Sustainable use of caiman in Argentina: An analysis from the perspective of the stakeholders involved

Commercial use of wildlife is considered a potential tool of conservation and sustainable development, under the ideological assumption that the economic valuation of them generates incentives for conservation, as well as the ecosystems they inhabit, while benefiting local communities. However, many authors question the scope of these initiatives. The reptiles represent 61% of the value of this trade. Two species of Caiman genus inhabit Argentina. In 1997, a ranching farm was developed in Santa Fe province; between 1997 and 2004, more ranching farms were developed in other four Argentinean provinces. This paper aims to develop a conceptual model of the production system and its influence on sustainability trajectory in commercial use of caiman in Argentina based on the stakeholders` perception. The information obtained from interviews was organized into two results: 1) a conceptual model representing the caiman production system, and 2) a stakeholder network. This paper provided insights about the caiman production system and its articulation with the stakeholders involved. Throughout the qualitative analyses here implemented, we have obtained a diagnostic tool which could be converted into a planning tool incorporating quantitative information.