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Imaginaries of place in territorialization processes: Transforming the Oyacachi páramos through nature conservation and water transfers in the Ecuadorian highlands

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  • Rossana Manosalvas
  • Jaime Hoogesteger
  • Rutgerd Boelens

Abstract

How Ecuadorian páramos are perceived has drastically changed over the last five decades. From cold, hostile, and unproductive hinterlands, páramos have changed to become areas for biodiversity conservation and ‘water towers’ that ought to be protected to provide clean and abundant water for cities and irrigation. To understand how these changing perceptions of páramos relate to interventions and their on-the-ground negotiation by local communities, we develop the notion of imaginaries of place and explore its relations to notions of governmentality and territorialization. We show how, based on changing imaginaries of what páramos are, state and non-state interventions have tried to control the Oyacachi páramos in the Northern Ecuadorian Highlands for the specific purpose of nature and water conservation. At the same time, we show that these interventions are highly contested on-the-ground. This leads to confrontations, negotiations, and a re-definition of the imaginaries of place there exist. Our analysis expounds the relevance of understanding imaginaries of place and its close relations to interventions and their negotiation.

Suggested Citation

  • Rossana Manosalvas & Jaime Hoogesteger & Rutgerd Boelens, 2023. "Imaginaries of place in territorialization processes: Transforming the Oyacachi páramos through nature conservation and water transfers in the Ecuadorian highlands," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 41(5), pages 1010-1028, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:41:y:2023:i:5:p:1010-1028
    DOI: 10.1177/23996544231168050
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jean Carlo Rodríguez-de-Francisco & Rutgerd Boelens, 2016. "PES hydrosocial territories: de-territorialization and re-patterning of water control arenas in the Andean highlands," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(1), pages 140-156, January.
    2. Lena Hommes & Rutgerd Boelens & Leila M. Harris & Gert Jan Veldwisch, 2019. "Rural–urban water struggles: urbanizing hydrosocial territories and evolving connections, discourses and identities," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(2), pages 81-94, February.
    3. Bibiana Duarte-Abadía & Rutgerd Boelens, 2016. "Disputes over territorial boundaries and diverging valuation languages: the Santurban hydrosocial highlands territory in Colombia," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(1), pages 15-36, January.
    4. Paul Hoogendam, 2019. "Hydrosocial territories in the context of diverse and changing ruralities: the case of Cochabamba’s drinking water provision over time," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(2), pages 129-147, February.
    5. Rutgerd Boelens & Jaime Hoogesteger & Erik Swyngedouw & Jeroen Vos & Philippus Wester, 2016. "Hydrosocial territories: a political ecology perspective," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(1), pages 1-14, January.
    6. Fletcher, Robert & Büscher, Bram, 2017. "The PES Conceit: Revisiting the Relationship between Payments for Environmental Services and Neoliberal Conservation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 224-231.
    7. Jaime Hoogesteger & Rutgerd Boelens & Michiel Baud, 2016. "Territorial pluralism: water users’ multi-scalar struggles against state ordering in Ecuador’s highlands," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(1), pages 91-106, January.
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