Brown, Laura J;
Buddry, Hannah;
Diaz, Blenda Milagros Abarca;
Espezua, Renan;
Cortez-Vergara, Carla;
Lowe, Hattie;
Calderon, Maria;
(2025)
“To care and improve little by little, that’s how we can do it”: Exploring
Indigenous perspectives on environmental health and community solutions
through participatory workshops in Amantaní, Peru.
Environmental Science & Policy
, 170
, Article 104093. 10.1016/j.envsci.2025.104093.
Preview |
Text
Mannell_To Care and Improve_1-s2.0-S1462901125001091-main.pdf Download (6MB) | Preview |
Abstract
This study explores the conceptualisation of environmental health, environmental concerns, and ideas for change within the Amantaní community, an Indigenous Quechua-speaking population in the Peruvian Andes. Through participatory, group-based, and creative activities, community members engaged in reflective discussions about their environment, drawing upon their rich cultural heritage and intimate connection with the land. Thematic analysis of workshop discussions revealed three key themes: (1) Nature, health, and heritage: the interconnectedness of Indigenous wellbeing; (2) Environmental concerns: threats to Indigenous lands and livelihoods; and (3) Community mobilisation and solutions: Indigenous responses to environmental challenges. The findings underscore the importance of culturally informed approaches to environmental conservation, emphasising the need for inclusive governance that respects Indigenous autonomy. The study highlights the value of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in fostering resilience, the pressing challenges posed by tourism, and the emotional toll of environmental degradation. Mental health co-benefits should be integrated into climate strategies in Indigenous communities and fostering community agency through inclusive partnerships is crucial for long-term sustainable development and resilience.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | “To care and improve little by little, that’s how we can do it”: Exploring Indigenous perspectives on environmental health and community solutions through participatory workshops in Amantaní, Peru |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.envsci.2025.104093 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2025.104093 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © The Author(s), 2025. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licence (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Keywords: | Traditional ecological knowledge, Environmental justice, Indigenous knowledge, Sustainability, Climate change, Participatory research, Mental health |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute for Global Health |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10219510 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
