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The call of the condor: Community-based initiatives as ecosystem conservation in Colombia's páramos

González, María Daniela LU (2021) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20211
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
The Colombian government aims to minimize the impacts of human activities in páramos. This requires finding balance between the conservation of the natural resources and maintaining the livelihoods of people living in these areas. Biodiversity loss in páramos compromises their ecological functionality and puts at risk the provisioning of drinking water to millions of Colombians. In this thesis I study a community-based conservation initiative in El Almorzadero páramo. I analyze and discuss the potential of this type of conservation scheme as an alternative to traditional protected area approaches. I use field observations and semi-structured interviews to collect data. I find that local context, institutional support, and changes in... (More)
The Colombian government aims to minimize the impacts of human activities in páramos. This requires finding balance between the conservation of the natural resources and maintaining the livelihoods of people living in these areas. Biodiversity loss in páramos compromises their ecological functionality and puts at risk the provisioning of drinking water to millions of Colombians. In this thesis I study a community-based conservation initiative in El Almorzadero páramo. I analyze and discuss the potential of this type of conservation scheme as an alternative to traditional protected area approaches. I use field observations and semi-structured interviews to collect data. I find that local context, institutional support, and changes in environmental perception are determining factors to sustainable resource management. Although there are several challenges such as opposition, absent governmental institutions, and a prohibitionist legal framework, the social benefits of this initiative are substantial, and they do not undermine its potential ecological benefits. (Less)
Abstract (Spanish)
El gobierno colombiano tiene como meta minimizar los impactos de las actividades humanas en los páramos. Esto requiere encontrar el balance entre la conservación de los recursos naturales y mantener los medios de vida de las personas que habitan estas áreas. La pérdida de biodiversidad en los páramos compromete su funcionalidad ecológica y pone en riesgo la provisión de agua de millones de colombianos. En esta tesis estudio una iniciativa comunitaria para la conservación en el páramo El Almorzadero. Analizo y discuto el potencial de este tipo de esquema de conservación como una alternativa a los esquemas de áreas protegidas más tradicionales. Uso observaciones de campo y entrevistas semiestructuradas como medios de recolección de datos.... (More)
El gobierno colombiano tiene como meta minimizar los impactos de las actividades humanas en los páramos. Esto requiere encontrar el balance entre la conservación de los recursos naturales y mantener los medios de vida de las personas que habitan estas áreas. La pérdida de biodiversidad en los páramos compromete su funcionalidad ecológica y pone en riesgo la provisión de agua de millones de colombianos. En esta tesis estudio una iniciativa comunitaria para la conservación en el páramo El Almorzadero. Analizo y discuto el potencial de este tipo de esquema de conservación como una alternativa a los esquemas de áreas protegidas más tradicionales. Uso observaciones de campo y entrevistas semiestructuradas como medios de recolección de datos. Encontré que el contexto local, el apoyo de instituciones, y cambios en la percepción ambiental son factores determinantes para el manejo sostenible de recursos naturales. Aunque existen varios desafíos como oposición, instituciones gubernamentales ausentes, y un marco legal prohibicionista, los beneficios sociales de esta alternativa son sustanciales y no comprometen los potenciales beneficios ecológicos. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
González, María Daniela LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Community-based conservation, Sustainability science, biodiversity, páramos, Colombia
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2021:023
language
English
additional info
Funder: Right Livelihood College
id
9047956
date added to LUP
2021-06-07 07:38:48
date last changed
2021-06-07 07:38:48
@misc{9047956,
  abstract     = {{The Colombian government aims to minimize the impacts of human activities in páramos. This requires finding balance between the conservation of the natural resources and maintaining the livelihoods of people living in these areas. Biodiversity loss in páramos compromises their ecological functionality and puts at risk the provisioning of drinking water to millions of Colombians. In this thesis I study a community-based conservation initiative in El Almorzadero páramo. I analyze and discuss the potential of this type of conservation scheme as an alternative to traditional protected area approaches. I use field observations and semi-structured interviews to collect data. I find that local context, institutional support, and changes in environmental perception are determining factors to sustainable resource management. Although there are several challenges such as opposition, absent governmental institutions, and a prohibitionist legal framework, the social benefits of this initiative are substantial, and they do not undermine its potential ecological benefits.}},
  author       = {{González, María Daniela}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{The call of the condor: Community-based initiatives as ecosystem conservation in Colombia's páramos}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}