The Socio-Ecological Dynamics of Food Insecurity among Subsistence-Oriented Indigenous Communities in Amazonia: a Qualitative Examination of Coping Strategies among Riverine Communities along the Caquetá River, Colombia

Despite the Amazon’s natural wealth, food insecurity is a major concern among indigenous communities. Yet, little is known about the socio-ecological dynamics shaping the contributions of local ecosystems to food security. In this study we examine how ecological features interact with normative stru...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Torres Vitolas, Carlos A., Harvey, Celia A., Cruz García, Gisella S., Vanegas Cubillos, Martha Cristina, Schreckenberg, Kate
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/101603
_version_ 1855530191777955840
author Torres Vitolas, Carlos A.
Harvey, Celia A.
Cruz García, Gisella S.
Vanegas Cubillos, Martha Cristina
Schreckenberg, Kate
author_browse Cruz García, Gisella S.
Harvey, Celia A.
Schreckenberg, Kate
Torres Vitolas, Carlos A.
Vanegas Cubillos, Martha Cristina
author_facet Torres Vitolas, Carlos A.
Harvey, Celia A.
Cruz García, Gisella S.
Vanegas Cubillos, Martha Cristina
Schreckenberg, Kate
author_sort Torres Vitolas, Carlos A.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Despite the Amazon’s natural wealth, food insecurity is a major concern among indigenous communities. Yet, little is known about the socio-ecological dynamics shaping the contributions of local ecosystems to food security. In this study we examine how ecological features interact with normative structures, lifestyles, and livelihoods to expose indigenous peoples to food shortages and how they attempt to cope with worsening food insecurity conditions through participatory exercises with ten indigenous communities along the Caquetá River, Colombia. Our results indicate that traditional food systems are sensitive to human and natural capital disruptions. However, severe food insecurity is prevented by the combination of a well-preserved environment and traditional social institutions, which facilitates widespread access to wild foods, farmland, environmental knowledge, supportive relations, and labour. Nevertheless, traditional adaptations appear insufficient when food insecurity results from health shocks. Our findings highlight the need for interventions that pursue conservation objectives whilst promoting social structures supporting resilience.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace101603
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2019
publishDateRange 2019
publishDateSort 2019
publisher Springer
publisherStr Springer
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace1016032025-03-13T09:44:34Z The Socio-Ecological Dynamics of Food Insecurity among Subsistence-Oriented Indigenous Communities in Amazonia: a Qualitative Examination of Coping Strategies among Riverine Communities along the Caquetá River, Colombia Torres Vitolas, Carlos A. Harvey, Celia A. Cruz García, Gisella S. Vanegas Cubillos, Martha Cristina Schreckenberg, Kate food security seguridad alimentaria colombia food systems Despite the Amazon’s natural wealth, food insecurity is a major concern among indigenous communities. Yet, little is known about the socio-ecological dynamics shaping the contributions of local ecosystems to food security. In this study we examine how ecological features interact with normative structures, lifestyles, and livelihoods to expose indigenous peoples to food shortages and how they attempt to cope with worsening food insecurity conditions through participatory exercises with ten indigenous communities along the Caquetá River, Colombia. Our results indicate that traditional food systems are sensitive to human and natural capital disruptions. However, severe food insecurity is prevented by the combination of a well-preserved environment and traditional social institutions, which facilitates widespread access to wild foods, farmland, environmental knowledge, supportive relations, and labour. Nevertheless, traditional adaptations appear insufficient when food insecurity results from health shocks. Our findings highlight the need for interventions that pursue conservation objectives whilst promoting social structures supporting resilience. 2019-06 2019-06-18T16:27:10Z 2019-06-18T16:27:10Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/101603 en Open Access Springer Torres-Vitolas, Carlos A.; Harvey, Celia A.; Cruz-Garcia, Gisella S.; Vanegas-Cubillos, Martha & Schreckenberg, Kate. (2019). The Socio-Ecological Dynamics of Food Insecurity among Subsistence-Oriented Indigenous Communities in Amazonia: a Qualitative Examination of Coping Strategies among Riverine Communities along the Caquetá River, Colombia. Human Ecology. 1-14 p.
spellingShingle food security
seguridad alimentaria
colombia
food systems
Torres Vitolas, Carlos A.
Harvey, Celia A.
Cruz García, Gisella S.
