Latin America

participación en audiencia pública de la Corte IDH

June 18 2025 Human Rights

Media Advisory: Inter-American Court Decision on Climate and Human Rights Approaching

Expected Release: Early July 2025The Inter-American Court of Human Rights is expected to release a historic Advisory Opinion in early July, clarifying how states must uphold human rights in the context of the climate crisis.This legal milestone follows public hearings where frontline communities, Indigenous leaders, and civil society organizations shared powerful testimony on the real-world impacts of environmental degradation and government inaction. The Court’s decision will have far-reaching implications for climate policy, state accountability, and the protection of environmental defenders across the Americas.From the beginning of the process, AIDA assumed a proactive role, promoting the involvement of communities affected by the climate crisis in Latin America. We supported a diverse array of amicus briefs and community testimonies before the Court in public hearings and presented our own amicus brief arguing that the right to a “stable and safe climate” should be recognized as part of the universal right to a healthy environment.Spokespeople Available for Media Interviews:Legal Experts & Organizational LeadersMarcella RibeiroSenior Attorney, AIDALanguages: Portuguese (native), Spanish, English Expertise: Community participation, just transition, climate reparationsBased in: Brazil Available for: Interviews and background briefingsLiliana ÁvilaProgram Director, AIDA Languages: Spanish (native), EnglishExpertise: Human rights law, climate litigation, regional legal mechanismsBased in: ColombiaAvailable for: Interviews and background briefingsFrontline Community VoicesWe can coordinate interviews with several key members of frontline communities who testified directly before the Court during the public hearings.These spokepeople bring a vital human and territorial perspective to the legal decision and are available for media conversations in Spanish and local language, with interpretation support as needed. Background Materials:AIDA's amicus brief on the right to a safe and stable climate.Civil society contributions from around Latin America, on the Climate Litigation Platform for Latin America & the Caribbean.Frontline community interviews from the Manaus public hearing.The Manaus Declaration signed by nearly 400 people and organizations from across the continent.AIDA's background ABC on the Advisory Opinion process. Media Contacts:Victor QuintanillaMedia Coordinator, AIDA 📧 [email protected]📱 +52 55 7052 2107Lorena ZáratePositioning Coordinator, AIDA 📧 [email protected]📱 +52 55 7052 2107

June 13 2025 Oceans

International Ocean Conference ends with High Seas Treaty on verge of entry into force

