Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Anthropology

Collaborative Specialization

Environment and Sustainability

Supervisor

Walsh, Andrew

2nd Supervisor

Colquhoun, Ian

Joint Supervisor

Abstract

The coastal province of Manabí Ecuador has some of the highest rates of deforestation in Latin America, and remaining fragments are home to two primate species threatened with extinction – the mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata aequatorialis), and the Ecuadorian white-fronted capuchin (Cebus aequatorialis). Manabí is also reputed to contain the greatest concentration of Guadua angustifolia bamboo in the country, and the development of a sustainable bamboo economy is being promoted by some as a solution to the social and environmental issues that plague the region.

This thesis uses an ethnoprimatological approach to explore the messiness of conviviality, or “living with”, in human and nonhuman worlds, through an investigation of lived realities and interrelationships between people, non-human primates, and bamboo in the Pacoche Wildlife Refuge of coastal Ecuador. Starting from the premise that participants’ relationships with the nonhuman are embodied in historically situated experiences, and political-economic and social contexts that are constantly in flux, and based on findings generated by a mixed methods approach, this thesis uncovers the many meanings and values associated with bamboo, as an everyday raw material, a cause for contention with local authorities, a “green” commodity, an important part of cultural heritage and identity, and a vital component of primate habitats.

Findings also reveal that unraveling the complex power structures embedded within conservation politics can expose new ways of seeing and thinking about conservation that prioritize local knowledge and existing relationships between humans and nonhumans as active agents in shaping forest ecosystems. Ultimately, this thesis argues for a community-based conservation model aligned with principles of convivial conservation, where local residents are integral participants in the conservation process.

Summary for Lay Audience

In this dissertation I examine the interrelationships between people, nonhuman primates and bamboo in the coastal province of Manabí Ecuador, with a focus on the Pacoche Wildlife Refuge. This province has some of the highest rates of deforestation in Latin America, and the remaining forest fragments are home to two primate species threatened with extinction – The Ecuadorian mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata aequatorialis), and the Ecuadorian white-fronted capuchin (Cebus aequatorialis). Manabi is also reputed to contain the greatest concentration of bamboo (Guadua angustifolia) in the country, and the development of a sustainable bamboo economy is promoted by some as a solution to the social and environmental issues that plague the region.

The research on which the dissertation is based aimed to explore the opportunities and challenges for conviviality, or “living with”, in human and nonhuman worlds, focusing especially on how they play out in the practice of conservation and development and in people’s responses to related proposals and interventions. In reporting my findings, I argue towards a community-based approach to conservation that includes local residents as integral participants in the conservation process. This thesis is based on the premise that the way humans relate to their environments and the nonhuman species that inhabit them, are shaped by historical, political-economic and social contexts that are in a constant process of change. Understanding these relationships is crucial to finding convivial solutions to conservation and development conflicts. Among other things, findings based on a mix of social and primatological methods reveal the variety of meanings and values associated with bamboo, as an everyday raw material, a cause for contention with local authorities, a “green” commodity, an important part of cultural heritage and identity, and a vital component of primate habitats.

Ultimately, the findings of this study show that unraveling the complex power structures embedded within conservation politics can reveal new ways of seeing and thinking about conservation that prioritize local knowledge and existing relationships between humans and nonhumans as active agents in shaping forest ecosystems. These results can help to design more effective and inclusive conservation strategies in the future.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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