Traditional ecological knowledge in Chile. State of the art and potential contribution to improve management and conservation

In the last decades, studies of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) have become increasingly important because of their potential value to improve sustainable management and conservation. In Chile, research on TEK, has not been evaluated. Our objective was to assess the recent progress of research on TEK in Chile through a literature search in national and international journals. We evaluated a total of 35 scientific articles published between 1955 and 2012; the majority of them (78%) focused on indigenous communities. Studies were generally based on species lists and provided limited information on management practices. More studies were focused on terrestrial ecosystems than on marine ecosystems and more on plants than on animals. While there is a growing body of knowledge about TEK in Chile, information is still limited and fragmented. We propose that strengthening this kind of research could supplement data from scientific knowledge to support management and conservation decisions.