Guanacos and people in Patagonia: a Social-Ecological approach to a relationship of conflict and opportunities

CARMANCHAHI, P; LICHTENSTEIN, G.

Springer

Lugar: Cham; Año: 2022 p. 241

978-3-031-06656-6

The history of the conservation and use of the guanaco in Patagonia is as old as its frst inhabitants. In order to understand the drama of the conservation of this species, it is necessary to weave together zooarchaeological, anthropological, physiological, wildlife management, veterinary, and ecological knowledge. As in other social-ecological systems, neither the ecological system nor the social system can be adequately understood without understanding the linkages between the two, and that they function together (Berkes and Folke 1998). In this book, we propose a holistic multidisciplinary approach to understanding the history of the species in Patagonia, as well as to solve the growing complex challenges associated with its conservation and sustainable use.South American wild camelids in general, and the guanaco in particular, have received relatively little interest in the world’s scientific literature. This may be due to its geographical range, which is restricted to the Andean and steppe zones of South America, with a strong population concentration in the Patagonian region. However, in the last three decades, scientific interest in this species has increased, mainly due to the possibility of using some of its populations to obtain fiber and meat, which has opened up a new area of research.In Guanacos and People in Patagonia: A Social-ecological Approach to a Relationship of Conficts and Opportunities, we have compiled updated information and presented unpublished data on the relationship between one of the most representative species of Patagonian fauna, the guanaco, and human society, and how this the relationship has changed over time due to different land uses and productive interests. This book provides information to understand these interactions, in order to contextualize the current situation of this species and, in some cases, to propose possible solutions to conficts and show ongoing activities aimed at sustainable use and conservation.The chapters of this book are written for a wide audience, without losing scientifc rigor, be it researchers, postgraduate students, policy makers and professionals in conservation and rural development. They are also intended as a tool for enforcement authorities and field technicians on the use and conservation of wildlife, viiihelping to define management actions for this species. Most of the authors are members of the IUCN South American Camelid Specialist Group (IUCN – SSC – GECS).