The Community Landscape and Culturally Important Fauna Among the Mbya Guaraní of Misiones, Argentina: Participatory Mapping as a Study Tool

Abstract

This study analyses the perceived interactions between wildlife and the local landscape in Mbya Guaraní communities in the province of Misiones, Argentina. The objectives of this work are to identify the fauna of cultural importance from the perspective of the Mbya Guaraní communities, characterize the landscape units associated with the animals and the emerging trophic relationships in these representations, and determine the different uses assigned to the fauna wild. Work was conducted in 10 communities of Mbya Guaraní villages between 2019 and 2022. In each community, the following activities were carried out: presentation of the objectives of the study and request for prior informed consent; participatory map making; guided and observation walks; semistructured interviews with the use of visual stimuli; and free listings. In the maps prepared, 11 different vegetation units were visualized, of which 26 animal species were cited. The vegetation units with the greatest diversity of associated animal species are high and marginal forests, forest monocultures, and palm and fruit tree communities. The free lists made it possible to estimate that the animal with the most significant cultural importance is the kochi ( Tayassu pecari). With the participatory maps designed and the observations recorded during their preparation, it was possible to analyze the conceptual configuration underlying the wildlife and the landscape (vegetation units) and identify the leading traditional hunting practices. The semistructured interviews, with visual stimuli and free listings, allowed the estimation of the relative importance of wildlife for residents broadly.