University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2011 Distribution, Use and Cultural Meanings of Ciprés de Las Guaitecas in the Vicinity of Caleta Tortel, Chile Kyla Sara Zaret The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Zaret, Kyla Sara, "Distribution, Use and Cultural Meanings of Ciprés de Las Guaitecas in the Vicinity of Caleta Tortel, Chile" (2011). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 331. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/331 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. 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DISTRIBUTION, USE AND CULTURAL MEANINGS OF CIPRÉS DE LAS GUAITECAS IN THE VICINITY OF CALETA TORTEL, CHILE By KYLA SARA ZARET B.A., Reed College, Portland, OR, 2002 Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Resource Conservation, International Conservation and Development Option The University of Montana Missoula, MT August 2011 Approved by: Sandy Ross, Associate Dean of The Graduate School Graduate School Dr. Keith Bosak, Chair Department of Society and Conservation Dr. Steve Siebert Department of Forest Management Dr. Dan Spencer Department of Environmental Studies Zaret, Kyla, M.S., Summer 2011 Resource Conservation Distribution, Use and Cultural Meanings of Ciprés de Las Guaitecas in the Vicinity of Caleta Tortel, Chile Chairperson: Dr. Keith Bosak This study examined the changing roles of ciprés de las Guaitecas (Pilgerodendron uviferum) in the lives and livelihoods of Tortel community members. A political ecology framework built on concepts of power, scale and social construction was used to problematize the availability of the tree as a resource by revealing the multiple, contrasting perspectives of different socio-political actors. National and international policy documents were analyzed in order to uncover the discourses that drive decision-making at those scales. Participant observation and semi- structured interviews were conducted to explore local people’s knowledge, perceptions and opinions regarding the difficulties they face in accessing and utilizing ciprés, as well as the significance of the tree species to their lives/livelihoods. Ultimately, an examination of people’s relationships to ciprés and their interests in the continuation of those relationships speaks to whether and how ciprés can or should remain an important part of their lives/livelihoods. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project was made possible by a number of people and institutions that I would like to recognize as follows. First, my sincerest thanks to Dr. Keith Bosak, my committee chair, for his guidance and generous support throughout the thesis process. I would also like to thank my committee members, Dr. Steve Siebert and Dr. Dan Spencer for their insightful comments on this manuscript. My research was funded in part by the Melipal Fellowship offered by Dr. Paul Alaback and Dr. Carol Brewer, a grant for student projects from the Center for the Investigation of Patagonian Ecosystems (CIEP), and thesis project support from the Office of the Provost at the University of Montana. Interview transcriptions were completed by Nancy Moore and Penelope Baquero, who I would like to thank for their work and our inspiring conversations about life and times in southern Chile. My experiences in Aysén would not have been so rewarding without the assistance and camaraderie of numerous individuals. Many thanks to Brian Reid for all of his support, but especially for turning me on to peatlands; to Sunny D. for being a gal’s best field partner; to JT Thomas for helping me laugh as the axe fell; to Pedro for his friendship and invaluable help with this study; to Jose Luis for our fieldtrips and many discussions about local land management; to Don Julio for ensuring that I traveled safely; to Maria for taking this gringita into her home; and to the people of Tortel who shared with me their personal histories and insights into the relationships between ciprés and their community. I would also like to thank my friends and familia for their support. Thanks to my parents, David and Shari Zaret, and sister, Jenny Zaret, for always being there despite my tendency to venture to the ends of the earth; to those who helped me through my undergraduate thesis and offered council during this second round: Alyx, Buhle, and Sarah; to those who kept me going during crunch time: Natalie, Lorie and Aaron; and to my bullpen mates, Angie and JT, for our conversations about personal ambitions in and out of the ivory tower, but also for those crucial moments of laughter. Finally, this thesis is dedicated in loving memory to my grandparents Esther Schwartz Zaret and Melvin Zaret whose lifelong curiosity and dedication to their own projects continue to be an inspiration. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES .........................................................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES ...........................................................................................................................v CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................1 CHAPTER 2: BACKGROUND & HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS ..............................................7 Chile’s Native Forests ..................................................................................................................7 Chile’s History of Forest Management ......................................................................................12 Locating Tortel ...........................................................................................................................22 CHAPTER 3: LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................................25 A Political Ecology Lens: Power, Scale and Social Construction ............................................26 Political Ecology Perspectives: Degradation and Marginalization, Conservation and Control ...........................................................................................................33 CHAPTER 4: METHODS ............................................................................................................40 Normative Commitments ...........................................................................................................40 Data Collection and Analysis .....................................................................................................43 Biophysical Context ..............................................................................................................48 Livelihood Context ................................................................................................................50 National/International Management Context .........................................................................59 A Note Regarding Project Scope and Limitations .....................................................................61 CHAPTER 5: RESULTS .............................................................................................................62 Biophysical Context ...................................................................................................................63 Ground-truthing Observations ...............................................................................................63 Local/Practical Ecological Knowledge .................................................................................66 Qualitative Synthesis .............................................................................................................70 Livelihood Context .....................................................................................................................75 Material Role of Ciprés .........................................................................................................78 Socio-cultural Role of Ciprés .................................................................................................84 Changing Role of Ciprés .......................................................................................................95 National/International Management Context ..........................................................................110 International ..........................................................................................................................111 National ...............................................................................................................................115 A Politicized Species ...........................................................................................................125 CHAPTER 6: DISCUSSION & CONCLUSIONS ...................................................................131