When knowledges do not talk. Practices in conflict in the Parque Costero del Sur (Province of Buenos Aires)

Abstract

This work was carried out in the department of Punta Indio (Province of Buenos Aires) with the aim to collect the narratives of involved actors (managers, teachers and settlers) dealing with the Parque Costero del Sur (PCS) as a UNESCO biocultural heritage. We applied standard qualitative methods and techniques used in ethnobiological research. Numerous conflicts characterize the PCS due to its condition of being a protected area with human settlements. The survey showed that the major problems outlined by the narratives are related to the mining activity, the paving of Provincial Route N° 11, the prohibition of exploiting native species, the native / exotic dichotomy and associated practices, which species are mentioned and representative spaces. These problems include both biological and cultural aspects. In general, these two aspects are intermingled in settlers narratives, whereas they tend to be separated in those of teachers and managers of the PCS. This difference depends mainly on residency (or not) in the locality of Punta del Indio, on economic interests and on developed activities. These interests obstruct conversation among the various actors, an aspect that can be facilitated from ethnobiology.