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The fences of Chuschi: The impacts of land enclosure on an Andean indigenous community

Bell, Karen; Hermoza, Rossi Taboada; Staddon, Chad; Willems, Bram; Maldonado, Fabiola Cárdenas; Berrocal, Noemí Tomaylla; Flores, Lisbeth Pariona

Authors

Profile image of Karen Bell

Karen Bell Karen.Bell@uwe.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer Environmental Management

Rossi Taboada Hermoza

Profile image of Chad Staddon

Chad Staddon Chad.Staddon@uwe.ac.uk
Professor/Associate Head of Department: Research and Scholarship

Bram Willems

Fabiola Cárdenas Maldonado

Noemí Tomaylla Berrocal

Lisbeth Pariona Flores



Abstract

In this study of the Andean town of Chuschi and its surrounding district of the same name, we consider the impacts of the proliferation of fencing on once open land. The paper contributes to a growing body of literature on the practice and impact of land fragmentation through fencing around the world, wtih positive and negative impacts having been noted. The analysis is based on 23 semi-structured interviews with community members and community leaders of Chuschi and the surrounding towns of Yanaccocha, Huaracco, Chaquiccocha, Pucruhuasi, Wacraccocha, Lerqona and Yupana. Some of the interviewees considered the fencing off of parcels of the communal land to be beneficial for land management, while others felt the practice was not ecologically or socially beneficial overall and created tensions in the community. In particular, some interviewees noted resentment towards those perceived to be ‘ambitious’ in terms of acquiring exclusive use of additional land. In conclusion, it appears that fencing, as practiced in Chuschi, may be a calculated approach to land management that some perceive to have overall collective benefits but, if not well governed, it also has the potential to be invasive and disruptive for communal Andean life. The paper addresses a gap in the literature on the motivations for, and impacts of, fencing in rural communities in Peru and contributes to wider debates on the social justice implications of enclosures.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 17, 2022
Online Publication Date Dec 17, 2022
Publication Date Jan 31, 2023
Deposit Date Jan 6, 2024
Publicly Available Date Dec 18, 2024
Journal Journal of Rural Studies
Print ISSN 0743-0167
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 97
Pages 224-234
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.10.004
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11556295

Files

This file is under embargo until Dec 18, 2024 due to copyright reasons.

Contact Chad.Staddon@uwe.ac.uk to request a copy for personal use.




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