Unravelling Eco-Corruption: Indigenous Perspectives on Conservation Policies and Transformations in Colombia's Tarapoto Region

Speaker: Elías Galindo-Paredes (Dalhousie University, Canada)

The Amazon River, with its ever-shifting meanders, continuously reshapes its banks, inevitably encroaching upon the region recognized as the cradle of the pink dolphins—the Tarapoto lakes. Indigenous communities residing in this area had long anticipated the river's encroachment, recognizing the ephemeral nature of their sacred lake. Nonetheless, both international and local NGOs, in conjunction with the Colombian national government, engaged in advocacy efforts to establish Tarapoto Wetlands as a designated conservation area, a mission to conserve what is “naturally un-conservable.” This collective initiative eventually resulted in its recognition as a Ramsar site in 2018. This endeavour set in motion a phenomenon which I call “eco-corruption,” whereby state and NGO actors benefited from this conservation effort, while simultaneously engendering discord among the indigenous inhabitants as it fundamentally transformed their ways of life. My ethnography amplifies the voices of indigenous fishermen and community leaders, shedding light on their unique perspectives and experiences within the intricate web of conservation politics. By delving into their narratives, my research unravels the complexities of what may appear as a well-intentioned conservation effort but, from their vantage point, emerges as a convoluted venture with significant socio-cultural and ecological ramifications. Indigenous voices serve as an essential cornerstone for understanding the multifaceted dimensions of international conservation and the nuances of ecological policies in Colombia.