Guanaco sustainable management as a conservation and rural development strategy

CARMANCHAHI, P; LICHTENSTEIN, G.; GREGORIO, P; PANNEBIANCO, A; MAROZZI, A; LEGGIERI, L; OVEJERO, R

Guanacos and People in Patagonia - A Social-Ecological Approach to a Relationship of Conflicts and Opportunities?

Springer

Lugar: Cham; Año: 2022; p. 147 - 190

Desertification is the most important social, economic and ecological problem in Patagonia. Several factors have contributed to the ecosystem impoverishment: inadequate use of natural grasslands; lack of training and advisory services for producers; scarce transference of management technologies adapted for arid areas; low value of primary production; overgrazing; commercialization difficulties, limited productive alternatives due to the environmental rigorousness and increased droughts due to climate change. As a result, soil degradation has increased and water availability and vegetation have decreased by altering the ecological processes, affecting the ecosystem?s productivity. The rancher´s need to increase their cattle stock in a degraded environment led them to strong persecution of wildlife species, competitors or predators of livestock. In this sense, the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) suffered a strong reduction in its abundance and distribution range, population fragmentation and loss of genetic diversity. However, the guanaco was recognized by FAO as key species for Latin America rural development, due to its economic value, the demand of its products and the potential to generate employment sources. The use of this wild camelid, regarded as a low environmental impact grazer, would play a fundamental role to reduce desertification processes in Patagonian arid ecosystems, and it would provide an economic alternative to local producers.This chapter compiles the empirical evidence generated by the scientific sector that helped to establish the basis for the implementation of a management system focused on the conservation of the species and local socioeconomic development. Research results that provided the scientific basis to elaborate the provincial and national directives that regulate the guanaco?s management are summarised. In addition, this chapter analyses and compares economic contexts in different situations of management, whether through the use of wild guanacos by private enterprises and rural cooperatives or in captivity. In addition, the challenges that this activity still presents in the commercialisation of its products are pointed out. Finally, it is discussed whether the actions carried out since the elaboration of the Guanaco National Management Plan have fulfilled the criteria of adaptive management.