Interpreting Environmental Changes in the Southern Bolivian Andes: Rural Responses and Political Actions

Abstract

Rural people in the southern Andes mountains of Bolivia may choose to plant different crops, to keep livestock under different conditions and to diversify their livelihood strategies in ways that involve less investment of time in farming and more involvement in commercial activities. These changes are in response to change in both physical and cultural environments and are examined here. Policies and activities by local and national government that are intended to reduce the impact of a range of environmental changes on people and their physical environments are considered and evaluated. We conclude that there is limited evidence that changes in the natural environment such as soil erosion and degeneration of vegetation in the Altiplano and adjacent valleys in western Tarija are more rapid than in the recent past. Changes in the use of different areas for livestock and crops reflect accommodation to culturally-determined household preferences for cattle over other ruminants. Farmers are used to change and readily modify their use of different areas of land to ensure that livestock can survive and necessary crops can be harvested. With respect to local political responses to environmental issues, the history of action that started in 1930 is notable. We conclude that such action had only limited environmental consequences in the Tarija valleys. There is no evidence to suggest that recent regional governments have been adequately informed or politically motivated to take remedial action to help those suffering from extreme climatic events or other environmental stresses.