Conservation of the Amazon rainforest is vitally important to all of us. It covers only 4% of the earth’s surface, but provides 20% of our fresh water, contains one third of known plant, animal, and insect species, and acts as a vital carbon sink, soaking up large amounts of the carbon dioxide that is causing the climate crisis. Unfortunately, much recent economic development in the Amazon region has been harmful to local communities and to the natural environment. Local indigenous and civil society groups are leading efforts to mitigate negative impacts of poorly managed and ineffectively regulated development, and ISLP is providing several of them with pro bono legal support to which many of these local groups would otherwise not have access. Our goal is to provide resources and legal information that may empower indigenous and local groups to more effectively participate at the negotiating table with their own governments as well as large-scale foreign investors, and thereby advocate for better environmental and social standards.
To that end, ISLP provides capacity-building support to local civil society groups, including knowledge sharing, legal research and analysis, comparative insights from other countries, and other specially tailored initiatives. In addition, we develop resources on relevant investment frameworks, levers for constructive engagement, and available remedies. For example, in 2020 we delivered a series of five bespoke capacity-building webinars and complementary smaller-group online convenings for leading civil society organizations in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru that are at the forefront of Amazon conservation efforts. Our volunteers continue to provide legal research and pro bono support to strengthen civil society’s advocacy for stronger regulatory frameworks, better social and environmental standards, and more effective monitoring and reporting on poor corporate and government behavior.
Our work on conservation in the Andean region is supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and will continue into 2022. This work would not be possible without the dedication and contributions of ISLP lawyer volunteers from Beccar Varela, Blake Cassels & Graydon, Brigard Urrutia, Debevoise & Plimpton, Dentons, Hogan Lovells, Latham & Watkins, and Matthos Filho.
