Faith-Based Participation in Natural-Resource Governance: Communities Defending Life and Territories in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico

The report examines the role of faith communities in socio-environmental disputes across Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, highlighting their use of spiritual-symbolic strategies to defend territories and human rights. It argues that these actors are often neglected despite their influence and recommends that governments and international organizations recognize them as environmental defenders. The study specifically notes the critical but under-recognized leadership of women within these faith-based movements.

• Faith communities are significant but frequently overlooked participants in socio-environmental disputes. Specifically, Catholic and Christian communities often view their activities as a "defense of life and territories" rather than as formal participation in the governance of natural resources.
• The strategies used by faith communities to defend territories are multidimensional, combining socio-political, discursive, community, and symbolic-spiritual elements. These strategies are used to seek alternative socioeconomic development models that prioritize the flourishing of both ecosystems and humans.
• The level of involvement of faith communities varies, but positive engagement is most likely when the actors are integrated into local community life, view ecological commitment as a manifestation of faith, and provide education that connects spirituality with social realities.
• Women hold leading roles in the defense of territories and life, yet this leadership is not sufficiently recognized within the structures of the church. The report asserts that formally recognizing this leadership is essential for protecting the rights of Indigenous, low-income, and rural communities.
• The report recommends that stakeholders, including governments and international organizations, explicitly recognize members of faith communities as environmental defenders and implement a community-based approach to support their locally led development visions.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Faith-Based Participation in Natural-Resource Governance: Communities Defending Life and Territories in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. https://www.wri.org/research/faith-based-participation-natural-resource-governance-brazil-colombia-mexico

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Faith-Based Participation in Natural-Resource Governance: Communities Defending Life and Territories in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/faith-based-participation-natural-resource-governance-brazil-colombia-mexico.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Faith-Based Participation in Natural-Resource Governance: Communities Defending Life and Territories in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico |url=https://www.wri.org/research/faith-based-participation-natural-resource-governance-brazil-colombia-mexico |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendfaithbased, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Faith-Based Participation in Natural-Resource Governance: Communities Defending Life and Territories in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/faith-based-participation-natural-resource-governance-brazil-colombia-mexico}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }