Challenges Facing Andean Communities in the Protection of the Páramo in the Central Highlands of Ecuador

María Cristina Torres (), Efraín Naranjo and Vanessa Fierro
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María Cristina Torres: Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Ladrón de Guevara E11·253, Quito P.O. Box 17-01-2759, Ecuador
Efraín Naranjo: Departamento de Estudios Organizacionales y Desarrollo Humano, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Ladrón de Guevara E11·253, Quito P.O. Box 17-01-2759, Ecuador
Vanessa Fierro: Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Ladrón de Guevara E11·253, Quito P.O. Box 17-01-2759, Ecuador

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-21

Abstract: In the rural parish of Salinas, located in the central highlands of Ecuador, most of the communities are settled in a páramo ecosystem, whose deterioration has become a concern since the beginning of the century. The scarcity of water that some communities have experienced has led to a reconsideration of economic activities, as part of a community process that began 50 years ago, which has currently allowed them to overcome extreme poverty. This research aims to analyze the socio-technical reconfiguration process these communities have undergone in their new role as conservationists that has simultaneously ensured their livelihoods. The methodology applied is a qualitative approach based on a discourse analysis. The results indicate a process of applying social technology to protect the páramo . The availability of economic resources, a new mentality and the exercise of authority are key starting elements for the latter, and through strengthened organizations, permanent reflection, creativity, and the search for sustainability, the primary objective can be reached: the protection of the páramo .

Keywords: socio-technical reconfiguration; páramo; Andean communities; social constructivism; sustainability; social technology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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