by Karem Acero and José Javier Toro
Presented at the III Latin American Congress on Environmental Conflicts (COLCA-2018), city of Boca del Río (Veracruz, México), October 1 to 5, 2018
Abstract:
Climate change alters the environment and the resulting effects are exacerbated by anthropic activities, which affect human life in the medium and long term. One of this effects is the rise of the sea level that led to the creation of the category ‘environmental refugee’ due to phenomena like tsunamis.
Sea level rise in Colombia has caused the disappearance of two islands in the Corales de Rosario and San Bernardo Natural Park, a protected area since 1979 but invaded by different communities. Isla Múcura is located there, and it is a territory characterized by armed conflict, narcotrafficking, disputes over land and invasion of tourism infrastructure (privatization). The Community Council of this island is seriously affected by these factors, in addition to the erosion caused by the rise of the sea level.
The objective of this research is analyzing the environmental effects of this phenomenon. A social and environmental diagnosis of the island was carried out through secondary information. This was complemented by primary information (interviews, social cartography and a Digital Elevation Model). Results revealed which areas of the island have disappeared and how this situation generates territorial disputes between the Community Council and tourist complexes.