The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry with the Rights and Resources Initiative

“Global trends – implications on the development and use of natural resources”

Territorial Dynamics in Latin Territorial Dynamics in Latin America: America:

Implications for Implications for rights, resources and developmentrights, resources and development

Susan Kandel Wednesday June 8th, 2011,

Stockholm, Sweden

PROGRAMA SALVADOREÑO DE INVESTIGACIÓN SOBRE DESARROLLO Y MEDIO AMBIENTE

New patterns and old paradigms New patterns and old paradigms the importance of understanding territorial dynamicsthe importance of understanding territorial dynamics

• Fundamentally new territorial dynamics across Latin America with clear implications for rural livelihoods and sustainable landscapes

• Complex and heterogeneous scenarios are the result of interplay between powerful international and regional interests with local actors who must resist, adapt or innovate

• New scenarios still largely analyzed through outdated development lenses that do not sufficiently incorporate new territorial realities, and thus hamper the formulation of equitable and sustainable policies

Presentation

1. Overview of trends and transformations in Latin America

2. How this plays out in specific territories of Central America and the Amazon

3. Alternative scenarios require new paradigms

4. Lessons from Latin America

Regional transitions drive Regional transitions drive new territorial dynamics:new territorial dynamics:

• Structural adjustment, free trade, and diminishing role Structural adjustment, free trade, and diminishing role of the Stateof the State

• Rising interest in conservation and cultural heritage (hot Rising interest in conservation and cultural heritage (hot spots, parks, UNESCO World Heritage)spots, parks, UNESCO World Heritage)

• Democratization and decentralization, environmental Democratization and decentralization, environmental justice movement, advances in indigenous rights justice movement, advances in indigenous rights

• Growth of illicit activities, operations and corridors Growth of illicit activities, operations and corridors (trafficking of persons, drugs, species; cartels and (trafficking of persons, drugs, species; cartels and gangs, etc.) gangs, etc.)

New economic models bring new rural realities:New economic models bring new rural realities:From traditional agro-exports to remittances, tourism and From traditional agro-exports to remittances, tourism and

maquilamaquila

1978 2006

69% 67% 65%74%

69%

12%4%

12%18%

13%

6% 8%

26% 10%14%

14%

9%

15%

17% 24%6%

8%

18%

14% 11%

9%

12%

13%

9%12%

23%

11% 11%

8%

5%

10%

5%

6%

17%

9%

45% 55%

42%34%

7%

6%

4%

3%

5%7%

6% 8% 6%3%5%

GU ES HN NI CR GU ES HN NI CR

Commercial surplus with CA

Remesas

Other services

Tourism

Maquila (Net exports)

Other exports outside of CA

Traditional agro-exports

Foreign exchange generation in Central America

• Dramatic economic changes and new patterns of accumulating wealth• Expansion to “new territories”: Access/control over territories and resources• Territorial reconfiguration, new territorial dynamics and new conflicts

Megaprojects in Mesoamerica and the Megaprojects in Mesoamerica and the Amazon:Amazon:

Trade infrastructure, extractive industry and Trade infrastructure, extractive industry and tourismtourism

Global crisis & territorial dynamicsGlobal crisis & territorial dynamics

A crisis of multiple dimensionsFinancial, energy, climate, food security

A return to the real economy: Bust of the financial bubble, drop in

commodity prices provoke territorial hoarding for new and future sources of wealth: minerals, energy, natural resources in general

An explosive situation:

•Expansion to new territories, land grabbing and hoarding of the hinterlands•New disputes over access and control over resources and territories

TemperatureFrom 0.5°-0.8°C (20th century) & between 2°-6°C by end of 21st century

Climatic EventsThe number of extreme events more than doubled since 1970

EconomyLoss of 10% of GNP from disasters in the Andean countries

Population Disasters cause more than 3,500 deaths & affect more than 1 million persons

HealthIncrease in diseases:malaria, dengue, cholera, …

AgricultureFall of between 12%-50% of food production to 2010 ( food crisis)

Ecosystems y BiodiversityThe Amazon forest could be reduced by 20%-80% in the 21st century

