The judicial action of environmental conflicts: A case study of the Bogota River watershed (CHRB), Colombia

Legal actions for environmental protection are an alternative to achieve the adoption of public policies to reduce and control pollution of rivers and degradation of the watersheds, that is an increasingly common and complex world problem involving breach human rights. This paper analyzes the case of Bogota River watershed, for which there was a Court ruling that included a comprehensive strategy for its recovery. This work develops a theoretical reflection from the content thereof, and from secondary information and results of a semi-structured survey on the municipalities of the watershed as well. This case demonstrates that some strength arises when an environmental conflict is taken to court, as it gives the opportunity to bring together stakeholders and promote joint solutions. It also confirms the importance of collective action as a means to promote the formulation of public policies and measures for protection of the environment and of the collective and fundamental rights of the community.