Land uses in Yasuni

As cultivated areas are signalled to be a primary component of deforestation (Gray et al. 2008), it is important to know about land uses in Ecuadorian Amazon and the historical and variable relationship with indigenous people.

Many factors can influence changes in land use, like immigration, colonisation process, oil extraction activities and its infrastructure (especially roads), geographical delimitations, etc. They can generate at the same time important changes in the socio cultural environment including the livelihoods of indigenous people.

In relation to this, interesting analysis results about indigenous land use in Ecuadorian Amazon were discussed by Gray et al. (2008). Indigenous people living close to the colonised zone are more likely to develop agriculture systems with other purposes in addition to the traditional agriculture to subsistence, this, influenced by commercial and oil activities, as well as population increase. Wuaorani and Cofan groups, who typically live far from the zone of colonisation, manage land with a better subsistence system. This can create a relationship between land uses purposes and context of influence, and changes to less sustainable land uses.