Final answer:
The Runakuna face challenges in maintaining the practice of coca chewing due to environmental damage from cocaine production, health issues caused by water pollution, and the global stigma associated with coca.
Step-by-step explanation:
The practice of coca chewing is difficult to maintain today for the Runakuna for several reasons. Initially, coca leaves served as a vital part of their daily life, especially for highland communities in the Andes. These leaves, when chewed, provide stimulation to combat fatigue, allow long periods of travel at high altitudes, suppress hunger, and are used in ritual practices. Today, the commercialization and illegal trafficking of coca for producing cocaine have posed threats to traditional practices.
The environmental impact of cocaine production is detrimental to local communities. The conversion of coca leaves to cocaine involves heavy use of chemicals, which contaminate local water supplies upon disposal. This has caused health problems, including birth defects, amongst local populations. Additionally, the global stigma associated with coca due to its association with cocaine has led to a decline in its traditional use and cultural significance.
Gathering and hunting communities like the Hadza have also seen their food sources and environments impacted by external forces, such as the expansion of agriculture and government initiatives. Similarly, the traditional Runakuna practice of coca chewing has become harder to sustain due to environmental degradation, cultural changes, and socio-political challenges affecting their land and lifestyles.