Socio-Ecological Barriers to the Sustainable Management of the Andean Walnut (<em>Juglans neotropica</em>) and the Value Paradox in the Ecuadorian Andes

The Andean walnut (Juglans neotropica Diels), locally known as tocte, is a keystone tree species of major socio-ecological importance in South American mountain ecosystems; it faces severe anthropogenic pressure associated with genetic erosion, habitat fragmentation, and unregulated selective logging. This article applies a qualitative phenomenological approach to examine the power relations and institutional failures shaping the sustainable practice of its value chain in Imbabura Province, Ecuador. Drawing on 21 in-depth semi-structured conversations with key actors, including woodcarvers, sawyers, traders, authorities, and on thematic analysis supported by ATLAS.ti, we identified five thematic categories that reveal the tension between cultural valuation and market pressure. The findings confirm the existence of a value paradox: high demand for walnut timber in the artisanal center of San Antonio de Ib-arra encourages premature harvesting of young trees, undermining the viability of non-timber forest products such as nuts, and accelerating the loss of local genetic re-sources. Interviewees consistently described bureaucratic barriers, informal commercialization, and weak collective organization as central obstacles to long-term viability; we conclude that the long-term conservation of the species requires a transition toward polycentric stewardship, community forestry enterprises, and integrated landscape management. These strategies should combine local knowledge with modern silvicultural practices, strengthen traceability and promote productive landscapes in which the standing tree is valued as much as the harvested timber.