People of the forest: Indigenous knowledge, LiDAR archaeology, and saving the Amazon

The Guardian Environment miniseries follows researchers and Indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazon as they rewrite the history of the forest and push for sustainable futures. Through LiDAR mapping, soil science, and collaborative monitoring, the program shows how Indigenous knowledge and Western science can work together to protect biodiversity and Indigenous territories. It also confronts the harsh realities of deforestation, dam construction, and violence on the front lines, ending with a somber call to action ahead of COP30.

Introduction: A mission to understand the Amazon’s future

Guardian’s environmental reporting centers on Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira, two researchers whose work highlighted the depth of Indigenous knowledge and the forest’s vulnerability. The series frames the Amazon not as a pristine wilderness but as a landscape shaped by millennia of human intervention, with Indigenous communities as stewards and scientists in their own right. The host, John Watts, emphasizes that protecting the Amazon requires embracing this human dimension, not ignoring it.

“Indigenous people are scientists in their own way. They’re experts who know the region intimately.” – Belle Gruna, Indigenous nursing technician

Redefining archaeology: soil, earth architecture, and new maps

Archaeologists like Eduardo Neves reveal a revised Amazonian prehistory. Unlike the classic image of stone ruins, the Amazon’s ancient past is built with earth, soil, and agroforestry practices. Neves explains that dark soils known as terras pretas were engineered by Indigenous communities, creating fertile landscapes in nutrient-poor environments. Recent LiDAR surveys map moats, mounds, ditches, and roads across vast forests, suggesting urban-scale coordination and dense populations rather than isolated settlements.

“terras Plitas were created by indigenous people.” – Eduardo Neves

Indigenous knowledge as science: collaboration and authorship

The series highlights collaborations between Indigenous groups and scientists. Indigenous contributors are increasingly recognized as authors, and joint monitoring programs on rivers like Xinggu River demonstrate how traditional knowledge complements scientific measurement. Belle Gruna’s work, and the partnership with biologist Jansen Zwann, illustrate a growing trend toward inclusive science that respects Indigenous sovereignty and ecological expertise.

“Indigenous people are scientists in their own way. They’re experts who know the region intimately.” – Belle Gruna

Threats on the ground: dams, fishing, and territorial conflict

The Bello Mochi Dam downstream from Altamira and the Javari Valley border area exemplify how development and resource extraction threaten ecosystems and Indigenous livelihoods. Downstream fish stocks, such as pirarucu, are monitored through Indigenous-led and scientist-supported programs. The murders of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira underscore the dangers faced by front-line researchers and Indigenous guardians fighting for territory and sustainable livelihoods. The narrative connects the science of monitoring with the urgent politics of land rights and enforcement on the ground.

“We have less than 5% chance to not collapse and I work in this 5% chance.” – John Watts

Paths to saving the forest: rights, economy, and consumer responsibility

The miniseries argues that protecting the Amazon requires a holistic approach: secure Indigenous land rights, a bioeconomy that values forest life, and education that links science with policy. Cross-disciplinary collaboration between Western science and Indigenous knowledge is framed as essential to slowing deforestation, restoring degraded landscapes, and ensuring the forest remains a living, functioning ecosystem. Consumers, governments, and corporations all have a role in creating deforestation-free supply chains and supporting fair livelihoods for forest peoples.

“Deforestation-free commodity chains.” – Erika Berenger

Conclusion: COP30 and a call to action

The host closes with a stark reminder of climate risk and the need for concrete action. The Amazon’s fate is not sealed by doom alone; it is shaped by decisions made today in policy, markets, and collaboration with Indigenous communities. The series ends with a call to sustain, expand, and accelerate just collaborations and policy reforms to safeguard the forest and its people.

“There is no happy tone here, but there is a demand for action.” – John Watts