Guanacos and People in Patagonia A Social-Ecological Approach to a Relationship of Conflicts and Opportunities

About this book

This book relates one of the most representative species of Patagonian wildlife, the guanaco, a camelid native to South America, to human societies across time, and explores how that relationship has changed over time due to different land uses and productive interests. The book provides information to understand these interactions, and contextualizes the current situation of this species. In some cases, it proposes possible solutions to conflicts, and also shows ongoing activities aimed at sustainable use and conservation.

The audience for this book includes researchers, graduate students, policymakers and conservation and rural development professionals. In addition, it will serve as a tool for application authorities and field technicians on the use and conservation of wildlife, to define management actions for this species.

Contents

Introduction: Taxonomy, distribution and conservation status of wild guanaco's populations
1. Zooarchaeological and socio-anthropological perspective of the human–guanaco (Lama guanicoe) interaction over the last 6000 years in the Patagonia, Argentina
2. Interspecific competition between guanacos and livestock and its impact on Patagonian rangelands: review and synthesis
3. Health status of Patagonian guanaco and its relevance for conservation
4. Patagonian pumas and their ungulate prey in the 21st century, a key interaction in a degraded environment
5. International policies and national legislation concerning guanaco conservation, management and trade in Argentina
6. Guanaco sustainable management as a conservation strategy and socioeconomic rural development
7. Historical perspective and current advances in ecology, conservation and management of the guanaco in the Chilean Patagonia
8. Lessons for the future of conservation and sustainable use of guanacos

Customer Reviews

Biography

Dr Pablo Carmanchahi is a Researcher at the National Council of Scientific and Technology Research of Argentina and Director of the Wildlife Ecophysiology Research Group. He is also a member of the South American Camelid Specialist Group of Species Survival Commission – IUCN. His lines of research focus on the study of the biological consequences of wild guanaco management for the sustainable production of its fibre. Additionally, he studies the socio-productive and economic aspects of the guanaco fibre production system, with the purpose of developing an alternative production model that improves the life quality of rural settlers, based on the sustainable use of guanacos and the appropriation of technological innovations. In this sense, its technological developments are transferred to the productive sector. His research has been the foundational basis for protocols of best management practices for the species and the scientific support for the elaboration of national and provincial legal regulations that govern the use of the wild guanaco. In addition to his important contributions to the scientific system and the formation of human resources, Dr Carmanchahi has advised different public agencies and private companies on the management and conservation of wild guanaco populations.

Dr Gabriela Lichtenstein: MSc. in Biology, University of Buenos Aires; PhD in Behavioral Ecology, King´s College, University of Cambridge, Post-doc Dept of Geography, University of Buenos Aires. Independent Researcher at National Research Council (CONICET), Argentina; Lecturer University of Buenos Aires, UNSAM (Masters courses); Chair of UICN´s SSC, South American Camelid Specialist Group (UICN SSC GECS) (2007-2015); Regional Vice-Chair IUCN SSC Latin American Region (2014-). Dr Lichtenstein has studied different aspects of the socio-economic impact of vicuña and guanaco use in Andean countries for the last 20 years. Her research interests include sustainable wildlife use, poverty alleviation, commodity chain analysis for wild South American fibre and the establishment of trade links to help a fairer and more equitable proportion of benefits to local people. Her interest in articulating research results with policy led her to collaborate with CITES, FWS, the Vicuña Convention, the Ministry of Science and Technology of Argentina, and national and local management authorities. She is one of the Lead Authors on IPBES Sustainable Use of Wild Species Assessment.