¿Cuánto ‘vale’ el bosque nativo? Usos políticos y económicos del concepto de servicios ambientales en un estudio de impacto ambiental en Salta, Argentina

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the economic aspects of a judicial case related to the increase of forest clearings in northeastern Salta. Specifically, it analyses the assumptions that allow for the monetization of environmental services as were used in the Environmental Impact Study elaborated during the judicial case. It presents a short history of the concept of environmental services and then a description of the study itself. We suggest that the monetization of environmental services enables a process of commodification by imposing a single valuation language, thus concealing the underlying cultural diversity and the existing conflicts over land ownership.