Nice, France. The 3rd UN Ocean Conference is ending today with a historic step towards ensuring greater High Seas protection. With 19 additional countries depositing their ratifications, the total number of that count toward the High Seas Treaty’s entry into force has now reached 50. Only 10 more are needed to cross the critical 60-country threshold that would trigger the Treaty’s coming into effect.Several countries have already indicated their intent to deposit their ratification instruments at the UN very soon. There is no obligation for them to wait for the UNGA meeting in September, which could mean the Treaty’s entry into force could be activated in the coming weeks."The journey towards a high seas treaty has been nearly as long as the great migrations of whales, sharks and turtles but the wave of new ratifications at the UN Ocean Conference shows we are in the final straight," said Matthew Collis, Senior Director of Policy at the International Fund for Animal Welfare.In addition to the boost in ratifications, the number of countries signing the Treaty also surged. An extra 20 countries added their signatures during the week, bringing the total number to 136. This is an encouraging sign, as widespread ratification will be crucial to ensuring the Treaty’s full effectiveness.Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance, emphasized the urgency to maintain momentum: "We must keep our foot on the #RaceForRatification accelerator. The Treaty’s power lies in the number of countries that join, so while we celebrate this incredible progress, we urge all remaining nations to ratify without delay and help drive this Treaty past the first 60 to make it a truly global force for ocean protection."Around 60 heads of state and government attended the meeting reflecting a significant high level attention for the plight of the ocean. The momentum on High Seas Treaty ratification showed what is possible when the world comes together with urgency and purpose.“This is a landmark moment to safeguard the ocean as our greater common good, an opportunity to achieve equity and justice for all nations, and to empower regions, such as Latin America, in defining actions that can shape a fair and sustainable future for all,” said María José González-Bernat, Co-Director of Ecosystems Program of the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA).Attention is now also turning to how the Treaty will be implemented once it enters into force. Several major announcements were made earlier in the week including the re-launch of the High Ambition Coalition for BBNJ and the €10 million that has been made available through the EU’s €40 million Global Ocean Programme to provide technical assistance to developing countries for both ratification and implementation. Private philanthropy also stepped up with the Minderoo Foundation pledging an additional USD6.5 million to support High Seas protection, and funding was confirmed to support a secretariat for the First Movers initiative, which will help advance early proposals for High Seas marine protected areas.Focus is intensifying on building strong bodies and processes under the Treaty to ensure it functions effectively as well as identifying critical High Seas sites for protection once the Treaty is operational through an ongoing Preparatory Commission process at the UN. Efforts to build the case for High Seas MPA proposals submissions under the Treaty were also showcased at the Conference, profiling a number of areas including the Salas y Gomez and Nazca Ridges, the Lord Howe Rise and South Tasman Sea, the West Indian Ocean Sub-Antarctic and the Thermal Dome in the Eastern Pacific.“While the Race to Ratification will soon come to an end, the hard work to fully implement the treaty is just about to begin. Protecting and sustainably managing the High Seas – 50% of the planet – cannot come soon enough. The inclusion of Indigenous and local knowledge systems in the BBNJ Treaty sets new ocean governance foundations for how and for whom this treaty is implemented,” said Ernesto Fernández Monge, International Oceans Director at Oceans North.Notes to editorAs of Friday 13 June at 1400CET,19 additional instruments of ratification were deposited by countries at the UN during the conference and 20 more countries signed the Treaty, signaling their intent to ratify.Additional countries that ratified during UNOC: Albania, Bahamas, Belgium, Croatia, Côte d’Ivoire, Denmark, Fiji, Malta, Mauritania, Vanuatu, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Liberia, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, VietnamThe European Union has also deposited its instrument of ratification on 28 May 2025. However, as a regional economic integration organization, its ratification does not count toward the total, only ratifications by its individual member states.Additional countries that signed during UNOC: Andorra, Armenia, Burundi, Cambodia, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Jordan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Montenegro, Niue, North Macedonia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Senegal Serbia, South Africa, Saint Kitts and Nevis, YemenThe High Seas Treaty is formally titled the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).The High Seas Alliance (HSA) sometimes uses the term “High Seas Treaty“ as a short-hand for the BBNJ Agreement. HSA acknowledges that the scope of the BBNJ Agreement encompasses all Areas beyond national jurisdiction, including the seafloor and water column. This choice of wording is intended to ease understanding for broad audiences and does not convey a prioritization among the components or principles of the BBNJ Agreement.The official status of signatures and ratifications can be found on the UN website and the High Seas Alliance’s ratification tracker. Note: The number shown on the High Seas Alliance tracker reflects only the ratifications that count toward entry into force and does not include the EU’s ratification and therefore differs from the UN’s total count.The Treaty enters into force 120 days after the 60th instrument of ratification has been deposited at the UN.For more information on the BBNJ High Ambition Coalition.For more information on the EU’s Global Ocean Programme.A series of Preparatory Commission (PrepCom) sessions are happening at the UN to agree on the different institutions and processes that will sit under the Treaty. The first of these sessions happened in April 2025, the second one will be from 18-29 August 2025, and a third one is likely to take place in early 2026. The way these institutions are structured and how they function will shape the Treaty’s long-term effectiveness and determine how quickly global ambition can be translated into tangible results for ocean protection, including the establishment of High Seas marine protected areas.Members quotes-RISE UP: "The wave of High Seas Treaty ratifications at UNOC 3 marks a powerful step toward a thriving ocean future, bringing us closer to protecting our shared ocean heritage. Implementation must be driven not only by science and policy, but also by the leadership and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples and traditional knowledge holders. This is ocean justice in action." – Flora McMorrin, Director, RISE UP.-The Ocean Race: "We at The Ocean Race are thrilled to become a Friend of the High Seas Alliance, recognizing the vital alignment in our joint race for the Ocean. We look forward to collaborating to help the implementation of the High Seas Treaty, working towards the 30x30 target and amplifying critical campaigns for ocean health.” - Richard Brisius, Race Chairman, The Ocean Race.-Accountability.Fish: "A great watershed in the history of sustainable ocean governance. With sufficient support for getting the BBNJ implemented on short notice, Nice has proved a boost for the international commitment with saving biodiversity on the High Seas." - Steven Adolf, Senior Advisor for Accountability.Fish.-AIDA: "The entry into force and the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement is a landmark moment to safeguard the ocean as our greater common good, an opportunity to achieve equity and justice for all nations, and to empower regions, such as Latin America, in defining actions that can shape a fair and sustainable future for all." - María José González-Bernat, Co-Director of Ecosystems Program of AIDA. -Birdlife International: "As a member of the High Seas Alliance, BirdLife International stands ready to provide the science, tools and global-to-local action to build a strong High Seas treaty. Here at UNOC, we now commit to identify the most important areas across 100% of ocean flyways until 2030. This is a key building block for the High Seas treaty to be successful. We call on governments to unite in saving our ocean and to send a strong signal from Nice to the world." - Martin Harper, CEO of BirdLife International.-Global Choices: "Global Choices congratulates the High Seas Alliance on driving increasing ratifications of the BBNJ and we add our voice to the call for urgent full and meaningful implementation of the Agreement. For our work on collaborating to protect the Central Arctic Ocean, an Area Beyond National Jurisdiction, the enhanced Environmental Impact Assessments in the BBNJ agreement will be of particular benefit to enhancing precaution of harm to this most fragile and unique biome." - Inge Relph - Executive Director and Co-Founder, Global Choices.