Planned relocation in Peru: advancing from well-meant legislation to good practice

Abstract

Along Peru’s rainforest rivers, rising flood extremes are increasingly exceeding coping capacities of vulnerable households. Peru has detailed legislation that embraces planned relocation as a strategic solution to such situations and various relocation projects are underway across the country. This research brief analyzes well-being consequences for two communities requesting relocation, using qualitative data collected from experts and 30 affected people. Initial results emphasize that weak governance, poverty, third-party involvement, and community action have influenced relocation outcomes. Delays and fragmented implementation have threatened people’s well-being. One community, waiting for land to relocate since 2015, has suffered from continued hazard exposure, deteriorated material conditions, and reduced subjective well-being. The second community achieved relocation only after a decade in detrimental limbo. Although livelihood challenges persist, its inhabitants now benefit from better market access and decreased exposure, leading to higher subjective well-being. With rising needs for relocation worldwide, the cases highlight that detailed legislation is not sufficient to safeguard people’s well-being. Advancing from well-meant legislation to good practice requires adequate institutional capacity, effective mechanisms for oversight and accountability, better engagement of third parties, and dedicated efforts to strengthen community agency.

Social consequences of planned relocation in response to sea level rise: impacts on anxiety, well-being, and perceived safety

“…The results from this study resonate with a growing body of evidence that demonstrate comparable adverse social consequences from relocation interventions. These include economic outcomes such as increased indebtedness and loss of livelihood options, through to social outcomes such as disrupted community ties and a loss of identity 28 – 32 . The findings clearly demonstrate impacts on socio-psychological well-being in ways that work to disentangle these adverse consequences arising out of adaptation responses from the negative effects of exposure to sea level rise.…”

Towards Transformative Climate Relocation Initiatives

“…In the planned relocation of two villages, local authorities lacked the capacity to prepare relocation plans that were appropriate to local practices and advance relocations in a timely manner. This resulted in prolonged hazard exposures, deteriorating material conditions and declines in well-being (Bergmann 2021). In Quebec, although residents valued the opportunity for buyouts to help those impacted by flooding, the lack of coordination and bureaucracy were a major challenge to the program's implementation (Cottar et al 2021).…”

“…In these situations, relocation initiatives could weaken community ties and networks. The disconnect between available programs and people's ways of living has denied Indigenous coastal communities in Alaska the resources to move their communities despite national recognition of their extreme risk and community requests for relocation funds (GAO 2003, 2009; Marino 2018: Shearer 2012).…”

“…As early as 2003, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported 31 Native Alaskan villages facing imminent risks from flooding and erosion, with all 200 communities facing some flooding, and four requiring relocation (GAO 2003). The lack of a government agency with the organizational and technical capacity and resources to facilitate a community-wide move impeded relocation efforts despite increasing risks (Albert et al 2018; Bronen 2011; GAO 2009; Ristroph 2017). No national-level governmental mechanisms are available in the United States to assist entire communities who are attempting to move collectively (Bronen 2011; Maldonado et al 2013).…”

“…Bergmann (2021) also has observed governance constraints to community moves in Peru, which has adopted detailed legislation that embraces planned relocation and has several relocations underway. In the planned relocation of two villages, local authorities lacked the capacity to prepare relocation plans that were appropriate to local practices and advance relocations in a timely manner.…”