Abstract

GARCIA REINOSO, Pedro León  and  OBREGON NEIRA, Nelson. Considerations of environmental ethics in the comprehensive management of water resources in the Quindío River basin. Entramado [online]. 2012, vol.8, n.2, pp.12-37. ISSN 1900-3803.

This article discusses the relationship that man has built with the environment from the starting point of Western culture and indigenous peoples. The current environmental crisis can be explained in part from the values built by Western man. It is also possible to explain the paradigm shift from supply-oriented management to demand-driven management based on the values constructed by indigenous peoples. In spite of the fact that Colombia has adopted a national policy for the comprehensive management of water resources (Spanish acronym: GIRH), the institutions responsible for planning continue to develop projects under the supply-oriented paradigm. In this framework, in order to guarantee the future water supply in the state of Quindío, the construction of a dam has been proposed, without evaluating other alternatives. The inclusion of new alternatives should follow the principles of the GIRH, allowing for a comprehensive study of hydrological, economic, and social aspects such that an informed decision could be made. In this document, the technical vision is complemented by the discussion of the ethical aspects promoted by the GIRH. These aspects are analyzed in the context of a non-utilitarian philosophy which attempts to unify man with other living beings, posing questions such as: Should water be assigned to each use according to environmental, social, cultural, or economic concepts? What level of uncertainty is tolerable for making decisions with respect to the use given to water resources?

Keywords : Environmental problems; environmental ethics; water resources; sustainable development; comprehensive water resource management.

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