Rainforest Cowboys: The Rise of Ranching and Cattle Culture in Western Amazonia (Latin American and Caribbean Arts and Culture Publication Initiative)

This ambitious interdisciplinary study is the first to examine the interlinked economic uses and cultural practices and beliefs surrounding cattle in Western Amazonia, where cattle raising is at the center of debates about economic development and environ Winner, Brazil Section Book Award, Latin American Studies Association, 2016 The opening of the Amazon to colonization in the 1970s brought cattle, land conflict, and widespread deforestation. In the remote state of Acre, Brazil, rubber tappers fought against migrant ranchers to preserve the forest they relied on, and in the process, these "forest guardians" showed the world that it was possible to unite forest livelihoods and environmental preservation. Nowadays, many rubber tappers and their children are turning away from the forest-based lifestyle they once sought to protect and are becoming cattle-raisers or even caubois (cowboys). Rainforest Cowboys is the first book to examine the social and cultural forces driving the expansion of Amazonian cattle raising in all of their complexity. Drawing on eighteen months of fieldwork, Jeffrey Hoelle shows how cattle raising is about much more than beef production or deforestation in Acre, even among "carnivorous" environmentalists, vilified ranchers, and urbanites with no land or cattle. He contextualizes the rise of ranching in relation to political economic structures and broader meanings to understand the spread of "cattle culture." This cattle-centered vision of rural life builds on local experiences and influences from across the Americas and even resembles East African cultural practices. Written in a broadly accessible and interdisciplinary style, Rainforest Cowboys is essential reading for a global audience interested in understanding the economic and cultural features of cattle raising, deforestation, and the continuing tensions between conservation and development in the Amazon. The Opening Of The Amazon To Colonization In The 1970s Brought Cattle, Land Conflict, And Widespread Deforestation. In The Remote State Of Acre, Brazil, Rubber Tappers Fought Against Migrant Ranchers To Preserve The Forest They Relied On, And In The Process, These 'forest Guardians' Showed The World That It Was Possible To Unite Forest Livelihoods And Environmental Preservation. Nowadays, Many Rubber Tappers And Their Children Are Turning Away From The Forest-based Lifestyle They Once Sought To Protect And Are Becoming Cattle-raisers Or Even Caubois (cowboys). Rainforest Cowboys Is The First Book To Examine The Social And Cultural Forces Driving The Expansion Of Amazonian Cattle Raising In All Of Their Complexity. Drawing On Eighteen Months Of Fieldwork, Jeffrey Hoelle Shows How Cattle Raising Is About Much More Than Beef Production Or Deforestation In Acre, Even Among 'carnivorous' Environmentalists, Vilified Ranchers, And Urbanites With No Land Or Cattle. He Contextualizes The Rise Of Ranching In Relation To Political Economic Structures And Broader Meanings To Understand The Spread Of 'cattle Culture'. This Culture-centered Vision Of Rural Life Builds On Local Experiences And Influences From Across The Americas And Even Resembles East African Cultural Practices. Written In Broadly Accessible And Interdisciplinary Style, Rainforest Cowboys Is Essential Reading For A Global Audience Interested In Understanding The Economic And Cultural Features Of Cattle Raising, Deforestation, And The Continuing Tensions Between Conservation And Development In The Amazon. -- Back Cover. List Of Illustrations -- List Of Tables -- Acknowledgments -- The Journey To Acre -- The Expansion Of Cattle Raising In Acre -- Ruminations On Cattle Economies And Cattle Cultures -- Ideologies Of Nature And Human-environment Interactions -- The Ranchers: Smooth Hands, Progress, And Production -- The City And The Contri -- Here's The Beef: Symbol, Sustenance, And Hamburger Connections -- Rubber-tapper And Colonist Transitions : Environment, Practice, And Identity -- The Appropriation Of Cattle Culture : Perceptions, Behaviors, And Methodological Considerations -- The Full Picture -- Appendix A. Social Groups And Research Area -- Appendix B. Methods And Data -- Appendix C. Levels Of Agreement Among Social Groups -- Works Cited -- Index. Jeffrey Hoelle. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 181-192) And Index. "The opening of the Amazon to colonization in the 1970s brought cattle, land conflict, and widespread deforestation. In the remote state of Acre, Brazil, rubber tappers fought against migrant ranchers to preserve the forest they relied on, and in the process, these 'forest guardians' showed the world that it was possible to unite forest livelihoods and environmental preservation. Nowadays, many rubber tappers and their children are turning away from the forest-based lifestyle they once sought to protect and are becoming cattle-raisers or even Caubois (cowboys). Rainforest Cowboys is the first book to examine the social and cultural forces driving the expansion of Amazonian cattle raising in all of their complexity. Drawing on eighteen months of fieldwork, Jeffrey Hoelle shows how cattle raising is about much more than beef production or deforestation in Acre, even among 'carnivorous' environmentalists, vilified ranchers, and urbanites with no land or cattle. He contextualizes the rise of ranching in relation to political economic structures and broader meanings to understand the spread of 'cattle culture'. This cattle-centered vision of rural life builds on local experiences and influences from across the Americas and even resembles East African cultural practices. Written in broadly accessible and interdisciplinary style, Rainforest Cowboys is essential reading for a global audience interested in understanding the economic and cultural features of cattle raising, deforestation, and the continuing tensions between conservation and development in the Amazon"--Back cover