Central American Studies Commons^™

Conflicts Over Extractivist Policy And The Forest Frontier In Central America, Anthony Bebbington, Laura Sauls, Herman Rosa, Benjamin Fash, Denise Humphreys Bebbington

Sustainability and Social Justice

Central America is characterized by an asymmetric forest transition in which net deforestation is a product of both forest loss and patches of forest resurgence. Forest loss is also associated with rights violations. We explore the extent to which extractive industry and infrastructure investments create pressure on forest resources, community rights and livelihoods. Drivers of this investment are identified, in particular: constitutional, legislative and regulatory reforms; energy policies; new financial flows; and ideas of development emphasizing the centrality of infrastructure in combining geographical integration and economic growth. We discuss forms of contentious action that have emerged in response to these …