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Ancestral Knowledge: Traditional Ecological Calendar
Naranjal, Ecuador 鈥 June 2025. To preserve and revitalize ancestral knowledge linked to the mangrove ecosystem, UNESCO, together with local and community actors, promoted the creation of the Traditional Ecological Calendar at the Municipal Library of Naranjal, located in the Marine-Coastal area of the Macizo del Cajas Biosphere Reserve. Held on May 22, 29, 30 and June 3, this initiative brought together community representatives, public officials, children, and oral history experts to collectively build a communication tool that bridges traditional knowledge and contemporary ecological processes.
The sessions featured the participation of Ver贸nica Minaya, Natural Sciences Officer at the UNESCO Office in Quito, and Silvio Cabrera, Coordinator of the Macizo del Cajas Biosphere Reserve, who emphasized the importance of strengthening the connections between science, culture, and sustainability through intercultural and participatory methodologies.
The Traditional Ecological Calendar encompasses five thematic categories:
鈥 Climate and its relationship with the Macizo del Cajas
鈥 Hydrobiological resources
鈥 Tourism and the traditional Inca Trail
鈥 Key environmental dates
鈥 Mangrove ecosystem biodiversity
Each of these pillars reflects not only the natural cycles of the environment but also the community practices, values, and experiences that have guided life in the mangrove for generations. Of particular significance was the involvement of local crab harvesters, guardians of traditional knowledge, who shared wisdom passed down orally and rooted in close observation of tidal patterns, lunar cycles, and local species behavior.
The resulting calendar is more than just an informative tool鈥攊t is a cultural expression and a means to strengthen community-based environmental stewardship. It serves as a guide for decision-making related to sustainable resource use, environmental education, responsible tourism, and biodiversity conservation.
Through actions like these, UNESCO reaffirms its commitment to promoting diverse and inclusive knowledge systems that integrate scientific and ancestral knowledge to foster more equitable, resilient, and sustainable development in the world鈥檚 biosphere reserves.
This initiative is part of the MangRes project, a collaborative effort aimed at strengthening governance and resilience in coastal communities that depend on mangroves. It focuses on conservation approaches rooted in local knowledge and participation. MangRes operates across several biosphere reserves in Latin America, promoting sustainable practices and climate adaptation strategies, with an emphasis on communities as key agents of change. Of the seven biosphere reserves involved in MangRes, Ecuador鈥檚 sole participant is the Macizo del Cajas Biosphere Reserve. Project activities are supported by a scientific group composed of specialists from participating countries and Flanders (Belgium), ensuring knowledge exchange and fostering both North-South and South-South cooperation.
