Science Weekly Revisited: How to save the Amazon episode three: ask the people that know
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Nov 7, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Eduardo Neves, a Brazilian archaeologist from the University of São Paulo, reveals the profound impact of indigenous peoples on the Amazon's landscape. He explains how archaeological evidence uncovers the region's history as a bustling hub of human activity, not an untouched wilderness. Explore how traditional knowledge is crucial for conservation efforts and the role of indigenous land rights in preserving biodiversity. Neves also highlights innovative partnerships between scientists and indigenous communities, underscoring the urgency of collaborative action to safeguard the Amazon.
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Amazon As A Human-Shaped Landscape
- Archaeology and LIDAR reveal the Amazon was densely inhabited and engineered by people for millennia.
- Eduardo Neves argues the rainforest's ecology is co-created with longstanding human activity, not a pristine wilderness.
Engineered Soils And Earthworks
- Indigenous peoples created fertile 'terra preta' soils by adding charcoal, bones and compost to poor Amazon soils.
- LIDAR and soil studies show widespread earthworks like mounds, roads and canals that are archaeological, not natural.
Plants Reflect Long-Term Human Management
- Botanists find hyperdominant tree species tied to human use, showing people managed species composition for millennia.
- Eduardo Neves sees this as evidence of deep, reciprocal relationships between people and Amazon biodiversity.
