The importance of “Ancestral Future” in adapting to climate change for Ashaninka women in Peru

Arotoma-Rojas I.; Ford J.D.; Berrang-Ford L.; Zavaleta-Cortijo C.; Chicmana-Zapata V.; Fernandez E.D.L.C. · Ecology and Society (2026) · DOI: 10.5751/es-17397-310312

Resumen

Indigenous women’s adaptation initiatives to the disproportionate impact of climate change on their food systems and health are often marginalized, hampering efforts to develop holistic and culturally sensitive solutions. This study examines how Indigenous women understand and respond to the climate–food–health nexus during the COVID-19 pandemic. We present a case study of Ashaninka women in the Central Amazon Rainforest of Peru, drawing upon one and a half years of qualitative research using participant observation, participatory video, and longitudinal interviews. Our findings reveal numerous vulnerabilities, primarily related to agriculture dependency. However, the Ashaninka women’s response focuses on forest recovery to address the root of multiple risks originated by land dispossession. This agency establishes a clear, yet contested, adaptation pathway, termed “Ancestral Future,” toward building climate-resilient development.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia