Trees and trade-offs: perceptions of eucalyptus and native trees in Ecuadorian highland communities.

Abstract

This paper begins with a historical description of the processes of deforestation and establishment of forest plantations in Cotacachi, Ecuador. Then, to provide epistemological, geographical and cultural context for the study, the approach, methodology and field sites are detailed. It is argued that native and introduced plantation tree species (Eucalyptus globulus) often serve distinct purposes and, consequently, are valued for different reasons in the studied communities. While many community members recognize the potential ecological risks of monocultures of introduced tree species, they appreciate the trees' accessibility, utility and monetary value. Native trees, in contrast, are perceived to be very important ecologically and to provide economic benefits distinct from those of plantation species, but are also considered less accessible due to diminished quantities and reduced geographic distribution. This case study of perceptions of native and introduced trees demonstrates the difficulties and trade-offs inherent in the pursuit of conservation and development objectives in rural Andean communities.

Irrigation Access and Vulnerability to Climate‐Induced Hydrological Change in the EcuadorianAndes

“…). By planting fields with eucalyptus, large land owners decreased their dependence on labor, and in demonstrating productive land‐use, avoided the threat of occupation or expropriation (Carse ). A similar strategy has been to convert cropland to greenhouses, which in 2000 covered a total of 68 hectares (Zapata Ríos et al.…”