Common natural assets or natural resources are objects that are naturally existing on earth. They are valuable to manufacture products, meet needs, and provide ecosystem services.
The international community—especially the Inter-American System for the protection of human rights—uses the expression natural resources considering the special relation that indigenous and tribal peoples have with their territory. However, the academic sector and civil society argue in favour of using common natural assets to replace natural resources given that the latter implies an anthropocentric vision.
The concept of natural resources entails an economic and extractivist perspective, which reduces nature to a source of supplies for capitalist production and to its value as a commodity. In contrast, the concept of common natural assets involves greater respect for nature and also aligns with indigenous cultures and traditions. It also considers its environmental and symbolic value.
The international community—especially the Inter-American System for the protection of human rights—uses the expression natural resources considering the special relation that indigenous and tribal peoples have with their territory. However, the academic sector and civil society argue in favour of using common natural assets to replace natural resources given that the latter implies an anthropocentric vision.
The concept of natural resources entails an economic and extractivist perspective, which reduces nature to a source of supplies for capitalist production and to its value as a commodity. In contrast, the concept of common natural assets involves greater respect for nature and also aligns with indigenous cultures and traditions. It also considers its environmental and symbolic value.
References:
Wagner, L. S. (2016) Problemas ambientales y conflicto social en Argentina. Movimientos socioambientales en Mendoza. La defensa del agua y el rechazo a la megaminería en los inicios del Siglo XXI. (Tesis de posgrado). Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina Disponible en RIDAA-UNQ Repositorio Institucional Digital de Acceso Abierto de la Universidad Nacional de Quilmes.
Montaña, Elma Escenarios de cambio ambiental global, escenarios de pobreza rural. – 1a ed. – Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires: CLACSO, 2013.
Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. (2009). Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas y Tribales Sobre sus Tierras Ancestrales y Recursos Naturales.
Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. (2019). Situación de los Derechos Humanos de los Pueblos Indígenas y Tribales de la Panamazonía.
Photo credit: hillsn_1992
Wagner, L. S. (2016) Problemas ambientales y conflicto social en Argentina. Movimientos socioambientales en Mendoza. La defensa del agua y el rechazo a la megaminería en los inicios del Siglo XXI. (Tesis de posgrado). Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina Disponible en RIDAA-UNQ Repositorio Institucional Digital de Acceso Abierto de la Universidad Nacional de Quilmes.
Montaña, Elma Escenarios de cambio ambiental global, escenarios de pobreza rural. – 1a ed. – Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires: CLACSO, 2013.
Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. (2009). Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas y Tribales Sobre sus Tierras Ancestrales y Recursos Naturales.
Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. (2019). Situación de los Derechos Humanos de los Pueblos Indígenas y Tribales de la Panamazonía.
Photo credit: hillsn_1992