{"id":11907,"date":"2015-11-29T03:00:32","date_gmt":"2015-11-29T08:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/?p=11907"},"modified":"2015-12-04T17:44:24","modified_gmt":"2015-12-04T22:44:24","slug":"conversations-on-sustainability-must-be-democratized-towards-soul-resilience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/2015\/11\/29\/conversations-on-sustainability-must-be-democratized-towards-soul-resilience\/","title":{"rendered":"Democratizing Sustainability Conversations to Create Resilience from the Soul"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Una versi\u00f3n en espa\u00f1ol<\/a> sigue inmediatamente despu\u00e9s.)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe must remember that what we observe isn\u2019t nature itself, but rather nature exposed to our method of questioning and perceiving.\u201d
\n\u2014<\/i>Werner Heisenberg<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In order to talk about sustainability on an urban level, it is fundamental to have an understanding of the social particularities produced by the historical, economic and cultural context of the territories that belong to each urban center. In Latin American cities, informal growth has primarily occurred due to population displacement from rural areas to large, attractive cities that offer more promising economic and job opportunities. In Colombia\u2019s particular case, both the internal armed conflict and scarcity associated to environmental phenomena, such as water shortages, have greatly contributed to the forcible transfer of whole, and disintegrated families, to places that supposedly offer greater security and stability: large cities where, apart from the above mentioned advantages, there\u2019s better access to government institutions.<\/p>\n

Conversations on sustainability are dominated by specialized groups that study these processes, seeking solutions and answers, but this has to change.<\/blockquote><\/figure>\n

Along with people displaced by conflict, other people who don\u2019t have access to urban land settle in the city\u2019s periphery, creating out of control, human settlements in which a \u201cnatural\u201d and unplanned urban expansion takes place, shaped by its inhabitants. These informal growth areas coincide, not by chance, with the city\u2019s most marginal areas, given that land occupation along the urban periphery has occured in places with difficult access because of strong geographical features like hillsides, river banks, and very steep slopes; areas with no infrastructure and on the fringes of legality, for according to policy, these are unbuildable lands. All of this makes these places highly susceptible to environmental and geological risks such as landslides, forest fires, and floods, among others (Motta C., Sobotova L. 2015).1<\/sup><\/p>\n

\"Las
Las Violetas neighborhood, South Bogot\u00e1.\u00a0Photo: Daniel Pineda<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Inequality prevails in Latin American cities, and 57% of the population that lives in poverty is employed by the informal sector.2<\/sup> In this sense, in cities where the informal economy seems to be a common denominator, it\u2019s essential for an integral concept of sustainability to reach everyone, for in the face of urban expansion in which there is minimal planning, neighborhood authorities and residents become responsible for the environmental management of their place and its landscape.3<\/sup><\/p>\n

Currently there are multiple proposals revolving around the discourse of sustainable cities, in which green infrastructure systems are implemented and natural resources are protected to guarantee ecosystem service supply. This discourse, however, is concentrated among scholars, specialized professionals, and a limited percentage of the population. As a result, city planning and its corresponding sustainability proposals are far removed from the people who are building their spaces in terms of trends, as other groups that have settled in these territories have done before them, without taking into account water, vegetation, or open space. Instead, their logic privileges survival and permanence on the land.<\/p>\n

\"11th
11th Commune in Medellin, Colombia.\u00a0Photo: Diana Wiesner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Colombia, small villages in geographic locations where the population is diverse, access is difficult, and the topography is unstable, have been influenced by models of public space transformation found in more densely populated cities like Bogota or Medellin. In Bogota this is evinced in a tendency toward hardened spaces, away from the application of environmentally friendly infrastructure, so although the amount of public space has increased, its quality and its environmental and ecological functions continue to be a challenge. Thus, in cities located in the Amazon, like Leticia and others, we find examples of public spaces that are far from the particular social and climatic context of the place.<\/p>\n

This problem is related to a much greater one, which is that in Latin America, public space is still associated with\u00a0occupied, impermeable space. An example of this is the transformation of many streets into pedestrian thoroughfares, which in terms of prioritizing people over cars is a great advance. But in environmental terms, very few considerations are applied, except for the planting of trees.<\/p>\n

