The circulation of people. A critical discussion on the impact of glacier shrinkage upon population mobility in the bolivian andes
| Résumé |
This article examines the role of glacial retreat on people
migration in the Bolivian Andes. In the Andean region, glacial
retreat is one of the most noticeable effects of global warming.
Significant acceleration in glacial melting has been observed since
the 1980s and glacial runoff is vital to the region, supporting
local ecosystems as well as providing water for drinking,
irrigation and energy production. In academic literature,
international medias and NGO reports it is often assumed that these
impacts are severely affecting the livelihood of the local
population who may be forced to migrate. Based upon a literature
review and a case study in the Bolivian Andes, this paper brings a
critical discussion on this assumption. The confrontation of two
bodies of academic literature, the first on migration and climate
change and the second on glacial retreat impacts allows the
conceptualisation of some mechanisms to understand how the impact
of glacial retreat may be considered as migration drivers. These
mechanisms are then illustrated and discussed with a case study
that brings empirical insights on mobility patterns of rural
communities living on the edge of a retreating glacier. |
| Mots-clés |
Migration ; climate change ; glacier ; glacial retreat ; Andes ; mountain ; Bolivia |
| Citation | Kaenzig, R. (2013). The circulation of people. A critical discussion on the impact of glacier shrinkage upon population mobility in the bolivian andes. Unpublished Working Paper. MAPS - Maison d'Analyse des Processus Sociaux. |
| Type | Working paper (Anglais) |
| Année | 2013 |
| Type de travail | Working Paper |
| Département | Institut de Géographie |
| Institution | MAPS - Maison d'Analyse des Processus Sociaux (Neuchatel) |
| Nombre de pages | 29 |
| URL | http://doc.rero.ch/record/32380 |
| Liée au projet | CliMig |