Local regulations for land use in two communities in northern Santiago del Estero

In this paper I describe the local land use regulations in two peasant communities in northern Santiago del Estero (Argentina) and discuss their implications for forest policies. Based on data collected in the context of technical assistance work for the national program Bosques Nativos y Comunidad (Native Forests and Communites) I begin by describing the local norms of land use in both communities, an under studied topic in the literature. I also discuss how the norms and technical proposals regarding the use of forests in Argentina are inappropriate for these actors, who remain, thus, illegal.