Presentation short abstract

This study examines the impact of legal pluralism among the Rights of Nature, Indigenous Rights, and the Right to Water on community water governance in Ecuador, using the example of Lake San Pablo in Otavalo.

Presentation long abstract

In Ecuador, the incorporation of Rights of Nature, Indigenous Rights, and the Human Right to Water within the constitution aims to enhance socio-ecological justice and empower marginalized and indigenous citizens. However, when these rights are invoked simultaneously in a context of legal pluralism, it has implications on Water Governance. This paper explores these implications through the case of Lake San Pablo, which faces severe eutrophication primarily due to inadequate wastewater treatment. An integrative community initiative, “Tejiendo Agua en el Territorio,” is underway to improve community water management. Yet, this legal pluralism impacts the dynamics of participation and power relations between certain community groups.

This study, rooted in a transdisciplinary research framework and employing qualitative social methods, examines the contradictory implications of legal pluralism on Water Governance. By focusing on the interplay between these rights as different stakeholders invoke them, we aim to provide insights into the complexities of water governance in Ecuador, contributing to broader discussions on social and ecological justice.