Drivers of social-ecological changes in Important Agricultural Heritage Systems? Small-scale farmers identify them
Climate change, alongside other local biophysical, social and economic factors such as deforestation or overexploitation, constitute the main drivers of social-ecological changes perceived by small-scale campesinos, or farmers, in Pucón and Chiloé, two Important Agricultural Heritage Systems in southern Chile.
The study "Listen to us: small-scale farmers' understanding of social-ecological changes and their drivers in Important Agricultural Heritage Systems" led by Julián Caviedes, a researcher at ICTA-UAB, reveals this fact. The study published in the journal Regional Environmental Change warns that merely focusing on climate change could result in neglecting crucial information when thinking about adaptation to these changes.
Current social-ecological changes are impacting territories and people's livelihoods worldwide. Many of these changes are adversely affecting small-scale agricultural systems, and consequently, causing negative implications for global and local food security as well as food sovereignty.
While it is widely reported that indigenous and local communities perceive changes in their territories, the study investigates how local farmers in southern Chile also identify the drivers of those changes and understand their intricate interrelationship.
The campesinos noted changes within the atmospheric system, specifically regarding rainfall, drought, and temperatures. They also identified the main drivers of these changes, with climatic drivers being the most significant. Nonetheless, these small-scale farmers’ communities also noticed different drivers resulting from the biophysical, social, and economic conditions of the geographical area, including deforestation and overexploitation.
The study supports the notion that it is crucial to consider the voices of the local communities not only to understand social-ecological transformations and their causes, but also to develop and implement public policies that encourage site-specific adaptation measures in response to global changes that affect local livelihoods.
Scientific article
Caviedes, J., Ibarra, J.T., Calvet-Mir, L. et al. “Listen to us”: small-scale farmers’ understandings of social-ecological changes and their drivers in Important Agricultural Heritage Systems. Reg Environ Change 23, 158 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-023-02145-9