Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
and human conditions, in particular to their coping and management of
vulnerabilities, risks and crises (Bohle 2008, Janssen and Orstrom 2006).
Over many generations, the rural communities in the Andes have
demonstrated remarkable and diverse forms of human resilience and
adaptive capacities which have been an integral component of Andean
culture (
lo Andino
) (Gade 1999, Stadel 2001). The
campesinos
have always
successfully resorted to their traditional wisdom and knowledge in coping
with their mountain environment (
saber andino
).
Well documented are in
particular the concepts and strategies of complementarity (
complementaridad
)
and reciprocity (
reciprocidad
), both socially and economically rooted in
their community (
comunidad
). Over many generations, Andean people
have also developed complex strategies of land and water management
as evidenced in particular by the sophisticated irrigation systems and
terracing of agricultural fi elds. Vogl (1990) and others have documented and
described the importance of the diverse traditional agricultural techniques
from the perspective of an ecological and socio-economic adaptation of
rural communities to dynamic natural environments and changing human
conditions.
The cultural heritage of the Andean people was always founded by a
deep respect of nature and by an attachment to the native soil and local
natural resources. In the quest for optimizing the diverse resources of a
highly diverse mountain realm and of minimizing the risks of a fragile
and vulnerable environment, the complementary strategy has a spatial
and multi-sectoral dimension of agricultural production. By a 'vertical
control' (Murra 1975) of different ecological zones (
mitimagkuma
), Andean
communities are utilizing the potentials and resources of diverse
archipiélagos
verticales.
At each altitudinal level and in the various topographic niches,
specifi c crops are cultivated, often in combination with animal husbandry
or pastoralism. Furthermore, multiple forms of economic exchanges are
carried out between the altitudinal zones, as well as between highlands and
lowland areas. In this respect, accessibility and the role of trails, roads and
today highways, have always been of crucial importance and have greatly
impacted on or even altered the traditional altitudinal land-use system
(Allan 1986). In addition, the cultural environment, the age and nature of
the settlement process, the availability of irrigation water and water rights,
land tenure and inheritance traditions, alternative economic opportunities,
the adherence to traditions versus on openness towards modernizations and
new technologies and the infl uence of external actors, are important factors
infl uencing the rural land-use system. The second major 'pillar' of rural
resilience and livelihoods is the concept of reciprocity. Upto now, it has been
a fundamental socio-economic support system of rural communities and
an effective protection against environmental and economic vulnerabilities,
and also a communal principle of solidarity and equity (Rist 2000).
Search WWH ::
Custom Search