Dispossessed lands and land-use change in the Colombian armed conflict: Exploring a link through a regional case study

Land dispossession in the Colombian armed conflict is a critical form of victimization and a trigger of territorial configurations that shape the rurality of the country. The consequences of the illegal appropriation of land by means of usurpation or forced displacement result in a humanitarian dram...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of rural studies 2024-05, Vol.108, p.103303, Article 103303
Main Authors: Fernandes-Tavares, Tatiane, Yagüe Blanco, José Luis, Pascual, Cristina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Armed conflict
Colombia
Forced abandonment
Land dispossession
Land restitution
Land-use change
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Summary:Land dispossession in the Colombian armed conflict is a critical form of victimization and a trigger of territorial configurations that shape the rurality of the country. The consequences of the illegal appropriation of land by means of usurpation or forced displacement result in a humanitarian drama and various socio-spatial and socio-economic transformations. This research analyzes the intricate dynamics of land use and cover changes in four municipalities within the Cesar department and its relationship with instances of land abandonment and dispossession over a 29-year period (1991–2020). Landsat satellite image time series of TM, ETM+ and OLI data were used to determine land use and land cover (LULC). The classification process was carried out using the Random Forest model. The dynamics of land dispossession and forced abandonment were identified by analyzing 195 land restitution court rulings. Geo-referenced properties were subsequently overlaid on the created LULC maps. As a result, a pattern indicating a direct relationship between both variables was found. Consequently, the phenomenon of land dispossession in the context of this internal armed conflict has contributed to the transition from the traditional agrarian model to the agro-industrial one. •Armed conflict has effects on land systems.•Abandoned and dispossessed lands are more prone to land use/cover changes.•Agroindustrial activities may result from or contribute to land grabbing.•Spatial analysis and rulings give insight into the effects of war on land systems.
ISSN:0743-0167
1873-1392
DOI:10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103303