Tomás Ibarra; Diego Subercaseaux, Juan Gastó y Eduardo C. Arellano. 2020.
The search for holistic, yet scientifically sound, whole-system models in forest ecology and conservation has led to an increasing interest in complex system science (Parrott and Meyer 2012, Messier et al. 2013, Filotas et al. 2014). Historically, forest biodiversity has been assessed and managed through the lens of a single dominant objective, which can result in counterproductive conservation and management practices (Puettmann et al. 2009). For example, fire suppression policies to control the loss of green-tree forests led to unpredicted declines in the red-listed Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus; Hutto 2006). Forest ecosystems are, in fact, prototypical examples of complex adaptive systems (CAS) in which properties at higher levels (Gunderson and Holling 2002, Messier and Puettmann 2011, Parrott and Meyer 2012), emerge from self-organized networks of many entities (individuals, species, guilds) interacting at lower levels (Levin 1998, Strogatz 2001, Simard et al. 2013). Gunderson and Holling (2002) proposed the concept of panarchy as a framework of rules that captures the evolutionary characteristics of adaptive cycles (Table 1), while allowing hierarchical nesting of these cycles across spatial and temporal scales. Panarchy can be used to describe how complex social-ecological systems, such as forests, are interlinked in multilevel adaptive cycles of growth (r), conservation (K), release (Ω), and reorganization (α; Table 1). This proposal by Gunderson and Holling (2002), triggered a major discussion about the role of panarchy in forest resilience, the latter defined as the capacity of forests to adaptively persist following anthropogenic and natural disturbances while retaining their essential structures and functions, i.e. system’s identity (Holling 1973, Messier et al. 2013).
Martín del Valle, José Tomás Ibarra, Pablo Aguirre Hörmann, Roberto Hernández and José Luis Riveros
Only 30% of households in Bairro Boroma (Boroma neighborhood) have a regular protein intake, mainly due to the lack of a proper cold chain. We analyzed the level of knowledge about a local dried meat called chinkui, examining the relationship between this knowledge and its value for strengthening local food security. Through surveys of Bairro Boroma goat herders (n = 23) about “chinkui awareness” and passive observation of chinkui preparation (n = 5) from local biotype goats, we found that chinkui was known to most goat herders (91.3%), but was used only irregularly, mainly because knowledge transmission has decreased over time. From passive observation, we found that the amount of dried meat obtained from an animal rarely exceeded a yield of 10% and its performance and safety depended on weather conditions and the absence of other animals in the area of preparation. It is, therefore, recommended to strengthen initiatives to increase the amount of chinkui, based on local knowledge, so as to enhance its frequency of consumption and the possibility of using it as a sustainable alternative source of protein.
