Interconnected Mobilities and Mining Extractivism in Napo Province (Ecuador). A Contribution of the New Mobility Paradigm to Political Ecology

Various studies show that territories dominated by extractive economies have a particular relationship with population movements. However, this is often seen as a side effect, whether in terms of the expulsion of inhabitants or the attraction of workers. Drawing on the dialogue between political ecology and the New Mobility Paradigm, I propose a new perspective in which mobility is not presented as a simple consequence of extractivism. Through ethnographic research conducted in the province of Napo (Ecuadorian Amazon), based on observations in four mining areas, 13 semi-structured interviews, and 11 informal interviews with workers, environmental activists, local authorities, and community leaders, I argue that mobility constitutes and shapes extractivism. Analysing this phenomenon allows for a better understanding of the complex interconnections that are taking place between Napo, other Ecuadorian provinces, and countries in the region, as well as the profound transformation that their territories are undergoing in both physical and social terms.