The urbanization process in a transhumant pastoral territory of North-West Patagonia, Argentina (1920-2010)
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Abstract
Many mountainous, arid and semi-arid regions sustain rural communities with cultural and socio-productive characteristics, which are adapted to the biophysical conditions of such environments, such as transhumant pastoralism from North-West Patagonia. In these contexts, it has been proposed that the urbanization process can have implications in the sedentarization of the communities, in the ecological and agronomic fragmentation of landscapes and in its cultural practices. These changes entail social, productive and ecological consequences. The aim of this study was to analyze if there is evidence of an urbanization process in Northern Neuquén, Argentina, its spatial and temporal magnitude as measured by demographic and educational indicators, and its association with current regional infrastructure levels. Results are discussed in the light of proposals for territorial development and governance and their implications for transhumant pastoral activity.