In this key area of sociological research, the analysis of transnational and transregional interdependencies of socio-ecological conflict situations is placed in the foreground. The central questions are how global environmental changes and specific environmental policies are articulated locally and how they interact with context-specific social, economic and political transformation processes, thereby effectively reinforcing existing conflicts in areas of resource utilization, access and control or contributing to the emergence of new socio-ecological conflicts and constellations. The geographic focus is currently on Brazil, with particular emphasis on the Amazon region and Colombia. Investigations into the conflict surrounding bio-fuels and climate change are also of fundamental importance.