-OceanCare: "Over the past week, we’ve seen an impressive wave of ratifications. While this is a major milestone, it is only the beginning. The real work lies in implementation — and the true test will be whether the Agreement delivers tangible benefits for marine ecosystems. Success will depend on robust institutional arrangements, adequate financing, capacity-building, and genuine cooperation among States and stakeholders. We must seize the momentum generated by the 3rd UN Ocean Conference and act swiftly — the health of our ocean hangs in the balance." - Fabienne McLellan, Managing Director at OceanCare.-The German Ocean Foundation: "The German Ocean Foundation celebrates the growing number of States who have ratified the BBNJ Agreement and urges other States, in particular the German government, to prioritize ratification, so that this treaty can realise its true potential as the catalyst for meaningful and lasting protection of the High Seas that it is designed to be." - Frank Schweikert, Director of the German Ocean Foundation.-Campaign for Nature: "Jumping from 31 to 50 country ratifications within a few days is a remarkable achievement. We now need to capitalise on this momentum and ensure we reach the magic number of 60 before the UN General Assembly meets in September in New York. Every country should aspire to be among this top 60 in the next three months." - Adrian Gahan, Ocean Lead, Campaign for Nature.-MarViva Foundation: "UNOC presented a unique opportunity to strengthen the momentum around the protection of the high seas. We look forward to continuing working along with governments and partner organizations from the High Seas Alliance to ensure the implementation of the BBNJ Treaty and the adequate management and conservation of key sites such as the Thermal Dome." - Katherine Arroyo Arce, Executive Director.-IFAW (The International Fund for Animal Welfare): "The journey towards a high seas treaty has been nearly as long as the great migrations of whales, sharks and turtles but the wave of new ratifications at the UN Ocean Conference shows we are in the final straight. IFAW urges all nations that have not yet done so to ratify the treaty as a matter of urgency so we can at last give meaningful protection to marine life on the high seas." - Matthew Collis, Senior DIrector of Policy.-Sustainable Ocean Alliance: "The BBNJ Treaty is a historic step toward protecting the biodiversity of the high seas, a global commons that no country owns, but all depend on. Contrary to misinformation, this agreement fully respects national sovereignty: it only applies to the High Seas that is generally beyond 200 nautical miles, where no country has exclusive rights. By ratifying the BBNJ Treaty, countries are not giving up power, they are stepping up to protect life beyond borders and ensure that international waters are governed by cooperation, science, and fairness." - Daniel Cáceres Bartra, SOA Hispanoamérica.-Greenpeace International: "Ratification of the High Seas Treaty is now within touching distance. The progress made on Monday reminded us of the multilateral cooperation we saw when the Treaty text was agreed by consensus in 2023. This momentum now must be maintained. We need to cross the threshold of sixty ratifications as soon as possible, so the Treaty can enter into force in 2025. Following this, we must see governments take marine protected area proposals to the first Ocean Conference of Parties in 2026. One billion people rely on the oceans, and if we can protect 30% of the oceans using this Treaty, they will continue to provide for us." - Megan Randles, Greenpeace International’s Head of Delegation for the Conference.-WILDTRUST: "The South African based NGO WILDTRUST – WILDOCEANS programme team have been blown away by ocean conservation commitments made by both the South African government and the Union of Comoros at UNOC 2025. South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dr Dion George, signed the BBNJ Agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty, on the 9th of June. The Minister touched on how signing the Agreement builds on the countries record of active multilateral engagement and positions them as a bridge-builder between global ambition and local action for the oceans.On Tuesday the 10th of June the Ministry of Comoros confirmed the country’s readiness to take swift action to support global marine conservation goals. They signed and committed to move to ratify the High Seas Treaty, as well as pledged to protect 30% of their ocean by designating approximately 50 000km2 in Marine Protected Areas by 2030.Ecological sustainability is only possible when paired with socio-economic prosperity, especially in vulnerable coastal communities, where lasting marine conservation depends on both nature and people thriving together," commented Strategic Ocean Lead at the WILDTRUST. "This is why we are so pleased about these bold steps to protect the western Indian Ocean at large."-Oceans North: "While the Race to Ratification will soon come to an end, the hard work to fully implement the treaty is just about to begin. Protecting and sustainably managing the high seas – 50% of the planet – cannot come soon enough. The inclusion of Indigenous and local knowledge systems in the BBNJ Treaty sets new ocean governance foundations for how and for whom this treaty is implemented." - Ernesto Fernández Monge, International Oceans Director, Oceans North.-The Ocean Project: "We are highly encouraged with the progress made toward ratification and urge all nations to "seas the day" and swiftly ratify the High Seas Treaty. Ratification provides an historic opportunity for nations of the world to come together and finally safeguard this global commons. Critically important, ratification will provide the ability to protect at least 30% of the ocean, which nations of the world committed to achieving by 2030. Doing so will help both current and future generations because no matter where we live on our blue planet, we all need a healthy ocean to survive and thrive." - Bill Mott, Executive Director, The Ocean Project | World Ocean Day.-Conservation International and the Coral Reefs of the High Seas Coalition: "The wave of international commitments to the High Seas Treaty signals growing global recognition that we must urgently conserve marine biodiversity in our shared ocean. This landmark agreement lays the foundation for creating marine protected areas beyond national jurisdiction - safeguarding the rich biodiversity and deep cultural heritage of the high seas for future generations." - Haydée Rodriguez-Romero, Director of the Coral Reefs of the High Seas Coalition, Conservation International.-The Pew Charitable Trusts: “"This remarkable progress demonstrates the global community’s commitment to swiftly implement the BBNJ Agreement and secure benefits for marine life and people worldwide. This includes a global ambition to establish the first generation of high seas marine protected areas, which is critical for meeting the world’s 30 by 30 conservation goal within the next five years." – Nichola Clark, senior officer on The Pew Charitable Trusts’ ocean governance team.-Iceland Nature Conservation Association: "We very much welcome Iceland’s commitment to ratifying the BBNJ treaty during the autumn session of the Icelandic Parliament. However, given Iceland’s previous commitments, Iceland must be among the first 60 states to ratify the BBNJ." - Árni Finnsson, Iceland Nature Conservation Association.-iSea: "At iSea, we are proud to have supported the High Seas Alliance's Race for Ratification, and we welcome Greece’s and Cyprus's ratification of the BBNJ Agreement as a crucial step toward ocean protection. With only a few national ratifications remaining after the momentum of UNOC3, the High Seas Treaty is closer than ever to entering into force. As an NGO dedicated to the conservation of the marine environment, iSea remains committed to actively supporting the next steps for the Treaty’s effective implementation worldwide."-Global Fishing Watch: "UNOC has given us a glimmer of hope that the challenges facing our ocean are being seen and will be tackled. Transparency at all levels has rightly emerged as crucial in this work, because we can’t protect what we can’t see. As we edge closer to the High Seas Treaty coming into force, governments need to double down - using both transparency and new technologies - to safeguard the ocean and its riches for the benefit of all those who rely on it." - Tony Long, chief executive officer of Global Fishing Watch.-The Nature Conservancy: "Achieving meaningful change on the high seas requires a whole-ocean approach grounded in global cooperation and local leadership. The momentum behind the BBNJ Treaty shows that this is possible. Now is the moment to double down. As we approach the 60 ratifications needed to bring it into force, we move closer to protecting the ocean systems that sustain life— safeguarding food security, livelihoods, and climate resilience for communities around the world." – Dr. Elizabeth McLeod, Global Ocean Director, The Nature Conservancy.-Iceland Nature Conservation Association: "We very much welcome Iceland’s commitment to ratifying the BBNJ treaty during the autumn session of the Icelandic Parliament. However, given Iceland’s previous commitments, Iceland must be among the first 60 states to ratify the BBNJ." - Árni Finnsson, Chair of Board, Náttúruverndarsamtök Íslands / Iceland Nature Conservation Association.-EarthEcho: "On behalf of our global community of young people at EarthEcho, I am extremely excited by the multilateral progress made here at Nice in the Race for Ratification. Young people are already strongly mobilized in laying the groundwork for BBNJ Treaty implementation, and we’re ready and eager to hit the ground running once it enters into force. To our world leaders, the ball is in your court!" - Taylor Cargill, EarthEcho International Youth Leadership Council member.

