1. Context and justification.

Salados (saltlicks) and Morichales are biotopes located in Tropical Forests and are characterized by high plant diversity, soils rich in mineral contents and wet areas (1). Saltlicks are referred to in the scientific literature as barreros, canamas, mineral licks, salados, natural licks, mineral springs or colpas (2). Saltlick and Morichales soils have high contents of salts and minerals and are used directly by animals, especially mammals and birds (3). Morichales have a dominant palm specie Mauritia Flexuosa, and are called as “Las madres del agua” for many indigenous groups in Colombia. The ecological and cultural characteristics of saltlicks and morichales have stimulated different uses: to extract and market salt, feed cattle, cook food, medicinal water and hunting areas (4)(5).

The importance of saltlicks and morichales in feeding numerous species of fauna has been shown by (2)(3)(6). From the anthropological point of view, saltlicks and morichales are not only elements of the ecosystem, they are also part of a cultural landscape intervened through time.

Saltlicks and morichales are sacred natural spaces (SNS) for many indigenous communities in Colombia; they are spiritual living spaces fundamental for their quality of life, development and evolution in the amazon region (7). These spaces show the direct relationship with nature, and are part of the foundations of traditional thinking and identity as autonomous peoples (8)(9).

In biodiversity hotspots areas in South America, many saltlicks and morichales have disappeared completely or have suffered serious degradation due to construction of civil works and excavations (5). As a result, access to these strategic ecosystems is deprived for wildlife, preventing the functional and physical connectivity of the ecological structure, of which these territories are part. Infrastructure building projects are decimating saltlicks and morichales values as ecological, cultural and historical spaces of biodiversity and spiritual management for future generations (10)(11).

Colombia is a megadiverse country, being the 2nd most biologically diverse country on Earth and home to about 10% of the world’s diversity. Colombia also hosts more than 100 ethnic groups that have in their lands in more than 40% of the forests in the country (12). A large proportion of these ethnic groups have saltlicks as part of their ancestral territories or “resguardos” The ecological, physical and cultural characteristics of Colombia are therefore the perfect place to investigate relationships between the spiritual and cultural values of saltlicks and morichales and the management of the diversity they withhold.

The spiritual value of saltlicks and morichales contribute to their protection in more than 30 indigenous ethnic groups in Colombia (13). Tikunas and Uitotos indigenous communities consider saltlicks and morichales sacred natural sites. To them saltlicks and morichales have a dual character in conservation for their cultures and in the protection of biodiversity (11). They are rich in biodiversity because the management and protection is driven by the spiritual values of inhabiting communities. The good state of flora and fauna in saltlicks and morichales within the resguardos of Tikunas and Uitotos (1) is the evidence of this relationship. However, how spiritual and cultural value is linked to management practices and the long-term effect of this management on species accumulation and protection is unknown.

Properly cared for and managed, saltlicks and morichales have the potential to contribute significantly to conservation of biological diversity and maintenance of cultural identity and spiritual satisfaction in these biodiversity hotspots. The identification and visibility of saltlick and morichales cultural-spiritual values in indigenous communities in Colombia could contribute to the implementation of sustainable management practices in them and as result the beginning of respect and conservation in rural and urban lands

2. Aims and objectives.

We aim to delve into the spiritual values of saltlicks and morichales in Colombian biodiversity hotspots and show the importance of spiritual management of these spaces by Embera, Tikuna, Tucano in their ancestral lands. Under the Kosmos, Corpus and Praxis (KCP) perspective (14), we will investigate the knowledge, value and use of saltlicks and morichales by these ethnic groups. We will also investigate the long-term development of saltlicks and morichales to understand the accumulated effect of the spiritual management on the conservation of biodiversity.
The objectives are:
• Recognize the belief system or worldviews (Kosmos) associated with saltlicks and morichales for Embera, Tucano and Tikuna ethnic groups.
• Identify the knowledge or cognitive systems (Corpus) that related spiritual values with saltlicks and morichales for Embera, Tucano and Tikuna ethnic groups.
• Detect the set of practices or actions (Praxis) for the management and use of saltlicks and morichales for Embera, Tucano and Tikuna ethnic groups.
• Evaluate the presence and diversity of trees species in saltlicks and morichales and the effects of spiritual management on the accumulation and protection of biodiversity

3. Scientific approach.

We will use the KCP perspective (14) in 3 indigenous communities: Embera Chami in Andes region, Tikuna and Tucano in Amazon region . We will identify and approximate the local cultural and spiritual value of saltlicks and morichales and their perception and conservation state. Under the KCP perspective (where K= Cosmos or belief system or worldview, C= Corpus, the knowledge system or cognitive systems, and P=praxis, the set of practices or actions, including the different uses and management (14).

4. Methodology.

The research will be accomplished in six time blocks:
T1. Identification and analysis of secondary information about saltlicks, morichales and other sacred natural spaces for Embera, Tikuna, Tucano communities. Agreement of an agenda and articulation with life plans and / or environmental management plans from the regional autonomous corporation (CAR) under KCP approach.
T2. Local interviews and informal talks with hunters and women about saltlick and morichales management and the values and uses of tree and palm species within them. Co-creation of methodology of field data collection with communities according to their priorities and fieldwork conditions
T3. Fieldwork visits with the permission and company of guides and local experts, recollection of local stories about saltlicks and morichales, visits and biodiversity assessment.
T4. Lab and data collection. The ethnoecological data collation will involve classification of field data into the KCP framework .
Information collected from local interviews will inform the construction of a timeline of management practices that will be aligned with the forest tree recognition to identify how species development and accumulation may have been enhanced by spiritual management into these spaces
T5. This timeblock will focus on information analysis from the KCP approach. Conclusions and recommendations will be drawn from the analysis, including a description of the cultural-spiritual values that constitute part of the intangible heritage of sacred natural places. A management model for saltlicks and morichales and their biodiversity based on spiritual management will be developed to be implemented in saltlicks and morichales located outside indigenous territories.
T6. Dissemination and publication of results and recommendation of the project to the indigenous communities and academic groups. Monsalve will attend a minimum of two virtual scientific meetings in Europe and South America to disseminate results of the fellowship. At least two publications are anticipated to result for the proposed research.

5. Implementation.

The project will take place in 21 months and include 6 months of fieldwork in year 1 with Tikuna and Embera communities (3 months of fieldwork) and with Tucano communities ((3 months of fieldwork). The implementation is set in five milestones: M1. Identification diagnostic and analysis secondary information. M2. Methodology co-creation with communities. M3 fieldwork (visit saltlicks and morichales). M4. Data collection and processing information. M5. Dissemination of project results to indigenous, academic groups and public community.

6. Expected outputs.

The project will have five tangible deliverables.
D1. Identification of the spiritual values of saltlicks and morichales and the importance of spiritual management of these spaces at least for 3 Indigenous communities in their ancestral lands.
D2. Give visibility to a network of saltlicks and morichales as part of sacred natural places that relate nature and culture, recognizing their biocultural heritage and cultural values.
D3. Identify cultural and spiritual ecosystem services of saltlicks and morichales and link forest as a tool that contributes and can incorporate territorial considerations of indigenous communities to local development of two regions (Andes and Amazonas) in Colombia.
D4. Recognize perceptions and beliefs systems that have ethical principles related to conservation of saltlicks and morichales in indigenous lands.
D5. A management model that can be applied regionally to saltlicks and morichales where there are no indigenous resguardos to protect their biodiversity.

7. Bibliography.

(ask for them)