Use of wild guanacos (Lama guanicoe) as an alternative for linking species and arid land conservation with rural development

SCHROEDER, NATALIA; LICHTENSTEIN G.; OVEJERO R.; TARABORELLI P.; MORENO P.; GREGORIO P.; BOLGERI M.J.; CARMANCHAHI P

Bariloche

Congreso; VI Southern Connection Congress: Gondwana reunida: una perspectiva austral para un mundo cambiante; 2010

Conflicts between wildlife and human needs are threats to ecosystems in large parts of the world. Successful wildlife management could contribute to solve these conflicts as it promotes conservation of the resource and its environment while generating local income. Based on this concept, and considering the high commercial value of guanaco fiber in the international market, methodologies for capture, shearing and release of wild guanacos have been developed in several provinces in Argentina. Given that experiences started in the late 1990s, there is still little information on the consequences of this activity in the short, medium and long term, at both individual and population level, and about its socioeconomic impact. In this study we analyze biological and social impacts of using guanacos as a strategy for species and arid land conservation and rural development. We based on experiences by a cooperative of fiscal producers from the south of Mendoza and by a sheep producer in a private ranch in Río Negro. Data consists of ecophysiological and social indicators obtained through qualitative and quantitative methods. Results suggest that use of guanacos under high standards of animal welfare could be a production alternative for arid areas, linking conservation with local socioeconomic development. Implementation of alternatives like this could be an opportunity for social groups to face future changes through the construction of new ways of interacting with the ecosystems.