Sustainability as Buen Vivir within a community-territory and the Rights of Nature: biocentric standpoints, relational perspectives and onto-epistemic diversity

Abstract

We examine Buen Vivir (BV) as a comprehensive proposal based on a distinctive onto-epistemic framework that can offer alternative pathways towards sustainability. We identify three key principles of BV for sustainability reinterpretations: Transcendence of human-nature divide from a biocentric/ecocentric standpoint; Relational perspectives of coexistence in harmony, regarding the intertwiness of all forms of life; Recognition of onto-epistemic diversity including indigenous/local worldviews. These principles could be enacted for sustainability purposes via two strategies: establishing Rights of Nature, and territorial/communitarian practices with autonomy. While acknowledging limitations in global applicability, we emphasize BV's potential for inter-epistemic dialogue and alignment with transformative social movements already present around the globe, like degrowth, food sovereignty, social and solidarity economy or ecofeminisms. Our analysis critiques the coloniality of knowledge inherent in mainstream sustainability discourses like those implicit behind the sustainable development goals or planetary limits, advocating for decolonization and valuing diverse worldviews towards the pluriverse. • Buen Vivir as an alternative ontological basis for sustainability • Three key principles: biocentrism, relationality, onto-epistemic diversity • Rights of Nature recognition to operationalize biocentric and care ethics • Territorial community autonomy as a strategy for post-extractivist futures • Inter-epistemic dialogues: degrowth, feminism, food sovereignty, social & solidarity economy. • Buen Vivir's links with degrowth, feminisms, food sovereignty, solidarity economy. • Inter-epistemic dialogues for equitable sustainability transitions

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