How Social Actors Perceive and Value Ecosystem Services? A Case Study from Central Argentina.

TAPELLA E, CÁCERES D Y DÍAZ S.

Londres

Congreso; Planet under Pressure Conference 2012; 2012

IGBP, DIVERSITAS, IHDP, WCRP, ICSU

As a consequence of climate change and the impact of economic, politic and technological drivers, Argentina is experiencing drastic land-use changes. The growing demand for food and bio-fuels, the rise of the price of commodities, and the urgent need to increase Argentinean GDP, are fuelling agricultural intensification and the expansion of agriculture over native ecosystems. Within a favorable economic and political context, technological innovations such as zero tillage and genetically modified seeds provide the basic know-how needed to replace native forests and pastures with exotic pastures and annual crops. Drawing upon a case study, the paper analyses the process of land use change in Central Argentina. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the paper focuses on (a) how different social actors perceive and value ecosystem services (ES), and (b) which are the main struggles and conflicts arising from their disputes over the appropriation of ES. We develop both a conceptual framework and methodological tools that allows a better understanding of the process of appropriation of ES. The results suggests that the strategies carried out by some social actors are deeply modifying the provision of ES, and configuring new social scenarios of ‘winners’ and ‘losers’. Emerging and rapidly expanding land uses (e.g., industrial agriculture), confronts and excludes traditional uses (e.g., extensive pastoral practices), and compromises the future provision of key ES. The paper highlights the importance of developing interdisciplinary and multi-actor approaches. The findings may help to develop policies that foster more sustainable and equitable practices. El video completo de esta presentación oral está disponible en la página web del congreso: http://view6.workcast.net/?pak=8159630153711849&cpak=5876441157257134 Otra información disponible en http://www.planetunderpressure2012.net/