POLITICAL ECOLOGY AND TERRITORIAL PRACTICE

Abstract

The number of texts already published based on exciting metanarratives about political ecology is impressive, but they normally do not go beyond the level of discourse. Many texts do not even contain a conception of the world coherent with the narration, therefore, theories, categories and concepts are reproduced without due theoretical-methodological and political care. So, we decided to reflect on the topic from a more general perspective, however, based on what we have already done in teaching, research and university extension. Thus, at first, we highlight some aspects that we consider fundamental of the territorial dimension of a political ecology actually committed to the present-future of humanity, a reflection followed by considerations of a territorial praxis that, boldly, we consider decolonial and quite coherent with our vision of world. One of the results is that short circuits of food production, circulation and consumption are one of the alternatives, already very well demonstrated and reflected upon, to practice a socially and environmentally responsible political ecology. Another observed result is that we need a substantial subversion in hegemonic science – universalist and globalizing -, in the techniques and technologies that are increasingly widespread worldwide, in favor of the (im)material singularities of each time-territory.