Environmental licensing as a source of conflicts in the hydroelectric sector in Colombia: the case of the small hydroelectric plants in Eastern Caldas (in Spanish)

The article is based on qualitative, socio-juridical research, which aims to understand the origin and transformation of socio-environmental conflicts occurring around the issuance of environmental licenses for the construction and operation of small hydroenergy plants (SHPs) in the East of Caldas Department, Colombia. The environmental licensing in this region of the country has resulted in a series of conflicts between communities and authorities are the authorities in charge of the environmental permits. These conflicts arise, among other reasons, due to the lack of social participation, i.e., people and affected communities are not consulted or the participation processes are deficient or precarious, leading to decisions that are not consensual and do not respond to the interests of the communities in the protection of their territories and the environment. Environmental licenses are accompanied by the  presumption of legality but do not have the sufficient and necessary social legitimacy, because communities feel the absence of the State with the resulting lack of protection of their rights and environment. In search of environmental justice, communities have carried out mobilizations asking for the protection of their right to participate in decisions that may affect their environments.