Todos por Chaparri: socio-environmental justice and community empowerment in the Chaparri Nature Reserve, Perú

In Peru, as well as in other Latin American countries, the challenge of balancing the goals of nature conservation with those of sustainable socio-economic development remains a topic of intense and passionate debate. Fervent calls for socio-environmental justice oppose a long history in which modernization has been associated with extractivist logics and practices that have irreversibly damaged nature and the peasant and indigenous world. Protected areas, alongside other conservation approaches and instruments, are at the heart of a complex debate in which the contemporary human-nature relationship is questioned.

From our participatory action research project, carried out in partnership with the local community and other relevant actors, we highlight the pressing need for greater awareness and understanding regarding the complex dilemmas and critical junctures faced by protected areas, such as Chaparri. Furthermore, during this community talk, we will engage in critical reflection on the need for socially sensitive cooperation and solidarity networks with vulnerable territories and communities. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the inherent limitations and challenges associated with establishing and maintaining such multi-actor international collaborations.