The sustainable use of vicuna in Argentina: local and international interests

This paper examines the forces that have shaped policies concerning the management of the vicuna (a wild camelid that lives in the High Andes) in Argentina. It emphasises the various political and economic forces, and also ecological, biological and socio-cultural factors.

The paper observes how the conflict between economic growth and conservation led to the compromise of balancing local interests against global interests. It shows how these policies are now undergoing a crucial shift as a result of the successful conservation programme. The paper discusses the issue of the choice between captive management and wild management, and the conflicting perspectives and interests of the different parties at international, national and local level.

The paper concludes:

• the first stage of total conservation was extremely successful, receiving international and national support. If there was resistance at the local level, the policy was nevertheless relatively easy to implement
• entering the stage of sustainable use, the consensus begins to break down. National and local interests favour exploitation of the vicuna, and, in view of the fact that the species is no longer endangered, the international community also accepts this conclusion
• in the debate over what form of management is to be favoured, international actors favour wild management, while in Argentina national and local actors argue for wild and captive, for reasons largely of apparent economic benefit. The merits of the economic case for captive management are at best unproven. However, it is also necessary to consider whether benefit to local communities is seen as an end in itself, or a means to an end (the conservation of vicuna). It appears that the latter is the case and, in the final resort, ‘the people’ disappear from the picture