Agropastoralism and re-peasantisation: the importance of mobility and social networks in the páramos of Boyacá, Colombia

Summary

This qualitative study challenges conservation narratives that frame small-scale livestock farming as environmentally destructive by demonstrating that agropastoral mobility and socio-economic networks in Colombia's páramos support both biodiversity and rural livelihoods. Through 53 semi-structured interviews and spatial analysis, the authors argue that mobile production strategies prevent overgrazing, facilitate dynamic pasture management, and enable re-peasantisation through solidarity economies and collective resource management. The paper contributes conceptually to understanding autonomy in re-peasantisation by empirically demonstrating how movement and flexible production systems could underpin socio-ecologically just conservation approaches.

UK applicability

The findings on mobile pastoralism and social networks may have limited direct applicability to UK upland farming systems, which operate under different ecological, regulatory and market conditions. However, the paper's critique of land-sparing conservation and its emphasis on understanding local socio-economic networks could inform UK policy discussions around upland farming support and community-led land management.

Key measures

Qualitative interview data from 53 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and small-scale agropastoralists; field observations; spatial analysis of movement and social networks across the páramos

Outcomes reported

The study examined how small-scale agropastoralism contributes to re-peasantisation and agrobiodiversity conservation in the páramos of Boyacá through analysis of socio-economic networks, mobility patterns, and land management practices. Key findings concerned the role of agropastoral mobility in preventing overgrazing, facilitating land access, and enabling autonomy through interconnected social networks and the solidarity economy.

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