Nueva Esperanza rural settlement: Challenges of a public policy for environmental and territorial Development in the peri-urban area of Neuquén (1993–2018), Argentina.

Introduction
This paper analyzes the process of a municipal public policy for the peri-urban area (Order No. 5843/93), aimed at the comprehensive approach to social vulnerability and the final disposal and management of urban solid waste (USW). The significance of this case lies in the collective construction of transition objectives from an informal "scavenging" economy to a community-based organization on farms for food production: "Colonia Rural Nueva Esperanza", located on the arid plain north of Neuquén city.

Methods
A historical periodization of the institutional management process and the formation of a new territoriality is developed using normative and documentary analysis (files, press personal archives). Applied methods include stakeholder analysis, key informant interviews, testimonial analysis, life histories, and fieldwork.

Results
Four stages are identified: 1974-1992, 1993-2000, 2001-2006, and 2007-2018.
In the first two stages, the local government stands out for its role in the design and operational implementation; the new community organization emerges as a key actor; and there is a synergistic convergence of multiple institutions and actors in the fragmented peri-urban area of the city.
The third stage corresponds to the outcome of the following:
• Strategic actions;
• Institutional consolidation;
• Management of productive infrastructure.
In the fourth stage, the project faces its greatest challenges due to the discontinuity of political intentions and pressures stemming from the transformation of the area into one of the most complex zones in Patagonia: accelerated urban expansion, development of local infrastructure, and regional coordination with the hydrocarbon activity in “Vaca Muerta”.
Conclusions
The case demonstrates the importance of the State as a key actor in the practice of territorially and environmentally sustainable development. It reveals a process of territorialization and comprehensive refunctionalization of the peri-urban area, along with identity construction and a social conception of environmental problems. Current difficulties highlight the need for long-term governance instruments.