Ngobe cultural values of cacao and sustainable development in western Panama

Abstract

This thesis examines questions of conservation and development pertaining to the Ngöbe, an indigenous group in western Panama, with a focus on cacao (Theobroma cacao Linn.) agroforestry. A political ecology framework is applied to cacao agroforestry as sustainable development amongst the Ngöbe in a historical context. Through research based on both academic and grey literature, as well as an unpublished thesis, I discuss Ngöbe symbolic values of cacao in the context of conservation and development trends in the region. I make specific reference to the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC), a transnational conservation program which promotes cacao agroforestry in Ngöbe communities. I conclude that future conservation efforts should be directed towards the development of policies that enhance broader Ngöbe values for cacao and should not rely overwhelmingly on market-based criteria.