Audiencia de la Corte IDH en Manaos, Brasil

June 10 2025 Climate Change, Human Rights, Indigenous Rights

From rights to remedies: What's at stake in the Inter-American climate advisory opinion

On January 9, 2023, Chile and Colombia jointly submitted a request to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) to clarify State obligations in the face of the climate emergency. The request raised critical questions about States’ duties related to the prevention, adaptation, mitigation, and reparation of climate impacts, as well as the protection of environmental defenders and the promotion of equity.The process, which included the submission of over 200 written observations—an unprecedented number for an advisory opinion before the Court—and three rounds of hearings in April and May 2024, has created a unique space to understand the legal positions of States, international organizations, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples.In this webinar, co-hosted by AIDA, CDH - Honduras, CIEL, Earthjustice, ERI, FACE, Greenpeace International, La Ruta del Clima, UCS, and other allied organizations, we explored the transformative potential of this historic advisory opinion.We shared key reflections on the legal arguments presented to the Court, the broader scope of the proceedings, and what an ideal outcome might look like. We also examined how this opinion—alongside others issued or pending before international courts such as ITLOS and the ICJ—can strengthen climate justice, guide State action, influence climate litigation, and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives across Latin America and beyond. SpeakersElisa Morgera, UNSR on climate change and human rights.Alana Lancaster, West Indies University, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.Sandra Reyes and Dagoberto Majano, Mesa Justicia Climática, Cedeño community, Honduras.Moderator: Luisa Gomez, CIEL. Recording

Peces nadan en praderas submarinas en alta mar

June 02 2025 Climate Change, Oceans

The natural wonders we could protect with the High Seas Treaty

For decades, the ocean has protected us from the impacts of climate change, absorbing 90 percent of the excess heat produced by global warming. It’s given us food and the genetic resources we use to produce life-saving drugs. As if that weren’t enough, it’s enabled millions of families to thrive in an economy based on its bounty.Despite its importance, the ocean remains unprotected in large part; no country governs the high seas, international waters that comprise 64 percent of the ocean’s total surface area. Management measures have given rise to a patchwork of uncoordinated protections.To fill this gap, in June 2023, UN member countries formally adopted an agreement to protect biodiversity in the high seas, which requires ratification by at least 60 countries to enter into force.The High Seas Treaty - short name for the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) - proposes, among other aspects, the creation and adequate management of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the high seas, regions that would allow for the conservation and rescue of the rich biodiversity found in the ocean. Protection at a high costIn addition to absorbing a large part of the planet’s excess heat, the ocean absorbs nearly 30 percent of all greenhouse gases, which are responsible for climate change.But this protective role comes with serious consequences. By interacting with and absorbing pollutants such as carbon dioxide, the ocean suffers from acidification - a phenomenon that reduces the levels of calcium, an element necessary for the shells and external skeletons of several species of marine fauna - and loss of oxygen, essential for life under the sea.These impacts consequently affect the food supply and employment in the fishing and tourism industries.Faced with the impacts of the climate crisis on marine ecosystems, governments must do much more to protect the ocean, starting with ratifying the High Seas Treaty, which establishes a clear legal framework and process for maintaining its health and resilience. Protected natural wondersAs the ratification of the High Seas Treaty progresses, there is growing interest from governments and civil society to lay the groundwork for greater protection of the high seas.As part of this push, areas of high ecological value have been identified that could form the first wave of protection once the treaty goes into effect. High Seas Alliance - a coalition of organizations of which AIDA is a member - has highlighted 8 priority sites that could be part of this first generation of MPAs, which it has called the Hidden Natural Wonders of the World:Salas y Gómez and Nazca Ridges: Deep in the waters of the southeastern Pacific, these two unique chains of submarine slopes and peaks are separated from South America by the waters of the Humboldt Current and the enormous chasm of the Atacama Trench. They are critical habitats and migratory corridors for at least 82 threatened or endangered species, along with many others of ecological and economic importance.The Termal Dome: Each year in the eastern tropical Pacific, strong seasonal winds push warm waters from the coast offshore, where they meet cooler waters carried by ocean currents. This interaction causes a unique upwelling system that brings cold, nutrient-rich waters to the sea surface, benefiting many species.Emperor Seamounts: Located in the North Pacific, this chain of more than 80 seamounts extends for 2,000 kilometers on the seafloor between the northwesternmost point of the Hawaiian Islands and the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench (Pacific Northwest). Its nutrient-rich waters feed a great diversity of species. And in the mountains, a range of corals and sponges shelter countless species of fish and invertebrates.Walvis Ridge: It is a range of seamounts that extends for about 3,000 kilometers off the coast of southwestern Namibia to the mid-Atlantic ridge (submarine ridge that runs along the Atlantic Ocean). It is composed of several seafloor types and includes many features of the deep ocean floor, along with its abyssal plains, seamounts and guyots (seamounts).Sargasso Sea: It is the only sea in the world without land borders. It is geographically defined by four Atlantic Ocean currents in an area of about 1,100 kilometers wide and 3,200 kilometers long. It is called the “golden rainforest of the high seas” because of the sargassum algae that float on its surface and provide habitat for a myriad of species, while absorbing and storing carbon and producing oxygen.South Tasman Sea: Located between Australia and New Zealand, it is a diverse and dynamic area that supports abundant marine life. It is also an important breeding area and migratory corridor for a large number of species, including endangered species such as the Antipodean albatross, which often transit its waters.The Lost City: It is a complex of 30 hydrothermal vent chimneys located on the upper slopes of the Atlantis seamount massif in the North Atlantic Ocean. The complex of vents rises 4,300 meters from the seafloor, with peaks at a depth of 750 meters. The Lost City chimneys are believed to be more than 120,000 years old.Saya de Malha: Located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, midway between the Seychelles and Mauritius, this unique seascape is home to the world’s largest seagrass community. It is a rare example of seagrass meadows on the high seas and the largest submerged ocean bank in the world, covering more than 40,000 square kilometers.Preserving these natural wonders through marine protected areas requires the entry into force of the High Seas Treaty.It is time to take care of the ocean as it takes care of us.

Ejemplar de tiburón ballena recorre aguas de alta mar

April 25 2025 Oceans

The treaty protecting life on the high seas: Why should governments ratify it?

The ocean covers two-thirds of the planet. It is so immense and vast that 64% of its waters are outside any border, in a space known as the high seas.It is an area that lies outside national jurisdictions and represents 40% of the Earth's surface.Because of the wealth of marine life it harbors - including species new to science - the high seas are one of the world's greatest reserves of biodiversity. It is also a source of food and oxygen, regulates the climate, cushions the impacts of the climate crisis and sustains the livelihoods of fishing and tourism communities.Despite their importance, only 1.2% of the waters of the high seas have international protection.To fill this gap, in June 2023, UN member countries formally adopted an agreement to protect biodiversity in the high seas, which needs ratification by at least 60 countries to enter into force.Find out how many and which countries have ratified the treaty. As a reservoir of global common goods, the protection and sustainable use of the high seas is a right and an obligation of all governments. What does the High Seas Treaty state?The High Seas Treaty - short name for the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) - is universal and can benefit all countries, even those that are not party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), such as Colombia, El Salvador, Peru and Venezuela.The treaty contains the following key elements:Area-based management tools. The treaty establishes a legal framework and a clear process for creating networks of marine protected areas, which can provide comprehensive protection for biodiversity in the high seas from multiple activities, maintaining the health and resilience of this part of the ocean.Environmental impact assessments. Under the treaty, any new activity on the high seas is subject to detailed, modern environmental impact assessments that include the cumulative impacts of multiple activities affecting the same ecosystem. Developing countries will be supported to take part in this task.Fair and equitable sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources. The agreement establishes obligations to share monetary and non-monetary benefits from the utilization of genetic resources found in the high seas (genetic material of any animal, plant or microbe) to develop new medicines, for example.Capacity building and technology transfer. The treaty provides for the provision of financing and technology transfer on fair terms for developing countries to increase their marine scientific and technological capacity, including data exchange, infrastructure development and improvement, and respect for traditional knowledge. Why should governments ratify the High Seas Treaty?Having a High Seas Treaty took more than two decades, including five years of negotiations at the UN. To secure this historic breakthrough, the agreement must enter into force - become law under international law - which will occur 120 days after 60 countries have ratified it. So far, 28 countries have ratified the treaty.Ratification means that countries, in addition to signing it, give their formal consent to the treaty, which often involves ensuring that their national laws are consistent with it.There are many reasons why ratification of the agreement will benefit developing countries, particularly those in Latin America and the Caribbean. Some of these are:The treaty brings us closer to environmental justice. It will benefit countries historically excluded from access to the resources of the high seas, providing them with new opportunities for technological, scientific and economic development. It will also allow all countries to be active players in a global platform for decision-making, coordination and cooperation for the protection and sustainable use of these resources.The treaty allows for the conservation of key ecosystems. Under the treaty, all countries will be able to propose marine protected areas on the high seas, including landlocked countries (such as Bolivia and Paraguay). This will allow the protection of areas rich in biodiversity and endemic species in Latin America, such as the Salas y Gómez & Nazca submarine mountain ranges (Chile-Peru) or the Thermal Dome in the Central American Pacific.The treaty benefits local livelihoods and economies. By promoting a healthy and resilient high seas, the treaty will have positive effects on coastal areas and economic activities that depend on migratory species, such as whale and turtle watching, diving, tourism, commercial and sport fishing. Highly migratory species such as squid are vital to Latin American economies.The treaty provides a voice in decision-making on the high seas. Countries that have signed the treaty will participate in the meetings of the Preparatory Commission and those that ratify it will be able to participate in the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the agreement, the first version of which will take place one year after its entry into force, where key aspects of its implementation and the realization of its benefits will be decided.The call is therefore for all countries to ratify the High Seas Treaty, thus protecting 64% of our ocean, which today lacks effective protection.It is time to act for marine life and for future generations.

