Energy transition vs. ecotourism in the Colombian Amazon: Community perceptions and sustainability in the San Pedro River basin

Ecotourism has emerged as a key strategy for sustainable development in the Colombian Amazon, integrating ecological conservation, community inclusion, and territorial reconstruction in areas affected by armed conflict. However, the expansion of small hydropower plants (SHPs) poses an emerging threat to these dynamics. This study examines community perceptions of the potential impacts of SHPs on ecotourism in the San Pedro River basin, located in the Caquetá department, a region designated as one of the ‘Areas Most Affected by Armed Conflict’. Using a mixed-methods approach —comprising 195 structured surveys and 30 semi-structured interviews— distinct perception patterns were identified across three population centers. The results show that, in each community, between 38 % and 40 % of respondents expressed an unfavourable assessment, and that when the negative categories are grouped together, the proportion rises to around two-thirds of the total. These perceptions focus on risks associated with biodiversity loss, alteration of ecological flows, and the impact on essential ecotourism activities such as bird watching, hiking, and river bathing, which are fundamental to local economies. Proposed priority measures include independent environmental monitoring, strengthening ecotourism, and effective community participation from early stages of territorial planning. These findings contribute to ongoing debates on just energy transitions by highlighting the importance of planning approaches that are context-specific, inclusive of local participation, and attuned to ecological dynamics.