Abstract:During the process of delimitation of the Santurban moorland ecosystem (Colombia), a socioenvironmental conflict arose from small and large-scale mining extractivism. This study analyzes the social representations of settlers in this moorland ecosystem, regarding the meaning, practice and value of their territory and water as a vital resource, in order to interpret their perceptions on the internal dynamics of conflict and the different aspects symbolizing their complexity. An ethnographic design was implement… Show more
“…Unlike other cases where mining was allowed which had a negative impact on the environment and health, triggering the process of claiming damages, in Bucaramanga, civil society mobilized against the permission for gold exploitation by a multinational mining company. However, this social fight has generated a socio-environmental conflict between the inhabitants of the páramo who conduct small-scale gold mining without mercury use, and the inhabitants of the city who consume the water coming from the mountain [11]. This fact motivated our research question: what are the perceptions of government officials, the members of civil society, and the academics about environmental health problems and the region's governance in Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area, Colombia.…”
The participation of civil society is essential for environmental health policies to be accepted. The objective of this study was to know the perceptions of government officials, members of civil society, and academics about environmental health problems and its governance in the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area, Colombia. In the region, there is a strong citizens movement that defends the moorland ecosystem (páramo) as a source of drinking water for large-scale mining projects. A multi-method study was conducted, including the review of newspaper and scientific articles, a citizens survey, and interviews and focus groups with identified key stakeholders. The findings indicate that government officials prioritize their actions on issues related to air and water pollution and environmental education. In contrast, citizens prioritize water availability from the moorland ecosystem. There are some advances in the management of environmental health, mainly related to greater citizen awareness. Contrary perceptions among government officials, academics, and civil society prevent adequate prioritization of environmental health problems. Participation of civil society is absent in activities related to environmental governance. An ongoing citizens science experience engaging high school students and the academy can be the first meeting point with government officials in the pathway to improve the environmental governance in the territory. The participation of civil society in the environmental health governance must be enforced to broaden the issues of interest and prioritize the activities in short- and long-term policy planning.
“…Unlike other cases where mining was allowed which had a negative impact on the environment and health, triggering the process of claiming damages, in Bucaramanga, civil society mobilized against the permission for gold exploitation by a multinational mining company. However, this social fight has generated a socio-environmental conflict between the inhabitants of the páramo who conduct small-scale gold mining without mercury use, and the inhabitants of the city who consume the water coming from the mountain [11]. This fact motivated our research question: what are the perceptions of government officials, the members of civil society, and the academics about environmental health problems and the region's governance in Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area, Colombia.…”
The participation of civil society is essential for environmental health policies to be accepted. The objective of this study was to know the perceptions of government officials, members of civil society, and academics about environmental health problems and its governance in the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area, Colombia. In the region, there is a strong citizens movement that defends the moorland ecosystem (páramo) as a source of drinking water for large-scale mining projects. A multi-method study was conducted, including the review of newspaper and scientific articles, a citizens survey, and interviews and focus groups with identified key stakeholders. The findings indicate that government officials prioritize their actions on issues related to air and water pollution and environmental education. In contrast, citizens prioritize water availability from the moorland ecosystem. There are some advances in the management of environmental health, mainly related to greater citizen awareness. Contrary perceptions among government officials, academics, and civil society prevent adequate prioritization of environmental health problems. Participation of civil society is absent in activities related to environmental governance. An ongoing citizens science experience engaging high school students and the academy can be the first meeting point with government officials in the pathway to improve the environmental governance in the territory. The participation of civil society in the environmental health governance must be enforced to broaden the issues of interest and prioritize the activities in short- and long-term policy planning.
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