Conservación Sensible al Conflicto

The manual defines Conflict-Sensitive Conservation (CSC) as the programming and execution of conservation actions that account for the causes, actors, and impacts of conflict. It outlines a three-step organizational process: assessing institutional capacity, assigning human resources (such as a CSC Champion and Team), and adopting guiding principles. For field projects, it details a two-step operational process: conducting a conflict analysis using tools like conflict trees, conflict maps, and stakeholder profiles, and subsequently designing and monitoring CSC solutions. The guide emphasizes that conservation can either inadvertently fuel conflict—by restricting resource access or creating unequal benefit distribution—or support peace by addressing root causes of environmental degradation and fostering cooperation.

• Conservation activities can unintentionally contribute to violent conflict in three primary ways: by restricting community access to essential livelihood resources, by creating new economic burdens or personal risks (such as crop raiding by wildlife), and by causing an unequal distribution of conservation benefits, which can reinforce power asymmetries.
• In conflict zones, conservation efforts can be negatively impacted both directly—through habitat destruction, wildlife poaching, and threats to staff—and indirectly, as donors may withdraw funding in favor of immediate humanitarian needs.
• Conservation can serve as a mechanism for peacebuilding by restoring ecosystems that support vulnerable livelihoods, addressing the root causes of resource-based conflict, and providing a neutral platform for dialogue and cooperation between conflicting parties.
• To adopt CSC at an organizational level, an entity must meet minimum conditions, including active leadership commitment, willingness to change, support for staff development, strategic alliances with flexible donors, and accountability mechanisms.
• The manual proposes a specific human resource structure for CSC, consisting of a 'CSC Champion' responsible for overall supervision and awareness, and a multidisciplinary 'CSC Team' tasked with conducting analysis, planning, and monitoring.
• The operational process for CSC involves a conflict analysis phase using three specific tools: the 'conflict tree' to map root causes and effects, the 'conflict map' to visualize actor relationships and power dynamics, and 'stakeholder profiles' to identify underlying interests and needs beyond public positions.
• The guide emphasizes the necessity of a 'gender lens' in CSC, noting that men and women experience conservation and conflict differently, and that women in conflict zones are disproportionately victims of sexual violence and often become sole heads of households.
• The manual highlights the importance of a sensitive 'exit strategy' for CSC projects to avoid creating new resentments or instability when a project ends unexpectedly.

APA

Hammill, A., Crawford, A., Craig, R., Malpas, R., & Matthew, R. (2011). Conservación Sensible al Conflicto. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/csc_manual_es.pdf

Chicago

Hammill, Anne, Alec Crawford, Robert Craig, Robert Malpas, and Richard Matthew. Conservación Sensible al Conflicto. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2011. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/csc_manual_es.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hammill |first1=Anne |last2=Crawford |first2=Alec |last3=Craig |first3=Robert |last4=Malpas |first4=Robert |last5=Matthew |first5=Richard |title=Conservación Sensible al Conflicto |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2011 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/csc_manual_es.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hammill2011conservacin, author = {Hammill, Anne and Crawford, Alec and Craig, Robert and Malpas, Robert and Matthew, Richard}, title = {{Conservación Sensible al Conflicto}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2011}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/csc_manual_es.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }