Intercultural Knowledge for Páramo Management: Indigenous and Feminist Perspectives on Socio-Ecological Dynamics in Ecuador

The proposed paper delves into how Indigenous perspectives, particularly those of the Kayambi people in Northern Ecuador, offer vital contributions to páramo management—high-altitude grasslands essential for water supply and carbon sequestration—during the Anthropocene. By examining the Kayambi’s ecological knowledge and practices, this study challenges the dominant IPCC climate models, advocating for a revision that integrates Indigenous and feminist perspectives. It explores how these perspectives not only address environmental issues but also confront epistemic, social, and ecological inequalities rooted in colonial histories of land dispossession. Through feminist critical discourse analysis and ethnographic work, this study emphasizes the necessity of intercultural dialogue, addressing the marginalization of Indigenous knowledge in global climate models like the IPCC. Hence, this paper will discuss the intersection of Indigenous environmental knowledge, feminist frameworks, climate justice, and self-determination, advocating for the inclusion of Indigenous epistemologies in climate policy. It aims to contribute to a more equitable and inclusive climate justice discourse by rethinking conservation strategies through Indigenous and feminist lenses, amplifying the voices of Indigenous communities as essential actors in global biodiversity, conservation and sustainability.