El desplazamiento ambiental: un problema silencioso en Colombia. (Estudio de caso basado en vivencias de pobladores a lo largo del río Magdalena bajo.)

Abstract

This paper presents a case study on the environmental displacement generated by pollution and mismanagement of natural resources in the Magdalena River marshes in the Department of Atlántico. To this end, the effects of environmental displacement were evaluated in terms of biocultural changes and socioeconomic aspects suffered by the displaced population of the lower Magdalena River. In order to know their history, two phases of work were proposed that allowed the collection and analysis of the information, based on a narrative methodological design with a mixed approach, in which methods such as documentary review and semi-structured interview were used. Based on all the information gathered, a proposal for an action plan was made to address the cases of environmental displacement.87 people were interviewed, grouped in 7 family nuclei, who were asked demographic questions, the ages are varied, as well as the socioeconomic conditions, the intergenerational changes and the perception of the events is diverse, which in turn are modified by the gender. Fifty-five percent of the people interviewed were women, 44% were in the age range of 29 to 50 years, 66.7% had children and 55.6% were of black ancestry. Broadly speaking, the people interviewed mentioned that the reason for their displacement was linked to the degradation of the swamp as well as the decrease of fish, which affected their economic livelihood and main activity, which is fishing. The social and cultural rupture is evident in the narratives of the interviewees, so it can be concluded that environmental displacement is a complex problem that affects socio-environmental and socioeconomic aspects of the victims, so it is important to generate a regulation in which the State provides prevention, protection, assistance during displacement and guarantees for the return, internal relocation and resettlement of the victims.