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may be diffi cult and time consuming and will require a skillful and patient
mediation approach.
The local political participation concept rejects an uncritical application
of external intervention strategies and supports a response to the challenges
and development options 'with identity' (Rhoades 2006). In particular, the
value and wisdom of the ancestral indigenous knowledge has to play a
pivotal role in assessing appropriate resilience and adaptation measures.
Laurie et al. (2005) plead for a 'professionalization of indigenous knowledge'
in a quest for a new type of 'ethno-development'. In an ethno-ecological
research project in southern Ecuador, Pohle (2008) has underlined the
importance of indigenous concepts of biodiversity management as an
essential contribution to sustainable land development. She concludes that
“the protection of biodiversity is intimately bound up with the protection
and promotion of cultural diversity, particularly when the 'hot spots' of
biodiversity coincide with those of cultural diversity” (Pohle 2008: 103). In a
similar vein, Rist (2007) emphasizes the importance of bio-cultural diversity
for a sustainable endogenous development. Under the right circumstances,
this does not ignore the importance and potential usefulness of external
expertise, advice and support. Andean people, throughout their long history,
have always been exposed to external infl uences. In some instances, they
have attempted to resist these infl uences from the outside and continued to
cling to their traditional practices and livelihoods. In other cases, they have
adopted innovations, new techniques and alternative economic options
to adapt to the challenges and chances of a changing environment. It is
generally recognized that rural communities can greatly benefi t from the
active support of 'Western' scientists and technicians, from governments,
NGOs and large institutions in their local resilience efforts, adaptation
strategies and sustainable development and management programs (Apffel-
Marglin 1998, Neubert and Macamo 2002).
Conclusion
Andean societies have always coped with environmental, economic,
cultural and political changes. Often these exogenous forces have disturbed
traditional livelihoods, required new adaptations, and also changed Andean
landscapes and societies; according to Bebbington (2000), the Andes are
characterized by frequent 'livelihood transitions and place transformations'.
At times, they also resulted in new economic outlooks, acculturations,
migration patterns, and different spatial and societal disparities. While the
various agrarian reforms during the last half century attempted to achieve a
more equitable land distribution and new opportunities for Sierra farmers in
new colonization areas, the current impact of 'agro-capitalism' and market-
orientation has created a situation, in which wealthy and powerful private
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