Approach to the socio-environmental conflict surrounding the landfill project in San Francisco Angulo

Abstract

The community of San Francisco Angulo has sparked a debate over the social and environmental issues caused by public and private entities promoting the construction of a landfill in the area. The community’s opposition stems from its experience in 2007, when a landfill cell was installed that harmed the well-being of the population and the ecosystems. In 2017, the Association of Municipalities of Los Nonualcos planned to resume waste disposal at the same site. Under those circumstances, the community turned to the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman, which, after studying the case, issued a resolution in 2018. This research was conducted with the aim of understanding the ongoing socio-environmental conflict, taking into account its territorial, historical, community, and institutional dimensions. The methodological strategy combined two main techniques: participant observation and documentary research. The technical data demonstrate the ecosystemic importance of the area and show that the territory of San Francisco Angulo must be understood as a space that links respect for the memory of war victims with the protection of ecosystems. This case is not merely a dispute over the final disposal of waste, but involves the comprehensive defense of human rights and life.