Sebastian Reyes
I study the conflicts over control and access to water in the Sumapaz river basin in Colombia. In this region, several interests clash over the control of water. From a political ecology approach, I study how the region's waterscapes and hydro-social territories are shaped by these conflicts, considering the historical power relations among the involved actors. I analyse the different meanings and needs around water in the conflicts and how these meanings relate to historical demands around territorialisation, land rights, autonomy, and recognition. Finally, I examine the new discourses and proposals on water governance emerging in the current context of urban growth, environmental crises, and the emergence of new water justice movements.