Peace, healthy environment, and autonomy
Peace, healthy environment, and autonomy

Agroecological practices as a transformation alternative in Colombian rural Andean communities

Author(s): Diana María Rodríguez-Herrera, Luisa María Achicanoy Gómez, Aida Milena García Arenas
Subject(s): Geography, Regional studies
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals; agroecology; ecosystems; peace; Andean communities; transformation initiatives
Summary/Abstract: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are constituted by a set of targets of universal pretension, which aim to “transform our world” through prosperity. This paper asks about the local expression of these global goals. To do this, we analyzed some agroecological transformation initiatives led by Colombian Rural Andean Communities located in contexts influenced by armed conflict. We argue that agroecological practices based in cultural and territorial differences are local transformation alternatives that concur with the SDGs. These agricultural practices defend the ecosystems’ lives (SDG 15) and radically advocate for people’s autonomy, peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16), which is crucial in peace processes and integral reparation to the victims of the Colombian armed conflict. Such approach allows to rebuild knowledge and identities in cases marked by forced migration of the rural communities. According to our inquiries, agroecological practices have the possibility to structure integral reparation proposals formulated by the victims themselves: “community museums to preserve historical memory of the exiled peasant”, “agroecology workshops”, “courses on alimentary security”, “implementing traditional seeds in crop diversification”, “implementing itinerant peasant libraries”, “agroecological fairs” and “mingas”, among others.

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