Life Around the Plastic Sea

Abstract

The amount of greenhouses in the Campo de Dalías, Almería (Spain) have caused land degradation and desertification in the area over the past decades. This research examines the different adaptation strategies of both greenhouse owners and immigrant greenhouse workers to the development of desertification. A lot of research has been done on this area, although none of it used the combination of the two specific paradigms that are used in this research in order to explore people’s livelihoods and strategies. By using this combination, a broad and at the same time deep insight in both groups’ adaptations is retrieved, which leads to a unique outcome. Both groups have different assets, livelihood strategies, and desired livelihood outcomes, which influences their individual adaptations to drought. In order to obtain the data for this research, literature study and mainly qualitative methods were used. The research’ conclusions combine both groups’ interests and characteristics, which is helpful for improving the livelihoods and well-beings for both groups without letting one behind.