Droughts Droughts

Droughts and Droughts and forest firesforest fires

Inceased Inceased temperaturestemperatures

Droughts

Droughts

Increased

Increased

rainsrains

Increased rains

Increased rains

& floods

& floods

Inten

se rains,

Inten

se rains,

meltin

g o

f the g

laciers

meltin

g o

f the g

laciers

Huracanes & Huracanes & tropical storms

tropical storms

Threatened reefs

Loss of mangroves

Severe reduction in available water

Degradation & desertification

Dryness of land & water scarcity

Rapid decrease in the glaciars

Climate change is wreaking Climate change is wreaking havoc on Latin America with havoc on Latin America with

impacts on human health, food impacts on human health, food security, economic activities and security, economic activities and

physical infrastructure physical infrastructure

Climate crisis & territorial dynamicsClimate crisis & territorial dynamics

Climate responses & territorial disputesClimate responses & territorial disputesNew opportunities derived from the emergent markets associated with climate change mitigation (CDM, REDD and agro fuels)

Mitigation initiatives delinked from adaptation

New disputes for the use of and control over territories (E.g. food production vs. energy production)

Production of agrofuels:

A cure worse than the disease

REDD:An opportunity

or a threat?

How does this play out How does this play out

in specific territories in specific territories of Latin America?of Latin America?

Petén, GuatemalaMosquitia, HondurasThe Peruvian Amazon

Agrofuels, REDD, petroleum, infrastructure, tourism, migration, land concentration, narco-trafficking, etc.

Guatemala: Guatemala: Territorial dynamics & disputes in PetenTerritorial dynamics & disputes in Peten

Honduras: Honduras: Territorial dynamics & disputes in Territorial dynamics & disputes in

MosquitiaMosquitia

Petroleum, hidro-electric projects, REDD, invasions, conservation, narco-trafficking, inter alia

The Peruvian The Peruvian Amazon:Amazon:

Territorial dynamics & disputes Territorial dynamics & disputes

• More roads in the Amazon: Next 10 yrs - More roads in the Amazon: Next 10 yrs - 880 km of new highways & 2000 km paved 880 km of new highways & 2000 km paved roadsroads

• Rapid proliferation of concessions for Rapid proliferation of concessions for hydrocarbon exploration and operation - hydrocarbon exploration and operation - more than ½ of all the titled indigenous land more than ½ of all the titled indigenous land in the Amazonia is covered by concessionsin the Amazonia is covered by concessions

• 15 hydroelectric dams projected in Peruvian 15 hydroelectric dams projected in Peruvian Amazon - 1Amazon - 1stst will flood 40,000 hectares will flood 40,000 hectares

• Gold fever &ravaged rivers – in 338,000 ha. Gold fever &ravaged rivers – in 338,000 ha. of Madre de Dios, 1500+ mining rts of Madre de Dios, 1500+ mining rts

• Opposing interests erupting into conflict: Opposing interests erupting into conflict: Killing of indigenous protesters, human rts Killing of indigenous protesters, human rts abuses, persecution of AIDESEP leaderabuses, persecution of AIDESEP leader

The territorial dynamics lens refocuses attention on the rights, livelihoods and local development aspirations that are disputed in rural territories, and how supporting these key elements can promote alternative pathways to equitable and sustainable development, and even better governance.

Conventional development and conservation paradigms fall short:•Traditional rural development models emphasize efficiency (agricultural yields)•Classic conservation discourses focus on biodiversity (set asides)

Rethinking development requires a reframing of assumptions• Economic growth without equity undermines social cohesion• Physical integrity of inhabited vs. empty landscapes • Revaluing the role indigenous and peasant communities play in

natural resource management and governance

New Dynamics / Old ParadigmsNew Dynamics / Old Paradigms

New paradigms requires centering on expanding rightsNew paradigms requires centering on expanding rights

The Mesoamerican Community

Carbon Initiative:

Strategic role of indigenous Strategic role of indigenous

peoples and forest peoples and forest communities: communities:

A large portion of the region´s A large portion of the region´s forests fall within indigenous forests fall within indigenous

territories and/or areas of territories and/or areas of community management, these community management, these

are frequently the best are frequently the best managed forests as well as the managed forests as well as the

areas most threatened by the areas most threatened by the new territorial dynamicsnew territorial dynamics

Unprecedented opportunity for designing inclusive REDD+ schemes that address the underlying causes of deforestation and degradation, and strategically integrate the role of indigenous peoples and forest communities.

A REDD+ strategy focused on defending, strengthening and expanding the territorial and forest rights of indigenous peoples and community forestry organizations

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