ABSTRACT
The incorporation of spiritual and cultural values into water conservation is still at a relatively early stage. It is expected to yield valuable new insights and can help with prioritizing the sustainable use of water resources to improve and/or preserve aquatic ecosystems. To exemplify this, I use the case of groundwater systems in Yucatan, Mexico, an area characterized by the indigenous society, which has inhabited the region since ancient times. Yucatan has permeable limestone formation (karst), containing natural sinkholes (called cenotes), from which groundwater can be extracted. There are no lakes or rives. Cenotes represented one of the strongest spiritual symbols for the Mayas. However, at present, cenotes are under threat, often suffering anthropogenic pressures including pollution with toxic substances such as pesticides. Overall, community values and traditional beliefs are not recognized for their role in the protection of the cenotes. As a consequence, they are now being degraded, and their management has resulted in the creation of scepticism and hostility among the population. The quest for an appropriate management of groundwater resources necessitates that scientists consider the accumulated experience and knowledge of indigenous people for conservation, and that indigenous peoples and local communities consider the scientific and technical knowledge of scientists as experts in this regard. This contribution explores the role of traditional ecological knowledge and the importance of the inclusion of indigenous scholars in the development of approaches, theories and further definitions for characterizing the sacred in cenote conservation. Our analysis supports and encourages improved knowledge and understanding of cenotes as important sacred natural sites, and their recognition as being of vital importance to the safeguarding of biodiversity and culture for current and future generations in the region.
