Cultural Ecology of Chilote Barter - Richard Vercoe скачать в хорошем качестве

Cultural Ecology of Chilote Barter - Richard Vercoe

Thesis Title: The cultural ecology of the "Trueque Chilote", potato-wood barter trade routes, in the Chiloé Region of Chile. Abstract: An endemic potato-wood barter system known as "Trueque Chilote" has been in place between the islands of Chiloé and the surrounding mainland communities of Patagonia for hundreds of years. This has produced unique natural and cultural dynamics based on primary food production and natural resource needs. This study describes the current socio-ecological implications of the barter system for the conservation of heirloom crops and forest sustainability in the region. The project includes three core elements. i) Field observations based on semi-structured interviews with inhabitants describing the trade networks between the island and forest communities; ii) Site visits to the participating communities and homesteads to document forest type, cover and productivity as well as the agricultural productivity of the potato producing sites; and, iii) Analysis of remote sensing imagery to determine and corroborate field observations for forest coverage and potato field coverage and productivity at a regional scale. The project combines these three study methods to derive a current description of the geographical extent and implications of the Trueque Chilote barter trade in the area. It appears that the Chilote island potato-wood barter system serves an important role in maintaining the production of heirloom potato varieties and the independent non-monetary peasant lifestyles that characterize the region with a limited effect on the forest ecology of the mainland.