Indigenous Knowledge and its Role in local development planning:

1. Indigenous Knowledge and its Role in local development planning: The experience of ProEcoServ project in San Pedro de Atacama. Chile. S. Salas, E. Jimenez, A. Bodini, L. Bugueño and J. Salas

2. San Pedro de Atacama comuna is part of the Lincanantai's traditional territory, one of the 9 chilean original Andean people. The Lincanantai are a group of people with an Andean cultural matrix.

3. Andean people developed very complex adaptive strategies including domestication of species such as vicuña and llama as well as the selection of corn species.

4. The Licanantai conformed their territory in the driest desert of the world trough: a) A communitarian oasis water management using a channel system and water distribution.

5. b) Extensive and transhumant use of ecosystems using the logic of “vertical archipielago”.

6. c) Development of farming technologies that optimize crop irrigation and soil quality. Example: design of terraces.

7. Historical Process - In pre-Hispanic times Licanantai people was first inserted in the orbit of Tiawanaco an then in Tawantinsuyo. - After the Spanish invasion (XVI century), the colonial order included the Viceroyalty of Peru. - After independence from Spain (nineteenth century), became part of the emerging national state of Bolivia. - After the Pacific War (1879-1883), the region is attached to the National State of Chile.

8. The Licanantai people today: a) The traditional agropastoral activities have lost a central role, compared to mining and tourism which are presented as the main economic activities.

9. b) The different productive activities compete for scarce resources, especially water. This situation generates a series of conflicts between local actors, the institutions and enterprises (national and transnational). c) The new institution, which is expressed in the Chilean Indigenous Law (1993) and the ratification of ILO Convention 169 (2008), establishes a new relationship between the Chilean state and indigenous people.

10. Indigenous Knowledge. - The People Licanantai has a thorough knowledge of the ecosystem of its territory, including water dynamics, medicinal properties of local plants, climatic cycles, etc. - It also has a number of technologies, through which makes use of ecosystem services (Eg. wool yarn and fabrics, natural foods like pachasca, drying fruits for conservation). - Also known ecological dynamics of tourist sites and scientific as Chaxa Laguna, Valley of the Moon and the Quebrada de Jere.

11. Ecosystems and Cosmovision For the People Licanantai, its ecosystem is directly linked to their worldview, whose core is the principle of reciprocity and complementarity with the Pachamama (Mother Earth). Thus, there is an acquirement of ecological cultural meanings, integrated into a series of rituals and sacred practices. An example of this is the ceremonies and festivities at Talatur associated to syncretic soil fertility and water.

12. The Licanantai and ProEcoServ. The ProEcoServ project, which aims to develop tools for the valuation of ecosystem services in the territory, attempts to strengthen the links between researchers, public institutions and Licanantai communities as a strategy for local, ecologically sustainable and culturally relevant development planning.

13. Collaborative activities between ProEcoserv and Lincanantai a) The Licanantai leadership has taken an active role in the Steering Committee and Project Advisory Group.

14. b) Licanantay interest in the water provision ES, has been considered in the selection of ecosystem services to work.

15. c) Community representatives were permanently co-working during field research campaigns.

16. d) Local community leadership has played an important role in the participatory workshops that combine training and thematic discussion.

17. Valuing indigenous knowledge: the experience of collaboration between the Licanantay community and hydrogeologist (Dr. Joaquin Salas) According to J. Salas (Hydrologist): "The knowledge of indigenous territory SPA has provided valuable information on the hydrogeological functioning of the Comuna. For example, the identification of some of the effluent's regime, not only during the seasonal period, but also considering it over the years...” “... Community people knowledge has also been a great contribution to the knowledge of technical aspects. Specifically, on: (a) The development of drainage networks and hydrological interconnections between different water bodies (rivers and aquifers) and (b) water infrastructure (weather and gaging stations) that exist in the territory and information on historical performance, and maintenance status”.

18. Noteworthy is the high level of knowledge of ecosystems, and cultural attractions of the people responsible for the custody and reception of tourists in places like Chaxa Miscanti, Miñiques, Tulor, and Quebrada de Jere. However, many times the information is partial, reflecting the permanent state of contention and mistrust between communities, mining companies and authorities. In general, we tend to blame the other actors of the ecosystem's resource degradation, without considering the active role that the Communities might have in this issue.

19. Challenges to strengthen the role of indigenous knowledge in the development of the ProEcoServ project. a) Install intercultural discussion spaces on the notion of ecosystem services, considering different worldviews. b) Develop strengthening communication mechanisms that reinforce community engagement. c) Build common languages to facilitate the interaction of community and academic knowledge.

20. MUCHAS GRACIAS!