Returning the Commons: Resource Access and Environmental Governance in San Luis, Colorado

摘要: In Lobato v. Taylor (2002) the Colorado Supreme Court awarded Hispano heirs to 1843 Mexican-era Sangre de Cristo Land Grant returned access formerly communal land known as La Sierra, Ranch, or today Cielo Vista Ranch. The 77,000 acre parcel of mountainous remains privately owned, yet through over 4,000 individuals have been legal rights for “reasonable use” pastures and forests grazing, firewood, timber. Based on roughly 15 months ethnographic research in collaboration with Rights Council based San Luis, CO, this dissertation examines struggles access, use, govern commons from 1860s 2011. Part I traces iterative reproduction property sovereign authority resource use Grant. show how has contributed U.S. private even it commons. II after 2002, illustrating configurations sovereignty, property, law, identity, nature shaped use. find that individualism are central contemporary ways hindered effective procedures environmental governance, monitoring, enforcement. Throughout study, advance an analysis which socio-spatial formations iteratively reproduced challenged contingent contested governance RETURNING THE COMMONS Resource Access Environmental Governance By Keith W. Lindner B.A. Allegheny College, 2004 M.A. State University, 2007 DISSERTATION Submitted partial fulfillment requirements degree Doctor Philosophy Geography Graduate School Syracuse University December 2012 Copyright All Reserved Acknowledgments As Ann Laura Stoler recently suggested, term “acknowledgment” connotes obligatory recognition debt does not adequately capture deep gratitude appreciation one feels at end undertaking such this. will never be able fully repay debts made these pages possible: care, friendship, engagement, support, relief, generosity others have, necessarily, deeply intertwined writing since well before its beginnings. If there strengths work, owe them following organizations, though am sure missed many. shortcomings, errors, omissions my own responsibility. Above all, thank tireless Board Directors making work possible tolerating presence, absence, throughout project. Norman Julie Maestas, Shirley Romero, Arnold Valdez, Junita Jose Martinez deserve special mention supporting me innumerable both large small. Countless people southern northern New Mexico shared their time, thoughts, memories, a small number home cooked meals me, truly grateful. also Maria Mondragon-Valdez Devon Pena providing indispensable signposts, particularly during early stages fieldwork. Chris, Leland, Angelo, Maggie helped survive first hostile Anglo territory found safer more comfortable environs further south. At Syracuse, lucky outstanding doctoral committee, each member significantly project: Matt Huber, Eric Ishiwata, Alison Mountz, Tom Perreault, Jamie Winders. My largest advisor who provided steadfast encouragement, challenge, patience, support all kinds,