INDIGENOUS HEALTH AND

ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Pilot Study:

Peruvian Amazon

By: Irene Hofmeijer

Research Objectives

• Aim:

– Explore vulnerability and adaptation of Shipibo-

Konibo and Shawi health to climate change

• Objectives:

1. Identify: a) health priorities

b) vulnerability to climate stressors

2. Characterize indigenous health systems

Study Sites

Source: Google Maps

Study Sites:

Panaillo

• Ethnic group: Shipibo-Konibo

• Distance from Pucallpa:

– 2hrs by road (July – November)

– 5-6hrs by boat (December – June)

• Population:

– 150-200 inhabitants

– Seasonal flooding & migration

Study Sites:

Nuevo Progreso

• Ethnic group: Shawi

• Distance from Yurimaguas:

– 1hr motocar + 1hr on foot

– Recent road access (2 months)

• Population: Approx 350

Participatory Research Tools

1. PhotoVoice 2. Rapid Rural

Appraisal

Methods: PhotoVoice

Methods: RRA

• Ethnographic observations

• Transect walks

• Risk ranking

• Biographies

PhotoVoice Panaillo

• Themes

1: Water

2: Medicinal plants

3: Fishing & Agriculture

4: Deforestation

5: Nutrition

6: Peoples health

7: Pollution

1: Water

“ Five more lakes have dried

out this year and there were

no fish in the mud.”

“I know this water makes

my baby sick, it’s yellow

and smells like iron, but

we have no alternative.”

3: Fishing

“ He’s been looking for fish

all morning (…) before the

tributary had tons of fish,

now it’s hard to feed our

families”

“ Mestizo fishers are a

threat to our livelihoods

(…) their nets empty our

rivers of small fishes (…)

they poison the water.”

3:Agriculture

“ My rice is yellowing (…)

when the river flooded it

brought sand rather than

mud (…) I’m afraid I’ll have

less tons this year.”

“ Ten years ago I had beautiful

bananas, not poorly

developed ones like these (…)

the flood destroys my

bananas trees each year (…)

since the big trees are gone,

the soil is less fertile.”

5:Nutrition

“ During the flood all we

would eat was Pan de Arbol

because no bananas would

grow.”

“ Fish porridge is a

Shipibo’s favorite food

but it has no

condiments.”

6: Peoples Health

7: Pollution

“When cars pass, they lift

up all this dust that gets in

everywhere, my clothes,

food, and everything in my

house.”

“Our traditional homes are

uncomfortable (…) my wife

wakes up with backaches

(…) when it is cold we are

completes exposed and get

ill.”

RRA: Risk Ranking Panaillo

1) WATER:

- Inadequate for consumption

- Pollution: from Pucallpa sewage and non-biodegradable waste

- Drying of tributary

2) HEALTH:

- Lack of medical services

- Nutrition: irregular supply of food

- Children’s health: parasitic infection

3) AGRICULTURE & FISHING:

- Drying of crops / unexpected flooding ruined crops

- Scarcity of fish: mestizo overfishing

4) CLIMATE:

- Hot summers: too warm to harvest

- Cold spells: no clothes for cold weather

- Illegal logging and deforestation

PhotoVoice Nuevo Progreso

Preliminary Results

Nuevo Progreso

• 5 months without rain; crops are drying out

• Low river and too warm to bathe inHeat:

• Deforestation

• Filled in creeksRoad:

• Lack of waste management systemPollution:

• Surrounding lakes have lots of mosquitoesVectors:

• Have to walk three hours further to huntHunting:

Panaillo:

Adaptation Mechanisms

STRESSOR RESPONSE

Flooding Seasonal migration

Lack of foodExternal food

source

Poor harvestsChange in crops /

food source

DeforestationWoods and lakes

committee

Summary

PANAILLO NUEVO PROGRESO

Health

Priorities

Water-borne diseases

Food security

Vector-borne diseases

Food security

Climate

Stressors

Flooding (direct)

Cold spells (direct)

Deforestation (indirect)

Heat / Drought (direct)

Deforestation (indirect)

Health

System

1) Traditional medicine

2) Health Posts:

• Panaillo: Nurse

• Tacshitea: Doctor

3) Hospital Yarincocha

1) Traditional medicine

2) Health Post:

• Arica (2hr walk)

3) Hospital Yurimaguas