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

This report by the World Resources Institute and the Laudato Si' Research Institute examines the role of faith communities in socio-environmental disputes across Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. It highlights how these actors use spiritual and symbolic dimensions to defend human rights and territories, often viewing their work as a 'defense of life' rather than formal natural-resource governance. The report emphasizes the critical but under-recognized leadership of women and calls for international organizations and governments to recognize faith communities as essential environmental defenders.

• Faith communities are significant but frequently overlooked participants in socio-environmental disputes. Specifically, Catholic and Christian communities often perceive their activities as a defense of life and territories instead of participation in the governance of natural resources.
• The strategies used by faith communities to defend territories are multidimensional, integrating 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 in socio-environmental disputes varies. Positive involvement is most strongly influenced by the community's integration into local life, the view of ecological commitment as a manifestation of faith, and the provision of training that connects spirituality to social realities.
• Women hold leading roles in the defense of territories and life, yet this leadership is not sufficiently recognized within ecclesial structures. The report asserts that formal recognition of women's leadership is essential for protecting the rights of Indigenous, low-income, and rural communities during socio-environmental disputes.
• The report recommends that governments, civil society, and international organizations explicitly acknowledge faith communities and their members as important environmental defenders. It suggests adopting a community-based approach to protect these actors and support their visions for development led by local communities.

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} }