

ECO-HEALTH CALENDAR
Lina Paola Garzón. 2024
It is a tool that combines traditional knowledge with an understanding of the natural disease patterns. Its main objective is to help communities organize daily activities, such as planting, harvesting, collecting medicinal plants, and healthcare, in accordance with environmental conditions.​
What is it for?
In the Amazonian communities, the eco-health calendar is very useful because Indigenous peoples have a strong connection to their environment and traditional practices. Their knowledge of natural cycles helps them prevent diseases such as VBDs that follow this cycles, as well as improve their nutrition, and adapt to environmental changes. This profound understanding of seasonal patterns allows them to optimize their agricultural practices and ensure food security. Additionally, it fosters a sense of community as they gather to share insights and strategies based on their observations of the land and its rhythms. Creating these calendars in a participatory way recognizes the value of traditional knowledge and promotes a dialogue between Western and Indigenous knowledge.
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We invite you to learn about the health calendar of the Puerto Esperanza community. This was created taking into account various ecological, biological, and social factors. These include changes in the water level of the Amazon River, periods of rain and drought, as well as periods of increased and decreased vectors. Subsistence farming activities were also incorporated, such as the main times of year for preparation and clearing of uncultivated land, planting, and harvesting. In addition, the community's cultural activities were included, as well as other aspects, such as the periods with the highest number of dengue and malaria cases.
