The present research, "Integrating dimensions for the understanding of the abandonment
process of highland terracing systems of the rural community of San Juan de Iris, Santa Eulalia
sub–basin, Huarochirí" has as general objective to analyze articulately physical, social,
economic, productive and institutional factors that lead to the abandonment of the highland
terracing systems. The integrated understanding of the problematic is the base to propose
recommendations for a productive system that contributes to the sustainable development of
the community, as well as to the conservation and enhancement of its agricultural terraces.
In order to achieve this objective, the methodology was organized in three phases in which
instruments of different sciences, such as soil science, geography and anthropology, were
applied to collect qualitative and quantitative information. The first phase consisted in a revision
of bibliographical, statistical and cartographical information, as a basis for the research
approach and the methodology itself. In the fieldwork, soil samples of the platforms were taken,
and quantitative information and perception were collected through surveys, interviews and a
workshop. Finally, in the third phase, precipitation data was acquired with the subsequent
calculation of interannual variability, the physical and chemical properties of the sampled soil
were analyzed and interpreted, the information obtained from the surveys, interviews and
workshop were systematized and the analysis was made. Applying a participatory approach, the
rural community of San Juan de Iris was involved throughout the investigation to be an active
part of the process.
The highland terracing system studied belongs to the rural community of San Juan de Iris, in the
district of the same name, located in left margin of the upper part of the Santa Eulalia sub–
basin, Huarochirí, in the Andean zone of Lima. In the 1990s, this community was benefited from
a rehabilitation experience of the National Program for Watershed Management and Soil
Conservation (PRONAMACHCS, for its acronym in Spanish); nevertheless, at the present time,
59.7% of its terracing systems are in a situation of abandonment. For this reason, this
community was chosen as the case study.
Field verification carried out by PRONAMACHCS indicates that the abandonment of terraces in
San Juan de Iris was in an 80% due to the water deficit (natural factor) and 20% to the migration
from the countryside to the city (social factor). However, the Andean rural reality is much more
complex; therefore, physical, institutional, economic-productive, and social dimensions of the
territory were explored in the research. The main drivers of the abandonment of the San Juan
de Iris terracing systems were the search for generating economic power (economic-productive
factor); migration of young people and adults (social factor); perception of decrease and lack of
water resources (physical-natural factor); change in the regime of the land tenure (institutional
factor); and dependence on projects and programs of external agents (socio-institutional factor).
With the main drivers of the abandonment process of the terracing systems identified, it is
possible to propose the actions in order to eliminate the causes of the problem. Otherwise, the
consequences derived from the abandonment process will intensify: underutilization of the soil
resource and food insecurity; increasing pressure on the natural pasture ecosystem that leads
to a risk in the profitability of livestock; loss of ancestral technique and knowledge; and lack of
initiative for the conservation of their agricultural terraces and for the development of the
community.
As a solution strategy is proposed to position the highland terraces as key element in the
development of the rural community of San Juan de Iris. For this, the agriculture on terraces
must respond to the expectations of the community, so that by their own and shared initiative,
they will include this productive and cultural resource in their vision of development. / Tesis
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PUCP/oai:tesis.pucp.edu.pe:123456789/9289 |
| Date | 04 September 2017 |
| Creators | Yakabi Bedriñana, Katiusca Susana |
| Contributors | Sabogal Dunin Borkowski, Ana Bozena |
| Publisher | Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú |
| Source Sets | Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú |
| Language | Spanish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Repositorio de Tesis - PUCP |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess, Atribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 2.5 Perú, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/pe/ |
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