Impact of civil works infrastructure on indigenous cultures in Latin America
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| Autor: | |
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| Formato: | artículo original |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de Publicación: | 2026 |
| Descripción: | Civil infrastructure projects such as hydroelectric dams, roads, and wind farms have expanded rapidly in Latin America in recent decades, driven by growing demand for energy and connectivity. However, these projects often overlap with the legitimate territories of Indigenous communities and generate significant impacts on their cultures, ways of life, and territorial rights. Based on a systematic review of studies published between 2020 and 2025, this article examines the multidimensional effects of such infrastructure, with emphasis on emblematic cases such as the Belo Monte dam, the BR-319 highway in the Amazon, and wind farms in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. The findings reveal energy injustices, forced displacement, environmental degradation, and territorial disputes that threaten the cultural continuity of peoples such as the Xingu, the Arara, and the Zapotec. Patterns of exclusion in consultation processes, human rights violations, and disruptions to traditional practices such as Várzea agriculture and sustainable extraction were also identified. In conclusion, although infrastructure projects may promote economic growth, they can also reinforce contemporary forms of colonialism and deepen Indigenous vulnerabilities, which underscores the need for inclusive policies and prior cultural assessments. This synthesis contributes to debates on environmental justice and Indigenous sovereignty and proposes analytical frameworks aimed at reducing these impacts. |
| País: | Portal de Revistas UNA |
| Institución: | Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica |
| Repositorio: | Portal de Revistas UNA |
| Lenguaje: | Español Inglés Portugués |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:www.revistas.una.ac.cr:article/22783 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://www.revistas.una.ac.cr/index.php/tdna/article/view/22783 |
| Palabra clave: | Latin America cultural rights environmental impact indigenous peoples infrastructure América Latina derechos culturales impacto ambiental infraestructura pueblos indígenas direitos culturais infraestrutura povos indígenas |