The Inter-community Agreement proposes that the distribution of monetary benefits arising from the marketing
of native potato seeds and biological resources, and those from the use of goods and activities within the
Park (such as those derived from the agreement with CIP, payment for entry to the Park, and revenues from
the Potato Park restaurant), should be fair and proportionate to the needs, capabilities, responsibilities,
contributions, and efforts of the communities and their members. The same criteria apply to the non-monetary
benefits, such as donations, scholarships, and infrastructure. Once the benefits are distributed among the
communities, the surplus is used to construct and maintain a social safety net, using the solidarity-building
principles of the traditional ayllu, thereby providing a measure of protection against neoliberal encroachment
on Indigenous societies. The benefits from scholarships, or other benefits related to education, are distributed
according to the structure and rules applied to family relationships in Quechua culture, providing inter-cultural
education that strengthens cultural resilience.
Each collective of the Park is organized in a different way, depending on the type of product or services it
provides. In all cases customary laws govern the distribution of monetary and non-monetary benefits. The
gastronomy collective and the medicinal plants collective use collective labour to create a product or service
for sale, and the monetary benefits are distributed equally among participants. The craft collective uses
individual labour to produce goods for sale, so the profits from a sale go to the individual craftsperson. In the
case of tourism guiding services and home stay programs, the direct monetary benefits go to an individual
or family on a rotational basis.
As has been mentioned, customary norms are dynamic and the communities have, over the years, incorporated
various elements of national legislation. An example of this dynamism is the creation of the Intercommunity
Fund to finance community projects of short- and medium-term duration, in order to support sustainability.
Although the Intercommunity Agreement outlines the establishment of two funds, the Cultural Affirmation
Fund, and the Fund for Reinvestment for Sustainability, the possible functioning of these funds is still in
review. In the mean time, the Intercommunity Fund receives the funds which are intended to be destined
to both funds. According to the Inter-community Agreement framework, particularly clauses 35 and 51, all
community members must provide the fund with a percentage of the monetary benefits they receive through
participation in the various economic collectives or through use of the Potato Park’s collective trademark. The
amount which was decided upon by the collectives is 10% of earnings, as a measure of reciprocity with the
communities of the Park and as a contribution towards the maintenance of the Collective Biocultural Heritage.
The fund is to be distributed once a year among the communities who have contributed, in proportion to that
contribution.
The Intercommunity Fund is also fed by contributions from Park admission fees associated with tourism
activities, educational activities, visits by journalists and donations. While still modest, the amount of income
generated from all tourism and educational activities has nearly doubled each year between 2007 and 2010.
4.7 Conflict Resolution Mechanisms
By relying on customs and traditions, customary norms are known and accepted by all community members.
Nevertheless, there is always the possibility of conflicts arising from the application of these norms. The
community authority is responsible for dealing with these conflicts at three levels reflecting the overall
governance structures used by the Park: the family, traditional authority, and the community’s General
Assembly. The Inter-community Agreement proposes a conflict resolution mechanism based on this scheme.
When conflicts involve more than one community, they are resolved by the General Assembly of the Potato
Park. The Andean justice system has a restorative focus, so these irrevocable decisions are aimed at restoring
social equilibrium. The Inter-community Agreement recognizes that good management of conflict resolution
requires the rational management of the resources, which are vital to the productivity of the communities and
the livelihoods of their members.
Community Biocultural Protocols
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