\"Santander
Santander Park, Florencia, Amazonas
Photo: Desiderio Mart\u00ednez<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cities like Monteria, in Cordoba, show that there are important exceptions. There was an evident appropriation of the riverbank by the community, so when the Mayor\u2019s Office started planning its recovery, and with the people\u2019s collaboration, the forest was preserved and a common space was created for the promotion of social welfare and cohesion processes, even though none of this was included in the urban sustainability principles.<\/p>\n

\"R\u00edo
R\u00edo Sinu, Monteria Colombia. Photo: Diana Wiesner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"RioSinu\"<\/p>\n

\"Nuqu\u00ed,
Nuqu\u00ed, Colombia. Photo: Alejandra Artunduaga<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In this case, many concepts that seem limited to experts, but that are actually part of the community\u2019s daily life, are put into practice. Some of these concepts are: resilience, biodiversity management, climate change, sustainability, low impact development, ecosystem services and green infrastructure, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
B<\/b>iodiversity: <\/b>according to the United Nation\u2019s Environmental Program (UNEP – WCMC, 2013) the word biodiversity is a compound word derived from the term \u2018biological diversity.\u2019 Diversity is a concept that refers to variations or differences within a range of entities; biological diversity therefore refers to variety in the living world.<\/p>\n

C<\/b>limate change (FCCC usage): <\/b>a change of climate, which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – IPCC)<\/p>\n

E<\/b>cosystem Services: <\/b>this concept refers mainly to the cultural or economic benefits people receive from the ecosystem.4<\/sup><\/p>\n

G<\/b>reen, or Ecological Infrastructure: <\/b>a network of strategically planned natural and semi-natural spaces and other environmental elements designed and managed to offer a wide range of ecosystem services. This includes green and blue areas, the latter corresponding to aquatic ecosystems, and other physical elements in natural, rural, and urban terrestrial and marine areas. (Conama 2014)<\/p>\n

G<\/b>reen infrastructure<\/b> uses vegetation, soils, and natural processes to manage water and create healthier urban environments. The scale of green infrastructure ranges from urban installations to large tracts of undeveloped natural lands and includes rain gardens, green roofs, urban trees, permeable pavements, rainwater harvesting, wetlands, protected riparian areas, and forests. (Environmental Protection Agency – EPA)<\/td>\n

I<\/b>ntegrated Biodiversity Management: <\/b>process through which actions for the conservation of biodiversity and its ecosystem services, such as knowledge, preservation, use and restoration, are planned, implemented and monitored in a specified social and territorial scenario with the purpose of maximizing social welfare by maintaining the adaptive capacity of socio-ecological systems on a local, regional and national scale. (Alexander Von Humboldt Institute)<\/p>\n

L<\/b>ow Impact Development:<\/b> works with nature to manage stormwater as close to its source as possible. LID employs principles such as preserving and recreating natural landscape features, minimizing effective imperviousness to create functional and appealing site drainage that treat stormwater as a resource rather than a waste product. (Environmental Protection Agency \u2013 EPA)<\/p>\n

R<\/b>esilience<\/b>: \u201cthe capacity of a system, be it an individual, a forest, a city or an economy, to deal with change and continue to develop. It is about how humans and nature can use shocks and disturbances like a financial crisis or climate change to spur renewal and innovative thinking.\u201d (The Stockholm Center of Resilience)5<\/sup><\/p>\n

S<\/b>ustainability<\/b>: making use of resources without depleting them.<\/p>\n

S<\/b>ustainable development:<\/b> development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (Panel on Climate Change \u2013 IPCC.) 6<\/sup><\/p>\n

T<\/b>ransformational Adaptation: <\/b>\u201ca process through which fundamental attributes of a system are changed in response to the climate and its impacts.\u201d (IPCCC 2014)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

On one hand, the terms above must be simplified in order for the people who live and build informally to understand them, and on the other, there must be a recognition and examination of existing practices that represent these concepts in informal settlements. The informal neighborhoods located on Bogota\u2019s Eastern Mountains are important examples to consider. This mountain range is a 32,124-acre (13,000 hectare) forest reserve thanks to the wealth of its biodiversity and water sources, and it\u2019s the city\u2019s Eastern natural boundary. There are very heterogeneous neighborhoods here, with privileged sectors as well as and informal settlements. In the latter, representing marginal parts of the city, there are examples of social organization in which proposals with sustainable intentions are visible.<\/p>\n

Specialists should work more closely with the population, not just during consultations, but through entire processes, and they should be more receptive in learning about people\u2019s day-to-day risk management strategies and environmental problems that are framed by sustainability.<\/p>\n

