more balanced view that biodiversity is a part and product of complex and linked natural and anthropogenic interactions. In response to the biodiversity crisis, many advances have been made in identifying endangered organisms, ecosystems, landscapes and environments. Most specialists agree, however, that the scientific community must seek more effective ways of mitigating these threats. Common approaches to this goal include the establishment of a mul- tiplicity of protected areas, including UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserves, as well as other forms of parks, community-based reserves and others. These efforts have produced limited results and it is clear that new approaches are required to conserve or restore species, ecosystems and landscapes on a regional and global scale. There are several reasons why the establishment of formal protected areas has failed to stem 1462-9011/02/$ – see front matter. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. PII:S1462-9011(02)00023-0