South American peasants and poor farmers facing global environmental change: A development dilemma

Abstract

Climate change scenarios for Latin America call our attention to significant changes in hydrological and climate patterns and processes. Of special concern is the greater frequency and intensity of extreme climate events, which threaten not only the quality of life of people, but also their livelihoods. Especially vulnerable are rural people, who are highly dependent on climate and water resources. Although all agricultural producers are likely to be affected by these changes, research financed by CLACSO-CROP on the vulnerability of rural communities in the watershed basins of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile has shown that expected drought and diminishing river flows would particularly compromise the well-being of the smallest producers and peasants of these socio-ecological systems, who are already affected by other stressors, such as globalisation, restricted fiscal policies and long-established situations of poverty and inequity...