One of the clearest and most widespread practices is the use of local, communal aqueducts, which in the absence of a proper water supply and sewage system, make use of the mountain\u2019s ecosystem services. In this sense, taking care of the water sources becomes directly related to sustenance, which is why these processes are related to the recovery, use, and care of the streams, another important practice that has taken place in the mountains, and the need for a sustainable use of natural resources is evident. There are additional interests linked to environmental protection and maintenance, such as projects that stimulate mountain use by civilians and increase the city\u2019s public space. Agroparque los Soches<\/i>, Parque Entre Nubes<\/i>, and Reserva de la Sociedad Civil del Umbral Cultural Horizontes<\/i>, among other parks and reserves, represent the possibility of the Eastern Mountains becoming a benchmark for the concepts presented here, not just for the mountain dwellers, but for every citizen.<\/p>\n

The acknowledgement of existing practices in the Eastern Mountains brings to light how the communities faced with the greatest environmental challenges appropriate the experts\u2019 terminology. Their location, on the Reserve\u2019s border, makes their impact on the ecosystem even greater, and exhibits unique relationships to the environment. Although formal and informal construction in these territories must be suspended, working together with informal settlements is crucial for a sustainable city to exist. Thus, the discourse by scholars and experts must have a greater dialogue and exchange in local settings.<\/p>\n

\"CASA \"DO\u00d1AEcobarrio Villa Rosita. Photo: Diana Wiesner<\/p>\n

\"Photos
Photos of Ecobarrio Villa Rosita. Photos: Diana Wiesner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Homeless
Homeless person, Medellin River. Photo: Claudio Valcamonico<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The discussion on the democratization of conversations about sustainability is now open; as an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Biodiversity Management:<\/b> Placing value on the variety and differences of living beings and promoting healthy relationships among them.<\/td>\nResilience<\/b>: Ability to recover from something.<\/p>\n

Risk Management<\/b>: What mothers are permanently doing with their kids.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Climate Change: <\/b>Climate changes that have become standard.<\/td>\nSustainable: <\/b>That which can be sustained in time.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ecosystem Services: <\/b>Benefits we get from nature, such as food, water and recreation.<\/p>\n

Green Infrastructure: <\/b>Water \u2013 nature sensitive design.<\/td>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\"Pact
Pact for the Mountains photomontage, Fundaci\u00f3n Cerros de Bogot\u00e1 (Mountains of Bogota Foundation) www.cerrosdebogota.org.\u00a0Photo: FCB Pact. Fotomontaje Pacto por los Cerros, Fundaci\u00f3n Cerros de Bogot\u00e1 www.cerrosdebogota.org<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In order to achieve participatory processes in Bogota\u2019s Eastern Mountains, we propose the promotion of pacts with the land and among neighbors, which include proposals for friendly behavior and best practices with the environment. This is how the Mountains of Bogota Foundation promotes the pact with the mountains, from each individual inhabitant of the region.<\/p>\n

These pacts pursue the restoration of our relationship with nature, and the teachings of inhabitants of rural areas who live together with risk, and seek to teach common sense practices that respect life cycles. For this to take place, citizens must reconnect with the discovery of what\u2019s simple and vital, using concepts such as \u201cthe common good\u201d in order to produce ethical and socially responsible day-to-day behaviors with the environment.<\/p>\n

Regarding public policies, there are indicators that measure a city\u2019s environmental impacts, such as: proximity, equality, amount of public space in area of influence, pedestrian accessibility, and public safety. It\u2019s important for these best environmental practices to become part of public policy. Equally important is the consolidation of the landscape as a common asset, as well as the implementation of new quality indicators, such as the \u201cresilience indicators of the so<\/i>ul<\/b>\u201d proposed by Professor Wilches.<\/p>\n

\"Commune
Commune in Medellin. Photo: Gustavo Restrepo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the voice of a country preparing for a time of post-conflict, it\u2019s essential to aim at building communities that appropriate an eco-friendly culture, as well as to acknowledge, from a human perspective, existing environmental practices in different urban settlements in order to strengthen the dialogue that will allow for a real transformation, with the public\u2019s participation, of the landscape.<\/p>\n

Diana Wiesner<\/b>
\nBogot\u00e1<\/p>\n

On The Nature of Cities<\/a><\/p>\n

Notes<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

1 \u2014\u00a0http:\/\/www.revue-projet.com\/articles\/2015-10-motta-sobotova-colombie-quand-le-bidonville-interroge-les-urbanistes\/<\/a><\/p>\n

