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08 December 2009

Location: San José, Costa Rica.

Jurgen Carls, UPEACE research fellow in the department of Environment and Security, and Warren R. Haffer of Arcadia University have co-authored a new book on the Boruca dam conflict in Costa Rica, with contributions from UPEACE alumni Lauren Jones and Jessica Morey. Conflict Resolution of the Boruca Hydro-Energy Project: Renewable Energy Production in Costa Rica, published by the Continuum International Publishing Group in New York,presents the findings of an in-depth study of mediation processes between the various interests of parties to the Boruca dam conflict, and offers insights into best practices for managing environmental conflict, protecting human rights, and developing in a sustainable way.  A summary of the study and its findings were published in the Peace and Conflict Monitor last year.

More information:
Since the mid-1990s, electricity consumption in Latin America has increased about five percent per year, one of the highest and most sustained growth rates in the world. To meet this demand, new power projects were developed in the region. Such projects were particularly controversial in Costa Rica, specifically the Boruca Dam Project, which prompted major environmental and social justice concerns.

Parties to the conflict include the Costa Rican electrical company (ICE), who sought to construct a large hydro-electric dam, and the people of five indigenous reserves whose interests would be directly affected by the construction, including many who would be relocated. After years of planning and negotiations, ICE has finally given up the idea to build the dam in that area and has been working instead to establish a smaller dam in a different region. 

In this book, the Boruca Dam Project is analyzed as a case study where a mediation approach was used. The "mediation framework" was used to identify the different positions and underlying interests of all stakeholders, including indigenous people, and also as a method for achieving or moving closer to sustainable development. In addition, the book looks at what are the transferable lessons of this approach and whether they may serve as a useful model for other projects in the region.
More information on the study and how to order the book is available through the publisher's website.