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Camellones
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Camellones

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The transcript discusses the unique landscape of Bolivia, specifically the region known as Vení. It explores the ancient human intervention in shaping the ecosystem and the cultural significance of this area.

Kenneth's Perspective on Birthplace

  • Kenneth believes that while a person cannot choose where they are born, they can choose their identity and where they live and die.

Vení: A Unique Landscape

  • Bolivia is home to one of the world's top 10 countries in terms of biodiversity.
  • Vení is a region within Bolivia characterized by three major rivers and vast wetlands, making it one of the largest wetland areas on Earth.
  • The landscape consists of various savannas, forests, lagoons, and smaller rivers that support diverse flora and fauna.

Ancient Human Intervention

  • Geologist Kenneth Lee discovered an unprecedented complex system of human intervention in Vení's ecosystem.
  • He found evidence of 20,000 artificial mounds and one million elevated fields or "camelones" created by ancient civilizations.
  • These interventions date back thousands of years and have transformed the landscape into a highly productive ecosystem.

Mojos Culture

  • The Mojos culture has been associated with Vení since the time of Jesuit missions.
  • The culture had different levels of organization ranging from hunter-gatherers to agricultural practitioners.
  • Recent studies refer to them as "hydraulic cultures" due to their responsibility for monumental hydraulic works like camelones.

Replicating Ancient Cultivation Techniques

  • Researchers conducted experiments to recreate ancient cultivation techniques used in Vení.
  • Oscar Sabedra focused on water as a key element for replicating ancient farming methods.
  • These experiments aimed to provide sustainable solutions for food production and flood management.

Success of Ancient Techniques

  • The experiments yielded successful results, with plants germinating and growing in seemingly inhospitable soil.
  • The cultivation techniques proved effective in increasing fertility and biodiversity in the ecosystem.
  • The project aims to provide sustainable solutions for communities' food security by implementing these ancient techniques.

New Section

This section continues the discussion on the Vení landscape and its cultural significance. It also highlights the efforts to address food security issues through innovative farming practices.

Collaboration with ECO

  • Victor Chonóno Mucoro explains that their project collaborates with ECO, an organization focused on humanitarian response.
  • They aim to provide sustainable solutions to address food security challenges faced by local communities.
  • Constructing camelones and digging canals are part of their efforts to cultivate crops and raise fish.

Overcoming Skepticism

  • Oscar Sabedra faced skepticism when presenting his soil profile slides at an international symposium.
  • Despite doubts about the soil's fertility, they conducted experiments that defied expectations.
  • Plants successfully germinated and grew even in poor-quality soil, surpassing all predictions.

Achieving Unexpected Results

  • Initially, it was believed that plants would not grow beyond half a meter or bear fruit due to poor soil quality.
  • However, plants surpassed expectations, reaching heights of 1.5 meters and producing fruits.
  • These unexpected results demonstrated the effectiveness of ancient cultivation techniques.

Providing Sustainable Solutions

  • The project aims to provide sustainable solutions for communities' food security challenges.
  • By implementing ancient farming techniques like camelones, they can cultivate crops even in challenging environments.
  • Collaboration with organizations like ECO helps ensure long-term success and impact.

Cultivating Tarope for Organic Fertilizer

In this section, the speaker discusses the cultivation of tarope as organic fertilizer to incorporate into the soil. This method is used in small areas of approximately 500 square meters per family.

  • Tarope is cultivated and used as organic fertilizer to improve the soil.
  • The goal is to teach the community how to utilize limited land space by using organic fertilizer for cultivation.
  • By incorporating tarope into the soil, they aim to prevent soil exhaustion and promote sustainable farming practices.

Water as a Resource in Flooded Areas

This section highlights the importance of water in flooded areas and how it can be utilized effectively.

  • Water plays a crucial role in supporting life on Earth, especially in regions like the Amazon and other tropical zones.
  • In these areas, water is abundant during certain months of the year.
  • Pre-Columbian cultures found ways to retain and utilize water directly or indirectly, turning what could be a problem into an opportunity.
  • The focus now is not only on responding to emergencies but also on building productive capacities and resilience within communities.
  • The goal is to enable communities to adapt and live with floods without becoming victims.
  • All crops are grown using water, leaving no wastage behind.

Utilizing Floodwaters for Cultivation

This section discusses utilizing floodwaters for immediate cultivation during periods of high water levels.

  • In 2007, Oxfam initiated a project in response to flooding. They realized that during peak flooding, they could immediately start cultivating due to ample availability of water and suitable weather conditions.
  • The location chosen was Loma Suárez, which is approximately 11 kilometers away from Trinidad city.
  • Women play a significant role in family sustenance activities such as fishing, selling sand, cutting trees, or working for livestock farmers.
  • The project aims to create family gardens and promote women's involvement in agriculture.
  • The productivity of a 500 square meter area can be equivalent to that of a 10,000 square meter area using traditional methods.
  • This intensified agricultural approach allows for less labor and up to an 800% increase in productivity compared to traditional methods.

Implementing the System in Vulnerable Communities

This section discusses how Oxfam International, with support from the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department, invests in implementing this system in vulnerable communities affected by droughts and floods.

  • Oxfam International invests funds to implement this system in vulnerable communities facing droughts and floods.
  • The goal is to break the cycle of poverty by utilizing technology developed by Oscar Sabedra, primarily targeting the poorest individuals.
  • Taking risks is necessary for creating meaningful change and influencing positive outcomes.

Soil Treatment Effects

In this section, the speaker provides an update on the soil treatment progress after approximately 45 days of implementation.

  • After 45 days of working on the soil treatment, they can observe its effects.
  • Further details are not provided in the transcript.
Video description

Los camellones son un sistema ingenioso de lomas, canales, diques y lagunas que sirven para habilitar extensas áreas de cultivo en zonas elevadas. Son técnicas heredadas de culturas ancestrales que permiten a la población del Beni, en la Amazonia boliviana, tener cosechas permanentes a pesar de las condiciones climáticas inestables de la región. En 2007, Oxfam junto a organizaciones no gubernamentales e investigadores, trabajó a reimplantar esas prácticas luego de que la población fue fuertemente afectada por inundaciones. Hoy, esa iniciativa permite a miles de personas estar mejor preparadas ante desastres naturales.