March 24 2025 Toxic Pollution, Human Rights

Families of La Oroya demand Peru comply with Inter-American Court ruling

One year after the decision, the state has still not implemented the ordered reparations. The population lacks comprehensive health care and is once again exposed to toxic contamination due to the reactivation of the La Oroya smelter complex, which is operating without adequate environmental management.One year after the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ordered the Peruvian state to provide comprehensive reparations to the residents of La Oroya, after finding it responsible for violating their rights, the victims are still waiting for the ruling to be implemented and for state to comply with its international obligations."It's already been a year since the ruling was announced, how much longer will we have to wait?" asked Yolanda Zurita, a resident of La Oroya and a petitioner in the case. "Enough is enough! We demand that the Peruvian state immediately comply with the ruling of the Inter-American Court, which will benefit not only the victims of the case, but also the population of La Oroya and the country exposed to toxic substances from the indiscriminate development of extractive and industrial activities in our territories."On March 22, 2024, in a landmark decision for the protection of a healthy environment in Latin America, the Court responded to the long and tireless search for justice by the families of La Oroya, who have been affected for decades by the extreme levels of contamination from the La Oroya Metallurgical Complex (CMLO) and the lack of adequate protective measures by the State, which today ignores the ruling and underestimates its importance.Although the Court ordered the State to ensure that CMLO's operations comply with international environmental standards and to prevent and mitigate damage to the environment and human health, the opposite is currently the case: the complex has reactivated its operations without having modernized its facilities to prevent and mitigate the environmental and health risks it generates for the population.It is urgent that the CMLO stops polluting and that the Peruvian State adopts the measures required by the Court to modernize it in accordance with international environmental standards of environmental protection, in compliance with the ruling."With the reactivation of the metallurgical complex, the people of La Oroya are once again being exposed to levels of pollution that endanger their lives; the Inter-American Court's ruling is clear and the State is obligated to comply," said Rosa Peña, senior attorney with the Inter-American Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA). "The delay in complying with the ruling is re-victimizing the families who have been demanding justice for more than 20 years."The court also ordered the state to provide free medical care to the victims and to guarantee specialized care to residents with symptoms and illnesses related to contamination from the mining and metallurgical activities. Today, however, comprehensive health care is not guaranteed in La Oroya. It is necessary that the State, through and in coordination with the Ministry of Health, the Regional Health Directorate of Junín, the General Directorate of Environmental Health, and health care providers, create and implement the protocol for comprehensive care for victims in La Oroya, as established by the Court.The ruling set a historic precedent for the control of industrial pollution by states. For the Peruvian State to make real progress in its implementation, it is imperative that the Attorney General's Office issue the Compliance Resolution."Despite the deadlines set by the Inter-American Court for the Peruvian State, there has been virtually no progress in the implementation of the ruling," said Christian Huaylinos, coordinator of the legal department of the Pro Human Rights Association (APRODEH). "Above all, the nature of the case must be taken into account, which implies that La Oroya has been classified as a sacrifice zone due to the high levels of contamination; therefore, the need to fully compensate the victims is urgent." Background of the caseLa Oroya is located in the central mountain range of Peru, in the department of Junin, 176 km from Lima. In 1992, the US company Cerro de Pasco Corporation installed the La Oroya Metallurgical Complex (CMLO) to process mineral concentrates. The complex was nationalized in 1974 and operated by the state under the name Centromin Peru until 1997, when it was taken over by Doe Run Peru, which operated it until 2009. In short, the CMLO is over 100 years old.In La Oroya, most of the people affected by the CMLO contamination, including children, have lead levels higher than those recommended by the World Health Organization. In some cases, they have registered higher levels of arsenic and cadmium, in addition to stress, anxiety, skin problems, stomach problems, chronic headaches, and respiratory or cardiac problems, among others.In the absence of effective responses at the national level and on behalf of the victims, an international coalition of organizations filed a complaint against the Peruvian State with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in 2006. In October 2021, the Commission found the Peruvian government responsible and referred the case to the Inter-American Court. In October 2022, more than 16 years after the international complaint was filed, the victims, represented by AIDA and APRODEH with the assistance of Earthjustice, brought the case before the Court. Press contactsVíctor Quintanilla (Mexico), AIDA, [email protected], +52 5570522107María Nieve Sullón (Peru), APRODEH, [email protected], +51 984926868

March 21 2025 Human Rights, Indigenous Rights, Freshwater Sources

Why is lithium mining in Andean salt flats also called water mining?

By Víctor Quintanilla, David Cañas and Javier Oviedo* According to official figures, approximately 2.2 billion people worldwide lack access to drinking water.Despite this panorama, threats to this common good from overexploitation and pollution are increasing. One such threat is the accelerated extraction of lithium in Latin American countries, driven by corporate and state actors to meet the energy transition needs of the global North.Lithium extraction involves enormous water consumption and loss and is essentially water mining.On the continent, the advance of the lithium industry particularly threatens the salt flats and other Andean wetlands of the Gran Atacama region—located in the ecological region of the Puna, on the border of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile—where more than 53 percent of the mineral’s resources (potentially exploitable material) are located.Lithium mining exacerbates the natural water deficit in the area, threatening not only the salt flats, but also the many forms of life that live there. Where does the water used in lithium mining come from?First, it’s necessary to point out that salt flats are aquatic ecosystems located at the bottom of endorheic or closed basins. There, rivers do not flow into the sea but into the interior of the territory, so the water forms lakes or lagoons often accompanied by salt flats due to evaporation.In the salt flats, freshwater and saltwater usually coexist in a delicate balance that allows life to survive.The regions with salt flats, such as the Gran Atacama, are arid or semi-arid, with high evaporation and low rainfall. There we find freshwater aquifers at the foot of the mountains and brine aquifers in the center of the salt flats, both connected and in equilibrium.Brine is basically water with a high salt content, although the lithium mining industry considers it a mineral to justify its exploitation and minimize the water footprint of its activities.In addition to being essential for life, the waters of the salt flats are a heritage resource because they are very old—up to tens of thousands of years—and have been the livelihood of the indigenous people who have inhabited the Puna for thousands of years.When the mining industry moves into a salt flat, it threatens the natural balance and directly affects the relationship between water and the social environment, as well as the relationship between water and other forms of life.To extract lithium from a salt flat, the traditional procedure is to drill the salt flat, pour the brine into large ponds, wait for the water to evaporate so that the lithium concentration increases, send the lithium concentrate to an industrial plant and subject it to chemical treatment to separate the lithium from other salts and finally obtain lithium carbonate or hydroxide: a raw material used mainly in the manufacture of batteries.The continuous and large-scale extraction of brine from saline aquifers alters the natural balance of groundwater. As a result, areas that were previously filled with brine are emptied, causing freshwater from nearby aquifers to move in and occupy those spaces, becoming salinized in the process.The final processes to extract lithium carbonate and separate it from the rest of the compound also require water, which is drawn from surface or underground sources that also supply local communities.Therefore, the water used in lithium mining comes from:Underground freshwater and brine aquifers.Surface sources such as rivers and vegas (land where water accumulates). Therefore, the inherent risk of lithium mining is the overexploitation of these water sources. How much water does lithium mining use?The extraction of lithium by the methods described above involves an enormous consumption and loss of water, which is not returned to the environment because it completely used up, because its properties change, or because it is simply lost through evaporation.According to scientific data, the average water overconsumption in lithium mining is as follows:150 m3 of fresh water used to produce one ton of lithium.350 m3 of brine per ton of lithium.Between 100 and 1000 m3 of water evaporated per ton of lithium produced. To illustrate the loss of water resources in lithium mining, the water lost to evaporation is equivalent to the total water consumption of the population of Antofagasta (166,000 people) for two years. This Chilean city is located 200 km from the Salar de Atacama, where more than 90 percent of the country's lithium reserves are located.In addition to water depletion, lithium mining can also contaminate the resource by producing wastewater containing toxic substances. Our vital relationship with waterUnlike the mining industry, which sees water as just another resource to be exploited, the indigenous communities living in the area have an ancestral connection to the resource on which their economic and productive activities depend, as well as their customs, traditions and worldview.These communities must now confront the pressures on water from the advance of lithium mining, driven by outside interests.But they are doing so with courage, developing processes of defense of water and territory.Let us learn from them to defend a common good without which no way of life is possible.Learn more about the impacts of lithium mining on Andean salt flats in this StoryMap (in Spanish)Watch the recording of the webinar “Evidence of hyperconsumption of water in lithium extraction and production” (in Spanish) *Víctor Quintanilla is AIDA's Content Coordinator; David Cañas and Javier Oviedo are scientific advisors.

