Deforestation in Bolivia - A Discussion of the Implications for Indigenous Communities: - A Discussion of the Implications for Indigenous Communities

Deforestation in Bolivia - A Discussion of the Implications for Indigenous Communities

Jochumsen, Marika Vejen

4. term

Development and International Relations, Master

2020

2020-01-31

64

Bolivia markerede sig som forkæmper for miljørettigheder i 2012 ved at vedtage Moder Jord-loven, som skulle styrke oprindelige folks stilling og beskytte naturens rettigheder. Alligevel er skovrydningen steget siden da og kulminerede i skovbrandene i 2019. Dette speciale undersøger, hvorfor skovrydningen stiger, hvilken rolle den spiller i Bolivias udviklingsmodel, og hvad det betyder for de oprindelige folk, der bor i de berørte områder. Analysen anvender Politisk Økologi og Empowerment-teori med fokus på skala og magt, idéer der opfordrer til at se lokale miljøproblemer i sammenhæng med nationale politikker og globale markeder og til at spørge, hvem der vinder, og hvem der betaler prisen. Resultaterne viser, at skovrydning spiller en central rolle i Bolivias udviklingsmodel, fordi eksportindtægter fra naturressourcer finansierer sociale reformer og initiativer. Denne markedsafhængighed strider mod Buen Vivir-modellen, inspireret af den oprindelige forståelse af Pachamama (Moder Jord), som lægger vægt på at leve godt i balance med naturen. Konsekvenserne for de oprindelige samfund er alvorlige: trusler om tvungen migration, skovbrande og pres fra transnationale selskaber, der vil have adgang til land og ressourcer. Samtidig er der en stærk oprindelig modstand. I områder, hvor samfund har opnået autonomi over deres territorier, har nogle reduceret skovrydningen gennem omhyggelige skovforvaltningsstrategier. Andre har forsøgt at få indflydelse ved at indgå aftaler med selskaber, før statsligt ledede udvindingsprojekter går i gang. Disse kollektive strategier afspejler igangværende empowerment-processer, dvs. opbygning af fælles kontrol, stemme og kapacitet. Samlet konkluderer specialet, at skovrydningen stiger på grund af Bolivias afhængighed af eksportmarkeder og dens rolle i finansieringen af sociale reformer i udviklingsplanen 2016-2020. Det skaber store udfordringer for de oprindelige samfund, men har også udløst kollektiv handling og spirende empowerment.

In 2012, Bolivia positioned itself as a defender of environmental rights by passing the Mother Earth law, intended to strengthen indigenous communities and protect nature’s rights. Yet deforestation has increased since then, culminating in the 2019 forest fires. This thesis examines why deforestation is rising, how it fits into Bolivia’s development model, and what it means for indigenous peoples living in affected areas. The analysis uses Political Ecology and Empowerment Theory, focusing on scale and power—ideas that link local environmental problems to national policies and global markets and ask who benefits and who bears the costs. Findings show that deforestation plays a central role in Bolivia’s development model because export revenues from natural resources help fund social reforms and initiatives. This market dependence conflicts with the Buen Vivir model, inspired by the indigenous concept of Pachamama (Mother Earth), which emphasizes living well in balance with nature. For indigenous communities, the consequences are serious: threats of forced migration, forest fires, and pressure from transnational corporations seeking access to land and resources. At the same time, there is strong indigenous resistance. In territories where communities have achieved autonomy, some have reduced deforestation through careful forest management. Others have tried to shape outcomes by making agreements with companies before state-led extractive projects begin. These collective strategies reflect ongoing processes of empowerment, building shared control, voice, and capacity. Overall, the thesis concludes that deforestation is increasing because of Bolivia’s dependence on export markets and its role in financing social reforms in the 2016-2020 development plan. This creates significant challenges for indigenous communities, but it has also sparked collective action and emerging empowerment.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]

Deforestation ; Bolivia ; Empowerment ; Extractivism ; Development ; Buen vivir ; Power ; Degradation

Download
View record in AAU Student Projects