Negative Effects of Forest Extractivism on the Water Crisis in Rural Mapuche Territories: Mapuche Knowledge and Sociocultural Activities to Preserve Water

The forestry extractivist model has systematically transgressed and violated Mapuche territories, thereby generating tensions, crises, and socioenvironmental injustices. The following objectives were proposed: (a) Unveil the implications of forestry extractivism on bodies of water in rural Mapuche territories. (b) Investigate Mapuche knowledge, sociocultural activities, and their relationship with preservation and sustainability of water in Mapuche and non-Mapuche territories. A qualitative methodology was employed, framed within constructivist grounded theory. To collect the information, in-depth interviews and participant observation were used. The study subjects corresponded to 51 kimeltuchefes (People with knowledge, experience and ancestral wisdom). Regarding objective (a), the findings reveal that pine and eucalyptus forestry extractivism has considerably deteriorated natural (sacred) spaces and the soil. Along with this, it has caused water scarcity, which in turn has reduced medicinal plant and food production and, in general, has deteriorated the ixofil mogen (a concept similar to biodiversity). It was concluded that the forestry extractivist model threatens the existence of all forms of life that cohabit in nature (material and immaterial); it deteriorates Mapuche culture; likewise, it poses a considerable risk to the health and survival of the Mapuche population. Regarding objective (b), the findings reveal that the knowledge of az mapu, ngülam, pepilkantün, rakizuam, llellipun and kümelkawün, and the sociocultural activities, trawün and kelluwün, constitute essential contributions for the preservation and sustainability of water. These forms of knowledge and activities are founded on ethical and moral principles that underlie the normative, legal, social, and educational frameworks of the Mapuche people. It was concluded that sociocultural knowledge and activities are essential for conserving and ensuring water in a sustainable, equitable, and efficient manner for both the Mapuche and non-Mapuche populations and for all life; likewise, they safeguard and promote Mapuche culture. Indeed, these forms of knowledge and sociocultural activities must be incorporated into environmental public policies.