March 10 2025 Climate Change, Freshwater Sources, Mining

Declaration of a Temporary Reserve Area in the Santurbán Páramo is a victory for the defense of water in Latin America

Civil society organizations celebrate the measure taken by the Colombian Ministry of the Environment, which involves a two year suspension of Canadian company Aris Mining's gold mining project in the páramo.Bogotá, Colombia. The Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA), the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) - Mining and Trade Project, MiningWatch Canada, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and Common Frontiers Canada celebrate the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development’s (MADS) resolution that declares the western side of the Santurbán massif a temporary renewable natural resource reserve area. This major step strengthens the protection of one of the most emblematic high-altitude Andean wetlands, known as páramo, and its related ecosystems, which are fundamental for climate change adaptation and water security in the region for an estimated 2 million people.Resolution 0221, issued on March 3, 2025 by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADS), delimits and protects an area of 75,344.65 hectares, ensuring a two year provisional suspension of the Soto Norte gold mining project owned by Canadian company Aris Mining and its Colombian subsidiary, Sociedad Minera de Santander S.A.S. (Minesa), which puts Santurbán at risk. Citing the precautionary principle, the resolution prohibits the granting of “new mining concessions, special exploration and exploitation contracts, (...) as well as new environmental permits or licenses for the exploration or exploitation of minerals” in the area until the necessary technical studies are carried out toward its definitive protection. This resolution does not affect agricultural, livestock or tourism activity in the area.However, we are concerned that the resolution leaves in force the concession contract with Calimineros, which has had a subcontract with Minesa to formalize [its small-scale mining activities] since 2020, and from which Minesa promises to buy and process mineralized material. We encourage the competent authorities to suspend evaluation of its environmental license application and extension of the formalization subcontract, due to potential environmental impacts on Santurbán and because it is effectively part of the Soto Norte project.The páramo and related ecosystems are highly sensitive, recognized for their role in water regulation, carbon capture, and the conservation of endemic biodiversity. The removal of vegetation cover and the fragmentation of ecosystems that mining in Santurbán would generate could affect the ecological balance, biodiversity, and the provision of ecosystem services essential for life; acidify and reduce the amount of available fresh-water; and break the ecological interconnectivity with other biomes and ecosystems, destroying their capacity to sequester carbon and causing irreparable damage.For these reasons, we appreciate that the resolution seeks to prevent mining development in this highly sensitive and environmentally important area, preventing degradation of the watersheds that arise from Santurbán and preserving the water cycle.Sebastián Abad-Jara, an attorney for AIDA, pointed out that "by protecting Santurbán, Colombia ratifies its commitment to meet global environmental goals in terms of biodiversity, climate and wetlands, and sets a high bar for the governments of other countries where these ecosystems are similarly threatened by mining activity, such as Peru and Ecuador.""We celebrate this declaration as an important first step toward the consolidation of the western side of the Santurbán massif as a permanent reserve area, definitively protecting this important water source, vital for all who depend on it," said Jen Moore, associate fellow at IPS - Mining and Trade Project.Viviana Herrera, Latin America Program Coordinator for MiningWatch Canada, added that "this resolution is the result of the Committee for the Defence of Water and Páramo of Santurbán’s hard work, which has faced harassment and intimidation for its work in defense of the páramo, as well as disinformation campaigns about the supposed harmful effects of the resolution on agricultural activity."AIDA, IPS-Mining and Trade Project, MiningWatch Canada, CIEL and Common Frontiers Canada support the adoption of this protection measure for Santurbán. We also encourage the national and local government to carry out the necessary technical studies for its definitive protection, and to take preventive measures to avoid the cumulative environmental impacts of mining in the area given other projects that already have mining licenses. Furthermore, we reiterate the urgency of adopting measures to protect environment defenders in Colombia who stand up for the páramo.The Santurbán experience provides valuable lessons and should serve as an example to promote legislation for environmental protection in Latin America that focuses on the human right to water and the balance and integrity of fragile ecosystems, such as the páramo and other high-altitude ecosystems.#OurGoldIsWater Press contactsVictor Quintanilla (Mexico), AIDA, [email protected], +5215570522107Jennifer Moore, IPS, [email protected], +12027049011 (prensa IPS)Viviana Herrera, Mining Watch Canada, [email protected], +14389931264Alexandra Colón-Amil, CIEL, [email protected], +12024550253

