This thesis focus on the unidimensional adscriptions of value behind industrial soybeans production in Paraguay. The thesis aims to present non-economic Nature’s Contributions to traditional farmers’ quality of life, the role of farmers’ traditional knowledge to display these contributions and the efficiency of such knowledge regarding high productive demands. From a theoretical framework based on nature’s contributions to people, ecosystem services, knowledge systems and conservation, the thesis formulates the following research questions: 1) What drives the prioritization of a single economic value on nature’s contributions to people in rural Paraguay? 2) What is the value of non-economic nature’s contributions, and what is the role of traditional farmers on displaying these values? The study mostly relies in primary data obtained through semi-structured interviews conducted during fieldwork period in the study area of San Pedro, Eastern Paraguay. The results present a plural assessment on nature’s contributions and the adaptation of small farmers to modern farming techniques. The thesis concludes that a perspective dominated by unidimensional value can be socially motivated within the rush for development in Paraguay, a concept tied to economic growth and modernization. In addition, nature’s contributions displayed by small farmers suggest that community-based conservation could represent a more sustainable approach for the farmers’ needs and the current environmental challenges of the country.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:su-156893 |
| Date | January 2018 |
| Creators | Barranco Blasco, Martín |
| Publisher | Stockholms universitet, Kulturgeografiska institutionen |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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