Nature enclosures: historic peasants versus public and private conservation units of the Paraguay River in the Pantanal wetlands of western Brazil

A critical examination of conservation policies along the Paraguay River in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands reveals that historic fisher-farmers do not deplete fish stocks, contrary to assumptions by reserve officials. The study challenges the notion that eco-tourism benefits conservation and exposes private reserves as often being hobby ranches or land speculation ventures. Using radical environmental history and critical global political ecology perspectives, researchers highlight a class conflict between conservationists and local peasants, with courts siding with the latter. This work underscores the need for equitable policies that recognize the ecological knowledge and practices of indigenous communities.

Hoefle, S., & Bicalho, A. M. (2016). Nature enclosures: historic peasants versus public and private conservation units of the Paraguay River in the Pantanal wetlands of western Brazil. Belgeo, 4. https://doi.org/10.4000/belgeo.19677