Museum Expedition To Protect the Planet 'Poses Genocide Threat'

I would normally be all for scientific expeditions to document biodiversity on the planet, especially several hundred of the millions of plant and insect species still unknown to humans.

But not at the expense of a entire civilization of people. And certainly not at the expense of one of the few remaining indigenous peoples still untouched by Western society.

This week a 100-person expedition led by the U.K.'s Natural History Museum will embark on a mission to one of the most remote and inhospitable places on Earth: the Gran Chaco, a dry forest that covers northern Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina. Until last month, according to The Guardian, the museum's website claimed the area "has not been explored by human beings."

In making this claim, the museum insulted some flesh-and-blood humans who have been living in the Gran Chaco, since basically forever. In the region the scientists will be visiting live several groups of Ayoreo Indians, a famed indigenous peoples who live in total isolation and reject all contact with Westerners. A advocacy group called Iniciativa Amotocodie has worked with former members of the tribes to document evidence of their presence nearby. Now, they are warning that the museum's work could lead to a "genocide" should the team make accidental contact with the Indians.

The group, in a letter to the Museum this week, called for this reckless expedition to be stopped.

"If this expedition goes ahead we will not be able to understand why you prefer to lose human lives just because the English scientists want to study plants and animals. There is too much risk: the people in the forest die frequently from catching white people's diseases – the get infected by being close. Because the white people leave their rubbish, their clothes, or other contaminated things. It's very serious. It's like a genocide," his group said in a statement. In the letter, the group warns that the roads and trails cut by the team will eventually bring missionaries, adventurers and reporters. In other words, even if there aren't direct deaths, it is bound to pollute a culture that has tried its hardest to be left alone.

Scientists defend themselves with an "in the name of science" shield. The Gran Chaco is home to 3,400 plant species, 500 bird species, 150 mammals, etc., etc, and the expedition has been done in concert with the Paraguayan government. In a statement to The Guardian, the museum said "The information and specimens collected on this trip will help scientists to understand for the first time the richness and diversity of the animals and plants in this remote region and the governments and conservation groups are able to use such information to better understand how to manage fragile habitats and protect them for future generations."

I have a simpler and cheaper solution for conserving both the plants and people of this area for future generations. It's a little revolutionary, so bear with me.

How about we leave the whole place alone?

Photo credit: laembajada via Flickr

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