Neste trabalho nos propomos a analisar as possibilidades e limites de um paradigma intercultural para o Direito na América Latina, tendo em vista: i. a produção da literatura especializada a respeito do tratamento jus-político da alteridade cultural nas últimas 5 décadas e situando a proposta intercultural nessa bibliografia; ii. verificando as características específicas da América Latina para a integração jurídica e consolidação democrática que propõe a interculturalidade e iii. buscando na afirmação e no desenvolvimento dos direitos indígenas elementos que indiquem caminhos para a interculturalidade na região. Para tanto parte-se da formulação de categorias para a organização do conhecimento produzido na temática e sua colocação no contexto contemporâneo (capítulo 1). No que respeita à conceituação da interculturalidade, buscou-se trabalhar a partir dos debates especializados e do léxico teórico e político que perpassa o termo, de modo que se eximiu do propósito de conceituar a partir do plano normativo. A diferença do conceito desenvolvido a partir do texto normativo, método comum ao Direito, tratou-se de ampliar os conteúdos implícitos no debate intercultural a partir de sua relação com os campos teórico-científico e político-social (capítulos 2 e 3). Por fim, fez-se o esforço de análise sistêmica da normatividade internacional relacionada ao tema indígena buscando os elementos de interculturalidade que tal sistema oferece. Na conclusão apontam-se ainda alguns campos de pesquisa interculturais para a teoria do direito. / The aim of this thesis is to analyse the limits and possibilities of a intercultural paradigm to the Theory of Law in In Latin America, considering: i. the extent academic production of the last 5 decades towards the jus-political treatment of alterity and placing interculturality amongst it; ii. verifying the specific characteristics of Latin America to the juridical integration and to democracy consolidation which is proposed by the interculturalism; and iii. seeking in the process of consolidation and development of indigenous rights some of the elements that indicates the paths to the interculturality proposals in the region. In this purpose this work initiates its analysis by proposing some categories in order to organize the knowledge produced in this field and its locus in the contemporary context (chapter 1). In the conceptualization of the interculturality the method chosen was to get its initial meaning by the contents and terms theoretical and political debates on the issue. In this sense, in spite of being a very common recourse in civil law systems to make use of the normative or legal conceptualizations, it was not the choice of method in this work. The reason why the traditional method was not chosen is that it was considered crucial to the object of this research to show the implicit contents in the intercultural debate departing from its lexical connotation in both theoretical-scientific and social-political fields (chapters 2 and 3). At last, there is an effort to analyze systematically the international law related to the indigenous peoples\' rights, searching for the intercultural elements offered in it. In the conclusive pages, some new intercultural research fields in Theory of Law are pointed out.

Neste trabalho nos propomos a analisar as possibilidades e limites de um paradigma intercultural para o Direito na América Latina, tendo em vista: i. a produção da literatura especializada a respeito do tratamento jus-político da alteridade cultural nas últimas 5 décadas e situando a proposta intercultural nessa bibliografia; ii. verificando as características específicas da América Latina para a integração jurídica e consolidação democrática que propõe a interculturalidade e iii. buscando na afirmação e no desenvolvimento dos direitos indígenas elementos que indiquem caminhos para a interculturalidade na região. Para tanto parte-se da formulação de categorias para a organização do conhecimento produzido na temática e sua colocação no contexto contemporâneo (capítulo 1). No que respeita à conceituação da interculturalidade, buscou-se trabalhar a partir dos debates especializados e do léxico teórico e político que perpassa o termo, de modo que se eximiu do propósito de conceituar a partir do plano normativo. A diferença do conceito desenvolvido a partir do texto normativo, método comum ao Direito, tratou-se de ampliar os conteúdos implícitos no debate intercultural a partir de sua relação com os campos teórico-científico e político-social (capítulos 2 e 3). Por fim, fez-se o esforço de análise sistêmica da normatividade internacional relacionada ao tema indígena buscando os elementos de interculturalidade que tal sistema oferece. Na conclusão apontam-se ainda alguns campos de pesquisa interculturais para a teoria do direito. / The aim of this thesis is to analyse the limits and possibilities of a intercultural paradigm to the Theory of Law in In Latin America, considering: i. the extent academic production of the last 5 decades towards the jus-political treatment of alterity and placing interculturality amongst it; ii. verifying the specific characteristics of Latin America to the juridical integration and to democracy consolidation which is proposed by the interculturalism; and iii. seeking in the process of consolidation and development of indigenous rights some of the elements that indicates the paths to the interculturality proposals in the region. In this purpose this work initiates its analysis by proposing some categories in order to organize the knowledge produced in this field and its locus in the contemporary context (chapter 1). In the conceptualization of the interculturality the method chosen was to get its initial meaning by the contents and terms theoretical and political debates on the issue. In this sense, in spite of being a very common recourse in civil law systems to make use of the normative or legal conceptualizations, it was not the choice of method in this work. The reason why the traditional method was not chosen is that it was considered crucial to the object of this research to show the implicit contents in the intercultural debate departing from its lexical connotation in both theoretical-scientific and social-political fields (chapters 2 and 3). At last, there is an effort to analyze systematically the international law related to the indigenous peoples\' rights, searching for the intercultural elements offered in it. In the conclusive pages, some new intercultural research fields in Theory of Law are pointed out.

The aim of this dissertation is to assess the political ecology of conservation governance and management of Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park (SNP), SNP Buffer Zone (BZ) and the Buffer Zone Community Forest User Groups (BZCFUG) in Pharak in northeastern Nepal. It evaluates their performance in two adjacent regions (Khumbu and Pharak) from multiple perspectives, including the views of the residents (indigenous Sherpa people and minority immigrant community members), and the standards of current international conservation and human rights policies. This research is important because it relates to global, regional, national and local level conservation policies and practices, which have direct impacts on biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, the livelihoods of indigenous peoples and local communities, and rights. The discussion of buffer zone community forest in the Pharak region follows my M.Sc. thesis completed at the University of Wales, UK in 2000. This dissertation draws on my 2011 fieldwork and my long-time experience growing up in this region and working there for conservation and development organizations. I conducted qualitative research adopting field observation, semi-structured and focus group interviews and participating in BZ and BZCFUGs' meetings. I observe that implementation of CFUG, BZCFUG and buffer zone management programs (BZMP) in Pharak and BZMP in Khumbu have made significant progress towards achieving conservation of forests, habitats, wildlife species and sustainable production of forest products while reinstituting forest and natural resource use and improving management and governance rights. This suggests that community participation in forest commons and natural resource management and governance through devolution and decentralization of decision-making rights can achieve biodiversity conservation goals. By integrating indigenous peoples' and local communities' cultural and religious perspectives with scientific knowledge, a synergy can be achieved that benefits conservation. For this the free, prior and informed consent of the concerned indigenous peoples and local communities is prerequisite. Conservation goals need to consider the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities and meet their aspirations and international conservation standards of self-determination and autonomy.