A novel approach to landscape characterization integrating Indigenous and scientific knowledge: implementation at La Planada Reserve as a case study

Protection and management of natural landscapes represent one of the most significant challenges of our time. Indigenous peoples own and manage a large proportion of the world's high biodiversity areas. Studying the landscape by integrating Indigenous knowledge into socioecological systems (SES) analysis requires practical and effective approaches. Here, we present an innovative methodology that characterizes the landscape through the co-production of knowledge between Indigenous and scientific communities. With its graphic language, the methodology maintains technical and cartographic rigour, ensuring the information is easily usable by members of both communities and technical and specialized audiences. We implemented this approach and examined its effectiveness at La Planada Nature Reserve, an area owned and managed by the Awá Pialapí Pueblo Viejo Indigenous Resguardo (Nariño, Colombia). We characterized the landscape and its spaces based on their spatial distribution, structure, temporality, local classification of the landscape and associated cultural aspects. Based on this participatory experience in this reserve, the landscape characterization was used to co-create a nature-based scientific tourism strategy for this protected area. These findings emphasize the value of integrating Indigenous and scientific knowledge to develop a deep understanding of landscape ecology and promote effective conservation strategies.