2 \u2014 Patricio Zambrano Barragan. IADB (Inter-American Development Bank,) Resilient, Inclusive and Innovative Cities. International Symposium on Urban Ecology, Bogota, 2015.<\/p>\n

3 \u2014 This is not an attempt to promote or foster informal land occupation, but rather a search to generate solutions for habitation models in said areas.<\/p>\n

4 \u2014 http:\/\/www.unesco.org.uy\/mab\/es\/areas-de-trabajo\/ciencias-naturales\/mab\/programa-mab\/servicios-ecosistemicos.html<\/a><\/p>\n

5 \u2014\u00a0http:\/\/www.stockholmresilience.org\/21\/research\/research-news\/2-19-2015-what-is-resilience.html<\/a><\/p>\n

6 \u2014 https:\/\/www.ipcc.ch\/pdf\/glossary\/ipcc-glossary.pdf<\/a>
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

* * *<\/h1>\n

Democratizaci\u00f3n de conceptos hacia la resiliencia desde el alma<\/b><\/h3>\n

\u201cTenemos que recordar que lo que observamos no es la naturaleza en s\u00ed misma, sino la naturaleza expuesta a nuestro m\u00e9todo de cuestionamiento y percepci\u00f3n\u201d \u2014\u00a0<\/i>Werner Heisenrberg<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Para hablar de sostenibilidad a nivel urbano, resulta fundamental entender las particularidades sociales, producidas a partir del contexto hist\u00f3rico, econ\u00f3mico y cultural de los territorios pertenecientes a cada centro urbano. Dentro de las ciudades latinoamericanas el crecimiento informal se ha dado principalmente por un desplazamiento de la poblaci\u00f3n desde zonas rurales hacia grandes urbes atractivas, principalmente por ofrecer oportunidades m\u00e1s prometedores respecto a su producci\u00f3n econ\u00f3mica y oferta laboral. Particularmente, en el caso colombiano, el conflicto armado interno, as\u00ed como escasez asociada a fen\u00f3menos ambientales tales como carencia de agua ha contribuido fuertemente al traslado forzoso de familias enteras, o desintegradas, hacia lugares que ofrezcan \u201csupuestamente\u201d una mayor seguridad y estabilidad, es decir, grandes ciudades, en donde, adem\u00e1s de las ventajas anteriormente planteadas, tienen mejor acceso a instituciones gubernamentales.<\/p>\n

Las conversaciones sobre la sostenibilidad esta dominada por grupos especializados que estudian estos procesos y buscan encontrar soluciones y respuestas, pero esto tiene que cambiar.<\/blockquote><\/figure>\n

Al igual que las personas desplazadas por el conflicto, diferentes personas que no pueden acceder al suelo urbano, se asientan en la periferia de la ciudad, conformando\u00a0 fen\u00f3menos de asentamiento humano \u201csin control\u201d en los que se da una expansi\u00f3n urbana \u201cnatural\u201d y poco planificada hecha por los propios habitantes. Estas zonas de crecimiento informal coinciden, no fortuitamente, con los lugares de mayor marginalidad en la ciudad, pues la ocupaci\u00f3n de lotes en la periferia urbana se ha dado en zonas de dif\u00edcil accesibilidad y servicios por la presencia de fuertes accidentes geogr\u00e1ficos como laderas, bordes de r\u00edos, pendientes muy inclinadas, entre otros sectores sin infraestructura y al margen de la legalidad debido a que son zonas no construibles seg\u00fan las pol\u00edticas de suelo. Lo anterior, hace de estos espacios altamente susceptibles a riesgos ambientales y geol\u00f3gicos como deslizamientos, incendios, inundaciones, entre otros (Motta C., Sobotov\u00e1 L. 2015).<\/p>\n

\"Las
Las Violetas neighborhood, South Bogot\u00e1. Las Violetas neighborhood, Bogot\u00e1 sur.\u00a0Photo: Daniel Pineda<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Las ciudades en Latinoam\u00e9rica predomina la desigualdad y el 57 % de la poblaci\u00f3n que vive en situaci\u00f3n de pobreza esta empleado en el sector informal. En este sentido, ciudades en donde la informalidad parece ser el com\u00fan denominador, resulta fundamental que el concepto integral de sostenibilidad debe llegarle a todos, pues, de cara a procesos de expansi\u00f3n urbana con baja planificaci\u00f3n, son los agentes y habitantes de los barrios quienes se vuelven responsables por la gesti\u00f3n ambiental de su lugar y paisaje.<\/p>\n

