Objetive. To understand the self-protection strategies developed by communities and organizations in the face of violations derived from construction and licensing projects for hydropower generation. Methodology. Qualitative study carried out in hydro-social territories of the rivers La Paloma, Santo Domingo and Dormilón, municipalities of Argelia, San Francisco and San Luis, Eastern Antioquia, Colombia. The study included document review, territorial walks, semi-structured interviews and social mapping exercises over the course of one year from April 2022. Results. Self-protection strategies are mediated by affective-emotional links with the territory, whose transformations generate feelings related to the notion of solastalgia. Self-protection is a strategy to collectively sustain living spaces and workers around the river, with a view to future generations. Conclusion. Self-protection in these communities is updated and amplified to protect not only people’s physical integrity, but also and above all the integrity of the territory as a space of bonds, affections and emotions.