“Buceando” en el socio-ecosistema de los ríos secos: Aproximación a la Socio-Limnología

El socio-ecosistema de los ríos secos

Abstract

“Diving” in the socio-ecosystem of dry rivers: An approach to Socio-Limnology.

Dry rivers constitute the extreme end of the group of non-perennial rivers characterised by the total absence of water during the annual hydrological cycle. Despite the lack of water, these ecosystems can provide a wide range of benefits to humans, which only become evident when analysed from a socio-limnological perspective. However, they are the most despised and mistreated river ecosystems by water and land managers and by society. Dry rivers without their main asset, water, are perceived as a poor system, devoid of life and of little value to humans. The pejorative social perception of these ecosystems has to do with the way in which we humans value and relate to nature. In this paper we delve into the world of relationships between humans and aquatic ecosystems to try to understand the reasons why dry rivers are considered useless and unproductive. How are dry rivers perceived? What values do people attribute to dry rivers? Why is there a disconnection between people and these ecosystems? Can we recover it? What role do emotions play? These are questions that we ask ourselves from socio-Limnology. Science, in general, and Limnology, in particular, must commit itself not only to providing empirical information on aquatic ecosystems and proposing the bases for the management of these ecosystems, but also to encouraging the participation of all social actors as a means of achieving a just human-nature coexistence.