En la actualidad es posible encontrar m\u00faltiples propuestas en torno al discurso de ciudades sostenibles, en los cuales se implementen sistemas de infraestructura verde y se protegen sus recursos naturales para garantizar la oferta de servicios eco sist\u00e9micos. Sin embargo, este discurso se encuentra concentrado entre los acad\u00e9micos, los profesionales especializados y un porcentaje limitado de poblaci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

Producto de ello, los t\u00e9rminos en los que se planea la ciudad, y sus respectivas propuestas sostenibles, resultan alejados de las poblaciones, las cuales est\u00e1n construyendo sus espacios de manera tendencial como lo hacen otros grupos asentados en el territorio, sin contemplar temas como el agua, la vegetaci\u00f3n o el espacio libre. A cambio, se privilegian l\u00f3gicas de supervivencia y permanencia en el territorio.<\/p>\n

\"11th
11th Commune in Medellin, Colombia.\u00a0Photo: Diana Wiesner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

En el caso de Colombia, las peque\u00f1as poblaciones localizadas en lugares geogr\u00e1ficos de poblaci\u00f3n diversa, dif\u00edcil acceso y topograf\u00eda inestable han estado influenciados por los modelos de transformaci\u00f3n de lo p\u00fablico, como se observa ciudades de mayor densidad como Bogot\u00e1 o Medell\u00edn. En Bogot\u00e1, lo anterior se ha evidenciado en una tendencia hacia espacios endurecidos y alejados de la aplicaci\u00f3n de infraestructuras ecol\u00f3gicas, por lo cual, si bien el Espacio P\u00fablico ha aumentado en cantidad, la calidad de su funci\u00f3n ecol\u00f3gica y ambiental sigue siendo un reto. Por tanto, ciudades localizadas en el Amazonas, como lo es Leticia y otras ciudades aparecen ejemplos de espacios p\u00fablicos , que no corresponden a su contexto social, geogr\u00e1fico y clim\u00e1tico .<\/p>\n

Esta problem\u00e1tica se asocia a una escala mayor, pues el Espacio P\u00fablico en Latinoam\u00e9rica todav\u00eda se asocia con la connotaci\u00f3n de espacio construido e impermeable. Un ejemplo de ello es la peatonalizaci\u00f3n de varias v\u00edas vehiculares para el disfrute peatonal, que en t\u00e9rminos de la priorizaci\u00f3n del peat\u00f3n sobre el veh\u00edculo automotor, es un gran avance, pero en t\u00e9rminos ambientales se aplican muy pocas consideraciones, salvo la inclusi\u00f3n de la arborizaci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Santander
Santander Park, Florencia, Amazonas. Photo: Desiderio Mart\u00ednez<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ciudades como Monter\u00eda, C\u00f3rdoba, muestra que existen excepciones importantes. All\u00ed, se evidenciaba una apropiaci\u00f3n de la ronda del r\u00edo, lo cual permiti\u00f3 que al momento de plantear una recuperaci\u00f3n de la ronda por parte de la Alcald\u00eda e integrando a la poblaci\u00f3n, se velara por mantener la arborizaci\u00f3n del lugar y por generar un espacio en com\u00fan que promoviera el beneficio social y los procesos de cohesi\u00f3n, a pesar de que esto no estuviera planteado dentro de los principios de sostenibilidad urbana.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"R\u00edo
R\u00edo Sinu, Monteria Colombia. Photo: Diana Wiesner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"RioSinu\"<\/p>\n

\"Nuqu\u00ed,
Nuqu\u00ed, Colombia. Photo: Alejandra Artunduaga<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

En este caso, es posible observar que se ponen en pr\u00e1ctica m\u00faltiples conceptos que parecen limitados a los expertos, pero que en realidad hacen parte del cotidiano de las poblaciones. Algunos de estos conceptos son: resiliencia, gesti\u00f3n de biodiversidad, cambio clim\u00e1tico, sostenibilidad, desarrollo de bajo impacto, servicios ecosistemicos, infraestructura verde, entre otros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
A<\/b>daptaci\u00f3n transformadora:<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cEs un proceso capaz de cambiar los atributos fundamentales de un sistema, en respuesta al clima y sus impactos\u201d. <\/b>IPCCC 2014<\/p>\n

