The Puna Pastoralist Landscape in the Central Andes

VILÁ, BIBIANA; ARZAMENDIA, YANINA

Global Land Outlook Thematic Report on Rangelands and Pastoralism.

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

Lugar: Bonn; Año: 2024; p. 69 - 69

The Puna ecosystem supports one of the most long-lived and culturally distinct social-ecological systems in the world. Andean pastoralism is based on lamas, alpacas, sheep, and wild vicuñas. Like other pastoral systems, it is under threat from external drivers and pressures. This project has developed a framework to gain critical insights into the Puna pastoral systems and to collaboratively plan for a sustainable future. In addition to carrying out basic studies and analysing trends, the VICAM research team dedicates much of its energy to support communitydemands via a bottom-up approach. Together, they have built a participatory environmental calendar through dialogues on critical issues, such as carrying capacity,505 sustainablemarkets for llama fibre, handicrafts, wild vicuña chaku (capture, shearing, and release back to nature), among others. Action is being taken to support community claims to land rights andaccess to resources. An annual spinning contest, the Pushkaj Runakuna,506 engages young people, empowers women and girls, and demonstrates the importance of sustainable valuechains and youth engagement.The initiative has brought together local stakeholders in Santa Catalina, including the Cooperative of Santa Catalina Livestock Producers, Community Council (e.g., indigenous communities of Aucapiña Chambi, Atu Saphis, Peña Colorada), local schools and authorities, and producers linked to scientific institutions (e.g., VICAM research group, CONICET, National Universities of Jujuyand Lujan), as well as donors (e.g., Midori Prize, Satoyama Initiative, Williams Foundation). The concept of "nature's contribution to people" has framed the development and implementation of the project and guides the dissemination of its outcomes. This includes scientific articles on critical issues, such as the Puna pastoralist system,507 the management of vicuñas’ wild populations and other camelids,508 pastoralist production systems, and the ecology of the Puna system.