Islands of forest in a sea of savanna
In the savanna landscapes of the Brazilian Amazon, patches of dense forest appear like islands. For centuries, scientists assumed these were natural formations. Research pioneered by ethnobiologist Darrell A. Posey in the 1970s and 1980s revealed a different story: many of these "islands," known to the Kayapó people as apete, are human-made artifacts. This form of agroforestry is a method of ecological engineering that transforms the open savanna, or campo, into areas of biodiversity and useful resources.
The process begins with the selection of a slight depression in the savanna, chosen for its ability to retain moisture. The Kayapó then construct a mound using nutrient-rich materials like mulch, leaves, and the soil from termite and ant nests. Into this fertile base, they introduce seeds, seedlings, and cuttings of desired plants. These initial plantings often include fast-growing crops like sweet potatoes, yams, and bananas, which can be harvested for several years. Alongside these are slower-growing fruit trees, medicinal plants, palms, and even water-producing vines, all carefully chosen and transplanted from other areas. The result is a managed ecosystem that evolves over time, from a small planting mound into a mature, self-sustaining forest patch that attracts wildlife and supports the community.
A landscape shaped by knowledge
The creation of apete demonstrates an understanding of soil science, hydrology, and species interrelationships. The Kayapó do not draw a sharp distinction between wild and domesticated species, or between forest and field. They actively move useful plants between different ecological zones, taking advantage of microclimates to increase the overall biodiversity of their territory. Research on ten apete found that of 120 inventoried species, about 75 percent may have been planted by the Kayapó. In some cases, the variety of plants collected from an area the size of Western Europe has been concentrated into a single 10-hectare plot.
This management extends beyond the apete. The Kayapó plant along trailsides and create "forest fields" by concentrating useful species in clearings. Old agricultural fields are not abandoned; they are recognized as mature old fields, valuable for medicinal plants and for attracting game animals like tapir and peccaries. The planting of Brazil nut trees (Bertholletsea excelsa), which take 12-20 years to produce nuts, shows long-term planning. This continuous, low-intensity modification has shaped large areas of the Amazon, challenging the idea of a "pristine" wilderness and showing an area co-produced by humans and nature over generations.