B<\/b>iodiversidad:<\/b><\/p>\n

Seg\u00fan\u00a0 el Programa Ambiental de las Naciones Unidas (UNEP- WCMC, 2013)\u00a0 la palabra biodiversidad <\/i>es una contracci\u00f3n del t\u00e9rmino diversidad biol\u00f3gica<\/i>. Diversidad <\/i>es un concepto que refiere al rango de variaci\u00f3n o diferencias entre un rango de entidades; de manera que diversidad biol\u00f3gica refiere a la variedad dentro del mundo viviente.<\/td>\n

I<\/b>nfraestructura verde- Infraestructura ecol\u00f3gica:<\/b><\/p>\n

Red <\/b>estrat\u00e9gicamente planificada <\/b>de espacios naturales y seminaturales y otros elementos ambientales dise\u00f1ados y gestionados <\/b>para ofrecer una amplia gama de servicios ecosist\u00e9micos<\/b>. Incluye espacios verdes (o azules si se trata de ecosistemas acu\u00e1ticos) y otros elementos f\u00edsicos en \u00e1reas terrestres (naturales, rurales y urbanas) y marinas* (Conama 2014)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

C<\/b>limate change (FCCC usage)<\/b><\/p>\n

A change of climate, which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)<\/p>\n

D<\/b>esarrollo de Bajo Impacto<\/b>: works with nature to manage stormwater as close to its source as possible. LID employs principles such as preserving and recreating natural landscape features, minimizing effective imperviousness to create functional and appealing site drainage that treat stormwater as a resource rather than a waste product. La Agencia de Protecci\u00f3n Ambiental (Environmentral Protection Agency -EPA).<\/td>\n

R<\/b>esilience<\/b>: is the capacity of a system, be it an individual, a forest, a city or an economy, to deal with change and continue to develop. It is about how humans and nature can use shocks and disturbances like a financial crisis or climate change to spur renewal and innovative thinking.\u201d The Stockholm Center of Resilience<\/p>\n

S<\/b>ostenibilidad<\/b>: A diferencia de la sustentabilidad, implica el aprovechamiento de los recursos sin agotarlos.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

G<\/b>reen infrastructure<\/b> uses vegetation, soils, and natural processes to manage water and create healthier urban environments. The scale of green infrastructure ranges from urban installations to large tracts of undeveloped natural lands and includes rain gardens, green roofs, urban trees, permeable pavements, rainwater harvesting, wetlands, protected riparian areas, and forests. La Agencia de Protecci\u00f3n Ambiental (Environmentral Protection Agency -EPA).<\/td>\nS<\/b>ustainable development<\/b> is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
G<\/b>esti\u00f3n Integral de Biodiversidad<\/b>: Proceso por el\u00a0cual se planifican, ejecutan y monitorean las acciones\u00a0para la conservaci\u00f3n (conocimiento, preservaci\u00f3n,\u00a0uso y restauraci\u00f3n) de la biodiversidad y sus servicios\u00a0ecosist\u00e9micos, en un escenario social y territorial\u00a0definido con el fin de maximizar el bienestar social, a\u00a0trav\u00e9s del mantenimiento de la capacidad adaptativa\u00a0de los socio-ecosistemas a escalas locales, regionales\u00a0y nacionales. Instituto Alexander Von Humboldt<\/td>\nS<\/b>ervicios eco sist\u00e9micos:<\/b><\/p>\n

This concept refers mainly to the benefit that people receive from the ecosystem, if they are cultural or economic.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Los t\u00e9rminos anteriormente planteados requieren por un lado, que se d\u00e9 una simplificaci\u00f3n del lenguaje para los agentes que habitan y construyen informalmente el territorio, y por otro, que se reconozcan y se examinen las pr\u00e1cticas existentes en los asentamientos que representan los conceptos anteriormente mencionados. Un ejemplo importante para ello es el caso de los barrios de origen informal ubicados en los Cerros Orientales de la ciudad de Bogot\u00e1. Esta cadena monta\u00f1osa se constituye como una Reserva Forestal de m\u00e1s de 13.000 hect\u00e1reas debido a su riqueza en biodiversidad y fuentes h\u00eddricas, y representa el l\u00edmite natural al oriente de la ciudad. All\u00ed se encuentran barrios de enorme heterogeneidad social, pues es posible encontrar tanto sectores muy privilegiados como asentamientos de origen informal. En estos \u00faltimos, que representan zonas marginadas de la ciudad, es posible hallar ejemplos de organizaci\u00f3n social que se visibilizan algunas propuestas con intenciones sostenibles.<\/p>\n

