Fresh Banana Leaves

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An Indigenous environmental scientist examines the shortcomings of Western conservationism and presents Indigenous models through case studies, historical insights, and narratives highlighting Latin American women and land protectors. Indigenous communities, heavily impacted by climate change, are often excluded from mainstream environmental discussions, despite possessing valuable holistic land, water, and forest management practices rooted in centuries of knowledge. This exclusion stems from a long history of racism, colonialism, and extractive capitalism that has marginalized Indigenous science as "soft" or irrelevant. Jessica Hernandez, a Maya Ch'orti' and Zapotec environmental scientist and founder of the agency Piña Soul, contextualizes Indigenous environmental knowledge and advocates for a vision of land stewardship that promotes healing and sustainability. She critiques the failures of Western conservation methods and offers alternatives, drawing on examples such as the restoration efforts of urban Indigenous people in Seattle, her family's battle against eco-terrorism in Latin America, and the holistic practices of Indigenous groups across the continent. To restore planetary health for all, it is crucial to end the eco-colonialism damaging Indigenous lands and to foster a relationship with the Earth based on harmony and respect.