Since 2022 a unique and inspiring collaboration has flourished between Indigenous communities in the Colombian Amazon and Swedish research networks. The LUCSUS led project “Knowledge Under the Canopy: Indigenous Knowledges for the Sustainable Forest Fauna Management”, whose research has been funded through Formas, has engaged Indigenous women and men through participatory action research and used knowledge co-creation processes to understand the role of indigenous knowledge systems to sustain the integrity of tropical forest social-ecological systems in the Amazon region. In contrast to the often-narrow focus on tropical forest for carbon storage this project aims to spotlight the complex interconnections under the canopy and share local knowledge on the rich forest fauna and how local livelihoods are dependent on as well as manage this tropical forest fauna as part of broader forest ecosystems, biodiversity and food systems.

This project has made substantial contribution to further how science engages with other forms of expert knowledge and can support the emancipation and empowerment of an important social group whose knowledge has often been dismissed.

This Friday Focali member Carlos Alberto Hernandez Velez, for the last four years a PhD Candidate in the “Knowledge Under the Canopy” collaboration, will defend his PhD thesis. However, prior to this milestone Carlos wants to honour the communities of Ceima Cachivera, Puerto Nariño, and Tipisca, “whose abundance, wisdom, and commitment made the Knowledges Beneath the Canopy research journey possible”. In a post shared by Carlos via his social media platforms yesterday he elaborates on how the research journey was built together with these Indigenous communities and why it’s vital that their knowledges are better understood and recognized ahead.

See Carlos post and photos on his Linked In page or read the same text below:

“Four days before my public PhD defence and the release of our research video project, I express my deepest admiration, gratitude, and respect to the Indigenous researchers, knowledge holders, families, and communities who co-produced this research through four years of collaboration, friendship, and shared commitment.

This work was never a project carried out on Indigenous communities. It was built with Indigenous researchers and communities seeking to strengthen the recognition of Indigenous Knowledges in equitable and respectful dialogues about forest fauna management in the Colombian Amazon.

Special thanks to the Indigenous research teams who dedicated their time, knowledge, and energy to defending their cultures and territories while sharing their friendship with me:

📍 Vaupés

Jacinta Uribe
Francy Ruth Trujillo
Jaime Gutiérrez
Gilberto Gutiérrez
Emson Hernández
Emilio Hernández (shaman)

📍 Amazonas

Edilberto del Águila
Milton Pinto
Sirley Valentín (Curaca)
Teresa Suárez
Claudia Sadidt Grande
Remberto Macedo Ahue

Their contributions extend far beyond participation. They are researchers, authors, teachers, hunters, leaders, storytellers, and guardians of knowledge whose insights challenge us to rethink sustainability, conservation, governance, and our relationships with forests and wildlife.

I am especially proud to recognize the co-authors of our fourth article: "Indigenous Knowledges for Sustainable Forest Fauna Management: Insights from Participatory Action Research in the Colombian Amazon"

Co-authored by: Carlos Alberto Hernández-Vélez, Torsten Krause, Edilberto Laureano del Águila, Milton Pinto Linares, Sirley Valentín, Teresa Suárez, Claudia Sadidt Grande, Remberto Macedo Ahue, Jacinta Uribe, Francy Ruth Trujillo, Jaime Gutiérrez, Gilberto Gutiérrez, Emson Estiven Hernández, Emilio Hernández, and the communities of Tipisca and Ceima Cachivera.

As Knowledge Beneath the Canopy comes to completion, I hope this research contributes not only to academic debates, but also to a broader recognition of Indigenous peoples as authors, intellectuals, researchers, and leaders whose knowledge systems are essential for the future of biodiversity and the forests we share.

With profound gratitude and respect.
Carlos Alberto Hernandez Velez”

Stay tuned for more to be shared from “Knowledges Beneath the Canopy”

Another milestone in the joint research journey, with the communities Carlos honor above, was a strategic and integrative in-person workshop that took place close to Bogotá in February to ensure a participatory synthesis and wrap-up for two teams from Colombia’s Vaupés and Amazonas regions. The last day of the event opened up for broader participation from a range of actors so that the project teams could share their insights and showcase what they have been doing to interested stakeholders in different sectors working on related topics. The workshop aimed to sow seeds for new collaborations building on the experiences from the project.

After Carlos PhD defence more will be shared on the co-produced research journey with indigenous communities in different formats and forums such as:

An interview and SIANI article with Carlos Alberto Hernandez Velez about the project.
A minidocumentary “Knowledge Beneath the Canopy” will be launched from the final workshop and the action research with communities in the Colombian Amazon.
A brief / report based on the weaving of knowledges research journey.
Continuation of the Focali weaving of knowledges workstream where Carlos will continue to share experiences from the “Knowledge Beneath the Canopy” journey and in collaboration with interested actors seek collaborations for continued awareness raising and recognition of the rich Indigenous Knowledges in and about the Colombian Amazon and how interested actors can improve how to listen and learn from their knowledge, re-learn and enable more equitable collaborations with communities.
Produce illustrated educational booklets in local languages for community schools, ensuring that these materials remain with the communities to strengthen local ownership of knowledge.

However, before next steps Carlos want to, via his social media posts and re-publishing of them via this article, acknowledge and honor the “Indigenous researchers, knowledge holders, families, and communities who co-produced this research through four years of collaboration, friendship, and shared commitment.”

Information related to the PhD defence and research collaboration:

The PhD Defence is held 8 September 13:00 to 15:00 at LUCSUS, Biskopsgatan 5 in Lund. Read more about the PhD Defence here Disputation in Sustainability Science: Carlos Alberto Hernández-Vélez | Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies

Download and read the PhD Thesis here Knowledges Beneath the Canopy: Indigenous Knowledges for Forest Fauna Management in the Colombian Amazon - Lund University

LUCSUS article about the research collaboration: Long-term Study Highlights Indigenous Role in Protecting Amazon Wildlife | Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies

Information about and photos from the workshop: Indigenous Knowledge Systems for more sustainable forest fauna management — Focali

Carlos Hernández-Vélez's LUCSUS research profile page

Torsten Krause's LUCSUS research profile page (Carlos’s supervisor involved in the project)

Photos from the research collaboration used in Carlos Linked In post to honor the local research teams.
See more photos with captions in this update from the workshop.