The government of the jungle. Conservation, development and mercantilization of forest in northern Argentina

FERRERO, BRIÁN

San Francisco

Congreso; Latin American Studies Association (LASA) XXIX International Congress; 2012

Amercian Association of Anthropology

In the last ten years, Northern Argentina has undergone major transformations on the processes, projects, and institutions related to policies of conservation and development. Many international agencies like WWF, AECI, and JICA have acquired a central role in environmental governance, participating along with the government in the deployment of tightly bounded conservation and development goals. This article considers the recent changes in such programs, which aimed initially at providing services (electricity, roads, education and health) to local communities, but are now oriented towards the commodification of nature and "culture". In particular, we analyze the deployment of projects of forest certification and ecotourism involving Mbya-Guarani communities inhabiting Natural Protected Areas. These initiatives seek to create a market niche by commodifying the presence of indigenous communities, of their knowledge and traditional uses of the forest, of their feasts and dances. In such a way a merchant reification of a culture is produced. However, this process does not lead to a passive submission of indigenous communities. It occurs in an arena of resistance and negotiations. This article sheds light on the tensions generated by this institutional machinery and discusses further points of contrast amid institutions and local stakeholders.