The accumulation of Ecological debt towards Latin America and the role of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanisms

Abstract

La deuda ecológica se relaciona con la deuda histórica por el continuo despojo, explotación de los pueblos y contaminación de las naciones del Sur Global desde el siglo XVI. En la actualidad, la deuda ecológica se acumula a través del comercio internacional debido a los costos de los efectos negativos de los extractivismos. La agroindustria y la minería se relacionan con la explotación histórica de América Latina como colonia europea, y al mismo tiempo, estas actividades se relacionan con el comercio internacional. Además, los programas de Pago por Servicios Ecosistémicos (PSE) replican los patrones agroindustriales y mineros. La investigación realiza un análisis comparativo entre agronegocios, minería y programas de PSE y considera algunos patrones y elementos identificados en los procesos plantaciones, extractivismo y extractivismo verde. Estos elementos son los siguientes: i) expansión de extractivismo(s) sobre tierra y territorios, ya que los tres procesos requieren más tierra para continuar la extracción; ii) expulsión de pobladores locales, campesinos e indígenas de sus tierras y territorios; iii) la industria financiera y la especulación. Además, el análisis del rol de los PSE en la deuda ecológica se realiza a través de la revisión de proyectos REDD+ en Perú, Brasil y Costa Rica.

The present research aims to understand the role of payment for ecosystem services programs in Latin America, in the accumulation of Ecological debt from the Global North as debtors. The Ecological debt is related with the historical debt due to the continuous plundering, people’s exploitation, and contamination of Global South nations since the XVI century. In present times, the ecological debt is accumulating through international trade, due to the costs of the negative effects, or externalities of extractivisms. This ecologically unequal exchange puts Global North nations as big debtors, and the trend is not changing. Agribusiness and mining are related to the historical exploitation of Europe in Latin America as a colony, and at the same time, these activities are related to international trade responding to extractivism patterns. In addition, the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs replicate the agribusiness and mining patterns of extractivisms and the accumulation of Ecological Debt. This happens under the Green Economy narrative that requires maintaining economic growth and to protect nature from climate and environmental crises. The carbon sequestration PES is a central element of profit through the carbon market transactions. The research involves a literature review of a theoretical framework which includes Marxist and Neomarxism analysis of international trade, capitalism, environment, ecosystem services, and their linkages. A comparative analysis between agribusiness, mining, and carbon sequestration PES programs considers some patterns and elements identified in commodities frontiers, plantations, extractivism, and green extractivism processes. In addition, the analysis of carbon sequestration's role concerning Ecological debt will be done through the review of REDD+ projects in Peru, Brazil, and Costa Rica. The research comes to the conclusion that carbon sequestration PES mechanisms in Latin America are contributing to the Ecological Debt. The reasons are related to the patterns and elements that extractivists processes as agribusiness and mining, which are also followed by PES programs. These elements are the following: i) expansion of the extractivism(s) over land and territories, as the three processes require more land to continue the extraction; ii) expulsion of local people, farmers, and indigenous people from their land and territories, as these extractivisms overlap; iii) the financial industry and speculation.