Amazonian exploitation revisited: ecological asymmetry and the policy pendulum

摘要: The influence of pre-Columbian human populations on Amazonian ecosystems is being actively debated. longstanding view that Amazonia was only minimally impacted by actions has been challenged, and a new paradigm as “manufactured landscape” emerging. If such disturbance the norm until just 500 years ago, could be far more ecologically resilient to than previously supposed. Alternatively, if label an overstatement, then policy assumes resilience may cause substantial long-lasting ecological damage. We present paleoecological data suggesting middle path, in which some areas were heavily modified, but most impacted. Bluffs adjacent main river channels highly seasonal appear have extensively settled locations. Away from where humans lived, their very local. Consequently, we see no evidence large a...