Indigenous Peoples in the Amazon Face Cultural Loss as Climate Change Threatens Biodiversity

On July 8, 2026, a study from the University of Zurich reveals that Indigenous peoples in the Amazon are facing significant cultural and ecological losses due to climate change. This research highlights the critical link between climate impacts and the erosion of biocultural heritage among over 400 Indigenous groups in the region.

Impact of Climate Change on Amazonian Biodiversity

The Amazon rainforest, known as Earth's most vital ecosystem, is home to more than 400 Indigenous groups who utilize thousands of plant species. The new study, led by Rodrigo Cámara Leret, professor of tropical plant diversity and ethnobotany at UZH, compiled extensive data on plant use across Amazonian countries, including Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. It reveals that these communities rely on at least one-third of the region's known plant species, totaling 5,796 species.

Cámara Leret emphasizes the importance of this database, stating, "For the first time, we synthesized information dispersed across 700 references spanning more than 500 years." This comprehensive data collection underscores the unique relationship Indigenous peoples have with their environment and the knowledge passed down through generations.

Future Projections and Cultural Identity Loss

Researchers fed the collected data into species distribution models, simulating future plant distributions based on three scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The findings suggest that by 2060 to 2080, Indigenous cultures may lose an average of 28% to 34% of the plant species they currently utilize, along with 18% to 23% of the associated ecosystem services.

This decline is alarming, as the loss of plant species not only affects biodiversity but also leads to the erosion of cultural identities, as traditional knowledge tied to these plants disappears. As Cámara Leret warns, "The plants that Indigenous communities rely on could be decimated more severely than previously thought."

Biocultural Heritage and Language Extinction

The study also examines how the extinction of plant species correlates with language loss among Indigenous groups. When a plant species disappears, its Indigenous name and associated knowledge are lost, diminishing the cultural heritage of the Amazon. The researchers project a 26% decline in biocultural heritage due to this dual threat of species and language extinction.

As noted by co-author Jordi Bascompte, professor of ecology at UZH, rituals and practices surrounding plant usage are integral to the cultural identity of these communities. For instance, the use of tobacco in various everyday rituals demonstrates their deep respect for nature and awareness of their ecosystem.

• 5,796 plant species used by Indigenous peoples
• Loss of 28% to 34% of plant species projected by 2080
• Decline in biocultural heritage estimated at 26%

The findings from this research present a crucial opportunity for further ethnobotanical fieldwork, as well as the potential for biocultural restoration efforts to preserve both the ecological and cultural integrity of the Amazon.