Del conflicto a la coexistencia : un análisis de las dinámicas socioambientales de la cuenca del río Negro, Antioquia

Abstract

Neo-extractivism, supported by liberal governments, aims to exploit natural resources for domestic consumption and export. The increase in the world’s population and the demand for raw materials drive this model, which causes environmental and social damage. In the case of Colombia, and particularly for the Antioquia department, extractive activities have generated socio- environmental conflicts between those seeking to profit from natural resources and the local communities settled in the regions. To delve deeper into this conflicted relationship, the research objective is to analyze territorial dynamics to understand the effective management of socio-environmental conflicts by public, private, and community actors in the Rio Negro watershed. The study is based on the socio-environmental characterization of the Rio Negro River basin through semi- structured interviews that identify and describe 71 actors with environmental impact in the region, and cartographic analysis supported by GIS tools to detect socio-environmental pressures and conflicts. The results reveal various types of conflicts that threaten the conservation of ecosystems, including activities such as agriculture, livestock, mining, tourism, deforestation, land- use changes, water pollution, lack of environmental education, stress on the water system, urban pressure, solid waste management, industry, and lack of regulation. Additionally, the interviews indicate that socio-environmental conflicts are related to the exploitation of natural resources and economic changes in the region, resulting in a need for coherence in environmental protection and conservation actions. It is concluded that in the study area, there are multiple actors involved in environmental conservation in the Rio Negro watershed. Still, there is a lack of coordination and overall direction in their actions, leading to a lack of alignment between initiatives and responses to environmental problems in the region.