Los especialistas, por una parte deber\u00edan trabajar mas cercanos a la poblaci\u00f3n, no solamente en consultas sino durante todo el proceso y ser mas receptivos en aprender igualmente sobre los procesos cotidianos de resoluci\u00f3n del riesgo o de problem\u00e1tica ambiental que la propia gente realiza y que se enmarcan dentro de la sostenibilidad.<\/p>\n

Uno de las pr\u00e1cticas m\u00e1s claras y reiteradas es el caso de acueductos veredales y comunitarios que, ante la ausencia de un servicio de acueducto y alcantarillado, han logrado hacer uso de los servicios eco sist\u00e9micos de la monta\u00f1a. En este sentido, el cuidado de las fuentes h\u00eddricas se convierte tambi\u00e9n en un inter\u00e9s directamente relacionado con la subsistencia, raz\u00f3n por la cual estos procesos vienen relacionados con la recuperaci\u00f3n, uso y cuidado de las quebradas, otra pr\u00e1ctica importante que se ha dado en el territorio de Cerros, evidenciando una necesidad de hacer un uso sostenible por los recursos. Adicionalmente, ligado al cuidado del entorno y el mantenimiento del mismo, vienen otros intereses, como la creaci\u00f3n de proyectos que fomenten el uso de la monta\u00f1a y aumenten el espacio p\u00fablico de la ciudad. El Agroparque los Soches, el parque Entre Nubes, la Reserva de la Sociedad Civil del Umbral Cultural Horizontes, entre otros, han representado la posibilidad de que los Cerros Orientales se conviertan en referentes de los conceptos planteados para la sociedad civil y no s\u00f3lo para quienes habitan en los Cerros.<\/p>\n

El reconocimiento de las pr\u00e1cticas existentes en los Cerros Orientales muestra la manera como los t\u00e9rminos usados por los expertos se apropian y se usan en las poblaciones que precisamente encuentran mayores retos ambientales. Su ubicaci\u00f3n en el l\u00edmite de la reserva hace que su impacto con el ecosistema sea a\u00fan mayor, presentando maneras particulares de relacionarse con el entorno. Si bien la construcci\u00f3n formal e informal en estos sectores debe suspenderse, el acompa\u00f1amiento y participaci\u00f3n por parte de asentamientos informales es fundamental para tener ciudades sostenibles, lo cual implica que los discursos acad\u00e9micos y de expertos tengan un mayor di\u00e1logo e intercambio en escenarios locales.<\/p>\n

\"CASA \"DO\u00d1A<\/p>\n

\"Photos
Photos of Ecobarrio Villa Rosita. Photos: Diana Wiesner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Homeless
Homeless person, Medellin River. Photo: Claudio Valcamonico<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Se abre la discusi\u00f3n a simplificar los t\u00e9rminos como ejemplo:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Cambio clim\u00e1tico: <\/b>Cambios en el clima que se han vuelto cotidianos.<\/td>\nResiliencia<\/b>: Capacidad de recuperarse de algo.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gesti\u00f3n de la biodiversidad:<\/b> Valorar la diferencia y variedad entre seres vivos y promover sus relaciones saludables.<\/td>\nSostenible<\/b>, es lo que se puede sostener en el tiempo.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gesti\u00f3n del riesgo<\/b>: Lo que las madres hacen permanentemente con sus hijos.<\/td>\nServicios eco sist\u00e9micos: <\/b>Los beneficios que da la naturaleza como alimentos, agua y recreaci\u00f3n.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Infraestructura verde: <\/b>Dise\u00f1os sensibles con el agua y la naturaleza.<\/b><\/td>\nSustentable:<\/b> lo que se sostiene a s\u00ed mismo.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\"Commune
Commune in Medellin. Photo: Gustavo Restrepo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Fotomontaje
Fotomontaje Pacto por los Cerros, Fundaci\u00f3n Cerros de Bogot\u00e1 www.cerrosdebogota.org<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Para lograr procesos participativos en los Cerros Orientales de la ciudad de Bogot\u00e1 se propone promover los pactos con el territorio <\/b>y con los vecinos, dentro de los cuales se promuevan propuestas de comportamientos amigables y buenas practicas con el lugar, es as\u00ed como ejemplos locales la Fundaci\u00f3n Cerros de Bogot\u00e1 promueve el pacto con los cerros desde cada <\/b>habitante de la regi\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

