Lands and rights in troubled waters
Coordinator: Dr. T. Boekhout van Solinge
Consortium partners: Boekhout van Solinge (UU, NL); Salcedo Fidalgo (Centro de Estudios Sociales (CES-UNC), Colombia); Vélez Galeano (CENSAT Agua Viva – Friends of the Earth Colombia); Monsalve Suárez (FIAN International (Foodfirst Information & Action Network, Germany); de Jesus Rego (Comissăo Pastoral da Terra – CPT/Santarem, Brazil); Pacheco Peleja (Universidade Federal do Pará – UFPA, Brazil)
Project goal:
Investigating the effects of land-use change in two Colombian and Brazilian river basins.
Introduction:
The Cauca basin in Colombia and the Tapajós basin in Brazil are experiencing many negative effects from a combination of recent causes. These include the explosive expansion of sugar cane and soy monocultures respectively, a rise in deforestation, an increase in commercial, large-scale exploitation of mineral resources, and the development of mega-projects such as hydroelectric power plants that use huge amounts of water. Together, these are contributing to different forms of conflict, social and environmental harm, as well as human rights violations. The aim of this project is to understand and learn from these issues, in order to promote a rights-based approach to development in the areas concerned
Project description:
Our objectives are to reduce the number and impact of conflicts, to contribute to the rule of law and to improve public policies with regard to extractive industries, land rights and water management. To further these goals, the project will adopt a multidisciplinary perspective that includes research and development activities by legal scholars, biologists, anthropologists, geographers, social workers and activists. We will also use innovative research methodologies such as ethnography, social cartography and action research, and include critical viewpoints from (green) criminology. We aim to gather the necessary knowledge during the first two years of the project, and to seek ways of implementing effective policies during the remaining three years.