Vanegas Cubillos, Martha Cristina
Schreckenberg, Kate
The Socio-Ecological Dynamics of Food Insecurity among Subsistence-Oriented Indigenous Communities in Amazonia: a Qualitative Examination of Coping Strategies among Riverine Communities along the Caquetá River, Colombia
title The Socio-Ecological Dynamics of Food Insecurity among Subsistence-Oriented Indigenous Communities in Amazonia: a Qualitative Examination of Coping Strategies among Riverine Communities along the Caquetá River, Colombia
title_full The Socio-Ecological Dynamics of Food Insecurity among Subsistence-Oriented Indigenous Communities in Amazonia: a Qualitative Examination of Coping Strategies among Riverine Communities along the Caquetá River, Colombia
title_fullStr The Socio-Ecological Dynamics of Food Insecurity among Subsistence-Oriented Indigenous Communities in Amazonia: a Qualitative Examination of Coping Strategies among Riverine Communities along the Caquetá River, Colombia
title_full_unstemmed The Socio-Ecological Dynamics of Food Insecurity among Subsistence-Oriented Indigenous Communities in Amazonia: a Qualitative Examination of Coping Strategies among Riverine Communities along the Caquetá River, Colombia
title_short The Socio-Ecological Dynamics of Food Insecurity among Subsistence-Oriented Indigenous Communities in Amazonia: a Qualitative Examination of Coping Strategies among Riverine Communities along the Caquetá River, Colombia
title_sort socio ecological dynamics of food insecurity among subsistence oriented indigenous communities in amazonia a qualitative examination of coping strategies among riverine communities along the caqueta river colombia
topic food security
seguridad alimentaria
colombia
food systems
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/101603
work_keys_str_mv AT torresvitolascarlosa thesocioecologicaldynamicsoffoodinsecurityamongsubsistenceorientedindigenouscommunitiesinamazoniaaqualitativeexaminationofcopingstrategiesamongriverinecommunitiesalongthecaquetarivercolombia
AT harveyceliaa thesocioecologicaldynamicsoffoodinsecurityamongsubsistenceorientedindigenouscommunitiesinamazoniaaqualitativeexaminationofcopingstrategiesamongriverinecommunitiesalongthecaquetarivercolombia
AT cruzgarciagisellas thesocioecologicaldynamicsoffoodinsecurityamongsubsistenceorientedindigenouscommunitiesinamazoniaaqualitativeexaminationofcopingstrategiesamongriverinecommunitiesalongthecaquetarivercolombia
AT vanegascubillosmarthacristina thesocioecologicaldynamicsoffoodinsecurityamongsubsistenceorientedindigenouscommunitiesinamazoniaaqualitativeexaminationofcopingstrategiesamongriverinecommunitiesalongthecaquetarivercolombia
AT schreckenbergkate thesocioecologicaldynamicsoffoodinsecurityamongsubsistenceorientedindigenouscommunitiesinamazoniaaqualitativeexaminationofcopingstrategiesamongriverinecommunitiesalongthecaquetarivercolombia
AT torresvitolascarlosa socioecologicaldynamicsoffoodinsecurityamongsubsistenceorientedindigenouscommunitiesinamazoniaaqualitativeexaminationofcopingstrategiesamongriverinecommunitiesalongthecaquetarivercolombia
AT harveyceliaa socioecologicaldynamicsoffoodinsecurityamongsubsistenceorientedindigenouscommunitiesinamazoniaaqualitativeexaminationofcopingstrategiesamongriverinecommunitiesalongthecaquetarivercolombia
AT cruzgarciagisellas socioecologicaldynamicsoffoodinsecurityamongsubsistenceorientedindigenouscommunitiesinamazoniaaqualitativeexaminationofcopingstrategiesamongriverinecommunitiesalongthecaquetarivercolombia
AT vanegascubillosmarthacristina socioecologicaldynamicsoffoodinsecurityamongsubsistenceorientedindigenouscommunitiesinamazoniaaqualitativeexaminationofcopingstrategiesamongriverinecommunitiesalongthecaquetarivercolombia
AT schreckenbergkate socioecologicaldynamicsoffoodinsecurityamongsubsistenceorientedindigenouscommunitiesinamazoniaaqualitativeexaminationofcopingstrategiesamongriverinecommunitiesalongthecaquetarivercolombia