Mauricio Velasquez

Mauricio Velásquez Ospina is a distinguished scholar with over 15 years of expertise in political science, focusing on agrarian dynamics, public policy, and environmental governance in Colombia's Amazon region. He earned his PhD in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where his research centered on rural class dynamics and the intersection of land tenure and local politics. Mauricio has been pivotal in the design of public policies, especially within the framework of the peace process between the Colombian government and the FARC, where his work on rural land titling has contributed to debates and regulations on sustainable development strategies.

In recent years, his research has focused on analyzing the complex relationship between legal and illegal economies in the Amazon, aiming to distinguish deforestation driven by peasant farming from that linked to organized crime. His work is informed by a unique blend of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, offering deep insights into the challenges of environmental degradation, land restitution, and rural development. Mauricio has published extensively on these topics and has presented his findings at leading international conferences such as LASA and APSA. His dedication to bridging the gap between research and policy implementation has made him a critical voice in the field of rural development and environmental governance.