Natural Resource Conflicts and Sustainable Development

Description

Providing both a theoretical background and practical examples of natural resource conflict, this volume explores the pressures on natural resources leading to scarcity and conflict. It is shown that the causes and driving forces behind natural resource conflicts are diverse, complex and often interlinked, including global economic growth, exploding consumption, poor governance, poverty, unequal access to resources and power. The different interpretations of nature-culture and the role of humans in the ecosystem are often at the centre of the conflict. Natural resource conflicts range from armed conflicts to conflicts of interest between stakeholders in the North as well as in the South. The varying driving forces behind such disputes at different levels and scales are critically analysed, and approaches to facilitate and enforce mediation, transformation and collaboration at these levels and scales are presented and discussed. In order to transform existing resource conflicts, as well as to decrease the risk of future conflicts, approaches that enhance and enforce collaboration for sustainable development at global, regional, national and local levels are reviewed, and sustainable pathways suggested. A range of global examples is presented including water resources, fisheries, forests, human–wildlife conflicts, urban environments and the consequences of climate change. It will be a valuable text for advanced students of natural resource management, environment and development studies and peace and conflict management. The book will also be of interest to practitioners in the field of natural resource management. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of illustrations List of contributors Preface and acknowledgements 1. The sustainability paradox and the conflicts on the use of natural resources Theme one – human-environment relationship Theme two – justice and equity dimensions Theme three – conflict resolution/transformation and pathways towards sustainability The structure of this book References PART I: Overview of natural resource use conflicts in relation to sustainable development 2. Natural resource conflicts in the Capitalocene Introduction Anthropocene versus Capitalocene The transition to new narratives and new realities Conclusion Note References 3. Water, conflict and social sustainability: Bringing power into the water security discourse Introduction The concepts of ‘conflict’, ‘scarcity’ and ‘power’ The relationship between scarcity and conflict Water, sustainable development and social sustainability Sustainable development, different populations and conflict Addressing the social sustainability of water management systems: a factor in creating water security Conclusion Notes References 4. Forest-related community–outsider conflicts through the lens of property rights, access and power Introduction Tenure, ownership, access and power Conflicts between local communities and plantation owners Conflicts around biodiversity conservation Tenure reforms Summary and conclusion References 5. Conflicts in the management of fisheries: The change in roles and perception of the Swedish fishing industry Introduction General aspects of the governance of fisheries The Swedish government’s role – the encouragement to increase fishing Further development of the Swedish fishery and fisheries management Changed roles for the Swedish fisheries management Balance conflicts and cooperation for future fisheries management Conclusion Note Acknowledgements References PART II: Case Studies 6. The raptor and the lamb: Reintroduction of carnivores in agricultural landscapes in Ireland Introduction Methods White-tailed sea eagle Species reintroduction – sea eagles Hill Sheep farmers and conservationists A history of unresolved disputes Sea eagle poisoning Highly mediatised dead eagles giving out the wrong message Discussion and conclusion Note Acknowledgements References 7. From dystopia to utopia – and back again: The case of the Van Gujjar forest pastoralists in the Indian Himalayas Introduction Pastoralism through Himalayan landscapes Destroyers or protectors Dystopia Out of the woods Imagining a utopia in Himalayan forest Discussion Note Acknowledgements References 8. Undermining the resource ground: Extractive violence on Laevas and Adnyamathanha land Introduction Extractive violence on Indigenous country Asymmetric power relations in Sweden and Australia Nuclear waste on Adnyamathanha Country Laevas and LKAB – cooperation or coercion? Violence present in the system Conclusion Note References 9. Forest governance in post-agreement Colombia Introduction A brief history of natural resource conflicts in the Amazon Who owns the Amazon – Rights to forest land in Colombia Post agreement, sustainable development and forest governance in the Columbian Amazon Forest governance in a post-agreement Colombia – possible ways ahead Conclusion References 10. To change, or not to change? The transboundary water question in the Nile Basin Introduction Background – a century of regime building and contestation Historical/current uses versus future uses: Two conflicting paradigms? Conflict resolution and transformation in the Nile Basin Conclusions on the way forward References PART III: Transforming natural resource conflicts 11. Benefit sharing for project risk–conflict reduction and fostering sustainable development: Current understanding and mechanisms Introduction History, rationale and concept of benefit sharing Origins of benefit sharing in the hydropower sector Benefit sharing principles Conflicts around hydropower and, in general, large-scale infrastructure development Global financing for hydropower projects and the surge for using benefit sharing approaches Current status of hydropower development and new paradigms – fostering conflict minimisation and sustainable development Framing benefit sharing Disentangling benefit sharing and mechanisms Benefit sharing mechanisms – typology Concluding key elements and enablers of benefit sharing Social acceptance to operate hydropower projects Making benefit sharing plans tangible Notes References 12. Power and knowledge use in coastal conflict resolution Introduction Coastal conflicts Conflict resolution and transformation Power and knowledge in conflict resolution Three conflicts from Belgium, the UK and Sweden Discussion Conclusions Notes Acknowledgements References 13. Environmental conflicts: Towards theoretical analyses of social-ecological systems Natural resource use conflicts: The research problems The knowledge basis of environmental conflict research Integrating conflict research – interdisciplinary and socialecological perspectives Conclusions – interdisciplinary knowledge synthesis and its difficulties Acknowledgements References 14. The transformative potential of the food system concept: Sustainability conflicts or sustainability transitions? Introduction – global food systems and food security The scope of food system issues and their connection to the Sustainable Development Goals Food, the Sustainable Development Goals and conflicts What is a sustainable food system? On the transformative potential of food systems Conclusion Note References Index