Land and water are the main supporters of almost every ecosystem on earth,
either natural or semi-natural, including the traditional land use systems developed by
human beings. The multidimensional services supplied by the different land uses are
essential resources for the great majority of the population in developing countries.
Besides the economic value associated with those services, land services have also
historical, cultural and sacred values that should not be ignored as they have shaped
over time the social organization of communities.
Recognizing the multidimensional character of the services provided by nature
in general, and land in particular is precisely the essence of a human rights approach
to development. According to the United Nations Organization (UN), a human-rights
based approach to development is a conceptual framework for the process of human
development that is normatively based on international human rights standards and
operationally directed to promoting and protecting them. In its essence, a human rightsbased
approach integrates the norms, standards and principles of the international
human rights system into the plans, policies and processes of development.
In this article, specific emphasis will be placed on the relationship between wellbeing
and land use, through physical, economic, social and cultural connections. Our
primary concern is to show that human development, in rural areas cannot be measured 2
by the simple production and consumption of commodities sourced in what is
conventionally called the primary sector but of a more complex relationship involving
mobilization as much as preservation of resources, and material consumption as much
as spiritual fulfillment. While carrying out this purpose we will pay special attention to
conflicting land uses that may impair population’s well being.
First, we will present East Timor and the concept of ecosystem services. Indeed,
human well-being is dependent upon multiple and often interrelated ecosystem services
contributing each of them to more than one component of well-being. Furthermore,
there is interconnectedness of the well-being components and ecosystem services are
dynamic and context-dependent.
Second, we will discuss the human rights approach to development with special
emphasis on cultural freedom, which can be defined as the freedom of people to choose
their identities and to lead the lives they value, without being excluded from other
choices important to them.
Third, we will examine land use patterns in East Timor and its relation to the
well being of rural East Timor. In this part we will show how services provided by
nature are at least both economic and cultural, and that despite the fact that there may
be conflicting uses, a human rights approach must take both services into consideration
and value them equally.