Women and the conservation of agroecosystems: an experiential analysis in the Río Nacimiento region of Almería (Spain) / Mujeres y conservación de agroecosistemas. Análisis de experiencias en la comarca almeriense del río Nacimiento

Abstract

Strategies for the conservation of biodiversity need interdisciplinary approaches in order to face the drivers of change that are modifying ecosystems and the communities that manage them. Among these approaches, the dimensions of gender have been under-examined despite their relevance. In this study, we propose to identify and characterize the relationships between different generations of women and agroecosystems and how they have changed, through the study of their individual and collective practices and their underlying motivations for doing so. We conducted qualitative research in 2011 and 2012 in the Nacimiento River watershed (Almería, Spain). Thirteen in-depth interviews were conducted, selected through a typological framework elaborated based on the age of the subject and her connection to farming activities. The different discourses provided highlight the need to understand and stimulate the variety of intrinsic motivations and management practices relating to farming activities and to encourage their incorporation into collective strategies.