Estos pactos buscan restituir la relaci\u00f3n con la naturaleza, aprender de la poblaci\u00f3n de las zonas rurales, que convive con el riesgo y ense\u00f1ar pr\u00e1cticas de sentido com\u00fan que respetan los ciclos de vida. Para ello, es fundamental volver a conectar al ciudadano con el descubrimiento de lo simple y lo vital, vali\u00e9ndose de herramientas como la inclusi\u00f3n del concepto de \u201cbien com\u00fan<\/b>\u201d, con el fin de que se genere un comportamiento \u00e9tico y social responsable con el medio ambiente en la cotidianidad.<\/p>\n

En cuanto a pol\u00edticas p\u00fablicas, es posible encontrar indicadores que dan referencia acerca de los impactos ambientales de una ciudad, tales como proximidad, equidad, cantidad de Espacio P\u00fablico pr\u00f3ximo a su poblaci\u00f3n de influencia, accesibilidad peatonal y seguridad ciudadana. Sin embargo, es importante que \u00e9stos se conviertan en una pol\u00edtica p\u00fablica de buenas pr\u00e1cticas ambientales, de la misma manera que consolidar el paisaje como un bien com\u00fan y hacer uso de otro tipo de indicadores de calidad como los que propone el profesor Wilches: \u201clos Indicadores de resiliencia desde el alma<\/i><\/b>\u201d.<\/p>\n

Desde una voz de un pa\u00eds que se prepara para un \u201cposconflicto\u201d es fundamental apostar a construir comunidades que se apropien de una cultura ecol\u00f3gica, as\u00ed como reconocer, desde lo humano, las pr\u00e1cticas ambientales existentes de los diferentes asentamientos urbanos con el fin de fortalecer un di\u00e1logo que permita lograr una real transformaci\u00f3n\u00a0 del paisaje con participaci\u00f3n p\u00fablica.<\/p>\n

Diana Wiesner<\/b>
\nBogot\u00e1<\/p>\n

Sobre\u00a0The Nature of Cities<\/a><\/p>\n

Notas<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

1 \u2014\u00a0http:\/\/www.revue-projet.com\/articles\/2015-10-motta-sobotova-colombie-quand-le-bidonville-interroge-les-urbanistes\/<\/a><\/p>\n

2 \u2014\u00a0Patricio Zambrano Barragan. BID, Ciudades resilientes, inclusivas e innovadoras. Simposio Internacional de Ecolog\u00eda Urbana, Bogot\u00e1. 2015.<\/p>\n

3 \u2014\u00a0Con esto no se pretende promover ni fomentar la ocupaci\u00f3n informal del territorio, sino que se busca generar soluciones a los modelos de habitaci\u00f3n en dichas zonas.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

4 \u2014\u00a0http:\/\/www.unesco.org.uy\/mab\/es\/areas-de-trabajo\/ciencias-naturales\/mab\/programa-mab\/servicios-ecosistemicos.html<\/a><\/p>\n

5 \u2014\u00a0http:\/\/www.stockholmresilience.org\/21\/research\/research-news\/2-19-2015-what-is-resilience.html<\/a><\/p>\n

6 \u2014\u00a0https:\/\/www.ipcc.ch\/pdf\/glossary\/ipcc-glossary.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Una versi\u00f3n en espa\u00f1ol sigue inmediatamente despu\u00e9s.) \u201cWe must remember that what we observe isn\u2019t nature itself, but rather nature exposed to our method of questioning and perceiving.\u201d \u2014Werner Heisenberg In order to talk about sustainability on an urban level, it is fundamental to have an understanding of the social particularities produced by the historical, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":148,"featured_media":11921,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[273,298,299],"tags":[49,28,392,84,405,33,27],"coauthors":[269],"class_list":["post-11907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-essay","category-essay-people-and-communitites","category-essay-place-and-design","tag-communities","tag-design","tag-justice","tag-livability","tag-participationdemocracy","tag-resilience","tag-south-america"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/148"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11907"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11907\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11921"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11907"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=11907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}