ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the hydro-social territory of the upper basin of the Canete River in Peru, by documenting competing uses and access to water resources in eight peasant communities. It gives a theoretical overview of competing uses and access to water resources, followed by a contextualization of the case study. Water has historically been a resource in dispute. Today, there is a global water crisis and we need to develop policies for water security. The chapter presents the study which is part of a larger research project on conservation and development priorities of peasant communities in North Yauyos. It also presents the analysis which is based on the conceptualization that competing uses and access to the same hydrological resource can generate competition, superimposition, and eventual alignment, between different interests and use rights within a hydro-social territory. The social dimension, including social organization and collective action, is therefore an essential and constitutive part of an hydro-social territory.
