Abstract-Strategies to strengthen social capital and its importance in solving the human-urban fauna conflict in the city of Ibarra, Ecuador

Abstract

Social capital is considered a fundamental factor in solving conflicts related to the management of urban fauna, because the existence of positive relationships between social actors consolidates the actions, programs and projects that allow the conflicts associated with this relationship to be faced. The objective of the research was to design strategies to strengthen the social capital related to the management of urban fauna in the city of Ibarra, Ecuador. The research approach was qualitative. The social capital associated with the management of urban fauna in the city was identified through the actor mapping methodology. The conflict characterization was carried out through a discussion group with different sector representatives of this social capital. Finally, a triangulation of information was made to generate the proposed strategies. The social capital linked to the human-companion animal relationship conflict in the city of Ibarra, for the most part, is non-governmental organizations and comes from civil society. Two types of conflicts were identified between the organizations that contribute to the urban fauna management in the city: (1) internal conflicts, generated by the lack of resources and the difficulty to legalize, and (2) external conflicts, especially between NGOs and the municipal authority due to the lack of accompaniment and technical support in the activities carried out, as well as the competition between the organizations for financial support. Due to these conflicts, activities are carried out in isolation, leading to the duplication of roles and negative competition between them. Four strategies are proposed, aimed at strengthening the social capital linked to the urban fauna management in the city, as an element that contributes to the solution of the conflicts that are generated.