ABSTRACT
The combination of climate change and the intensification of agriculture have had impacts in Uruguayan rural communities. As with other Latin American governments during the 21st century, the Uruguayan government has attempted to empower rural communities and make them more capable of mobilizing community capitals for adaptation to environmental and other challenges. This study examines the impact of decentralization programs on mobilization of community capitals used for adaptation to environmental challenges in four Uruguayan communities. Research methods include semi-structured interviews conducted in 2012–2013, with key informants from market, state and civil society and participant observation and official documents from local public meetings and assemblies in four communities of southwestern Uruguay. Decentralized programs made environmental problems more visible and made communities capable of distributing locally available resources facilitated by regional and/or national governmental institutions. Results suggest that communities need to strengthen human, financial, built and political capitals to be better prepared for environmental challenges.
