“Production diversification for Expanding the Economic Foundations of Argentinean Monte Desert Communities”

ABRAHAM, E. M. Y G. ENNE

Sede Boqer Campus, Israel

Conferencia; 2º international Conference Drylands, Deserts and Desertification; 2008

UNESCO, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research

The Argentine Monte comprises subtropical to warm-temperate sunny deserts and semi-deserts from 24° 35´ to 44° 20'S. A shrub steppe dominated by Zygophyllaceae species is the typical plant composition, while open woods of diverse Prosopis species occur where groundwater is accessible. This ecoregion is the most arid rangeland in Argentina for raising goats and cows. Agriculture is confined to oases were grapes are the main crop. Both land uses have caused much of the degradation by removing the scarce native vegetation and destroying burrows of native wildlife. The strongest desertification processes are not only evidenced by biodiversity loss and deforestation of native woods, but mostly by the poverty of the scarce inhabitants who can only develop subsistence activities, such as goat breeding for meat production, in extremely critical conditions.     Based on a great number of research studies conducted by IADIZA in the Lavalle desert, and on the experience of NRD in the north of Africa, advances are presented in the international research-action cooperation programme directed to the generation of  local development strategies, production diversification and combat of desertification and poverty in the Lavalle desert, Mendoza, Argentina. As the area is highly representative of the natural and social conditions of drylands in the Argentine west, the proposal presents good conditions of replicability in other similar arid environments worldwide. Studies are articulated around three components: natural, economic, and socio-cultural. From the local development, they intend to positively affect the combat against desertification via a better use of territorial resources, improving and diversifying goat production, reducing livestock pressure on fields, and at the same time increasing the level of the producers’ income. Furthermore, work is directed to reinforce and increase capacities of the actors involved by providing new services to the local community and to visitors, based on activation of cultural resources associated with the territory. The response to each of these strategies –which in turn prioritize some of the components of sustainability in their formulation-, has a physical impact on the territory. Desertification status is addressed as a complex issue, through a procedure of integral assessment based on indicators and benchmarks. A strong participative approach has been added to these scientific activities, to contribute to the empowerment and sensitizing of local communities.   The proposal combines, into a model of territorial development of drylands, innovative aspects regarding desertification assessment and monitoring; recovery and management of degraded fields devoted to forage production; optimization of the use of surface and groundwater; revegetation and establishment of nurseries; sanitation of goat herds; design and construction of production and service units oriented toward diversifying production (healthy goat milk and byproducts); capacity building in the local population and government; training of specialized technicians; promotion of associations of producers; support for product commercialization.