Informal Land Tenure and Livelihood Resilience in the Chaco Salteño, Argentina

Abstract

The Chaco Salteño of Argentina is a global hotspot of land conflict and climate change pressures that, together, threaten the livelihoods of local inhabitants. This study sought to examine the role that formal land tenure and other mechanisms of access to resources play in building resilient livelihoods in the face of multiple stressors. Using a qualitative approach, we analyze the role of mechanisms controlling access to resources in securing the conditions necessary for adaptation. We find that the two primary adaptive mechanisms identified by producers (formalized land tenure and local producers’ organizations) vary greatly in their feasibility and contributions to livelihood resilience. We explore these to better understand how they are perceived by producers and the extent to which they are employed. Findings from this study contribute to efforts to advance sustainable development by contextualizing the importance of varied strategies in supporting resilient livelihoods.