February 24 2025 Climate Change, Toxic Pollution, Oceans

Learn about the negotiations to reduce maritime shipping emissions

The decarbonization of productive and economic activities is essential and urgent to address the triple crisis –climate, pollution and biodiversity loss– that the world is facing.In maritime shipping –which moves 10 billion tons of cargo each year and accounts for 2.9% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2)– the global need to reduce and eventually eliminate these emissions is being addressed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN specialized agency responsible for setting standards for safe, efficient and environmentally sound shipping.The move toward decarbonization is critical because without significant change, shipping emissions could increase by as much as 50% by 2050.The IMO has a revised emissions reduction strategy that was agreed in 2023 by the 175 countries that make up the organization. It is expected to reduce emissions from the sector by up to 30% by 2030, 80% by 2040 and reach net zero by around 2050. Implementation of the strategy is currently the subject of international negotiations.AIDA is participating in these negotiations as part of the Clean Shipping Coalition, an international coalition of organizations. In addition, AIDA is coordinating efforts with Ocean Conservancy and Fundación Cethus to generate advocacy with Latin American countries and to collaborate with updated technical information on the progress of the negotiations and their implications for the region.The decarbonization of global shipping and its economic impact is a very important discussion for Latin America and the Caribbean. It is necessary that all countries and economic sectors align themselves with clear targets and that all impacts are assessed equally and fairly, as well as the ways in which countries can mitigate them. Read on to learn more about this important process. What measures are being discussed to reduce emissions from maritime shipping?Negotiations are underway at the international level to select the package of measures needed to meet the 2023 targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. This package will include both technical and economic measures. Its final structure will be decided in April this year at the IMO headquarters in London, marking a global milestone in the fight against the climate crisis.Technical measures include a global fuel standard, carbon capture on ships, energy efficiency measures for the fuels used, and reductions in ship speed. They all aim to make maritime transport as efficient as possible in terms of the fuels used and to gradually phase out the use of the most polluting fuels. This means using the least amount of energy, emitting the least amount of carbon dioxide and keeping the sector in operation.In addition to technical measures, economic measures are proposed to put a price on carbon emissions from maritime transport. Increasing the efficiency of ships is expected to have not only a technological component but also a market incentive. This combination is crucial for achieving emission reduction targets, as it will provide both the public and private sectors with the necessary resources:The economic resources to invest in the new technologies, new fuels, and other investments needed for the energy transition.An economic stimulus to close the current cost gap between fossil fuels and near-zero emission clean technologies. To define a price for carbon dioxide emissions, there are two main proposals:The first has a flexible structure with respect to emissions. In its simplest form, it takes account of differences in emissions when implementing the measure. To this end, a "permissible limit" of carbon dioxide emissions is envisaged, with ships being divided into those below and those above the limit. The former could receive a financial reward, and the latter would pay a fee for the carbon dioxide emitted under a system of emission quotas. In this sense, although there is a mechanism to regulate emissions below the set limit, the tolerance of these limits offers the possibility of an accelerated reduction, which could delay the energy transition that the climate crisis requires.The second has a universal structure, i.e. a fixed price for all CO2 emissions generated by the operation of the maritime fleet. The aim is to create a market stimulus that will increase the demand for new low-emission technologies (new ships and fuels) and encourage maritime operators to purchase them in order to avoid paying a fee. This measure is expected to provide more accurate monitoring of total emissions from ships, motivate a faster and more pronounced energy transition, and collect and then redistribute a significant number of economic resources among maritime operators and countries to mitigate the disproportionate costs and negative impacts of the decarbonization process. What does decarbonizing shipping mean for Latin America and the Caribbean?According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change-related disasters, so actions aimed at achieving decarbonization targets in different sectors of the regional economy are essential to address the climate crisis.On the other hand, actions specifically aimed at decarbonizing maritime transport will have different impacts in the short, medium and long term in each of the countries of the continent. For example, the choice of one or the other proposal for the payment of a tariff for the sector's CO2 emissions - the flexible modality or the fixed price - will have a different impact in each country. What all scenarios have in common is that the region will be strongly affected by the process of decarbonizing maritime transport.In this context, it is important for countries to identify the scenarios that allow them a greater range of actions to compensate for these impacts and to ensure that the transition is equitable and fair, without leaving any country behind.In economic terms, the introduction of a universal price on CO2 emissions would allow States to receive part of the economic resources generated to compensate and mitigate the effects of decarbonization. The amounts and forms of this transfer of resources will be agreed within the IMO. The combination of more ambitious measures (technical and economic) is expected to raise up to $120 billion annually in the coming years. The flexible proposal for paying for emissions does not include mechanisms for redistributing resources, as these would go directly to ship operators and fuel producers. This would leave countries to mitigate the impact of decarbonization with their own resources.From an environmental perspective, without the incentive of a universal price, there is a risk that the flexible scheme will indirectly encourage the continued use of fuels that generate CO2 emissions, particularly in regions with limited economic resources to invest in the least polluting state-of-the-art technology. This would result in a delay in achieving emission reduction targets for the world's shipping fleet and would move countries away from meeting their climate change commitments under the IMO.In general, the costs of reducing CO2 emissions from shipping and other sectors, which are at the root of the current climate crisis, are a reality for all countries, although the impact varies by region. The active participation of Latin America and the Caribbean in the international discussions on this issue throughout 2025 is essential to ensure that the energy transition and the reduction of maritime emissions are fair and equitable. It is important that the countries of the continent adopt a position that allows them to protect their economic and environmental interests from the economic consequences of this process. If the IMO's decarbonization strategy does not live up to its ambitions, we will have a shipping industry that exacerbates the climate crisis and its impacts. The success of this strategy will be the achievement of a global consensus on environmental considerations. The equity and fairness of the transition must be one of the key elements. Recognizing the differentiated impacts of maritime decarbonization measures and their compensation, especially in the most affected countries, will ensure a triumph based on criteria of justice and environmental equity.

January 30 2025 Indigenous Rights, Freshwater Sources, Public Participation

Biocultural Corridor: Hope for a better future for the Pantanal

By Jorge Lu Palencia and Andrea Islas López*The Pantanal is a unique and rich wetland. It integrates elements of the semi-arid Amazon Rainforest, the Atlantic Forest (humid forest), the Cerrado (tropical savannah), the Chiquitano Dry Forest and the steppe savannah of the Chaco. With an extension of almost 18 million hectares, it crosses the borders of Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. Its biodiversity is fundamental to water conservation, food production, climate regulation, and the life and culture of millions of people: farmers, traditional communities, quilombola communities, and indigenous peoples. The Pantanal, however, is in danger of disappearing due to devastating seasons of forest fires and other threats caused by structural deficiencies in the institutional management of the ecosystem.In 2022, civil society organizations asked the Ramsar Convention to apply the protection mechanisms for wetlands of international importance to the Pantanal, warning that the number of heat sources had increased to five times the historical average. And in 2024, they reported that the fire season again exceeded historical average conditions.A few weeks after the fires, in November 2024, the Popular Water and Climate Committees—made up of small farmers from the Paraguay River basin—gathered to celebrate nature and reaffirm their commitment to water conservation through the self-affirmation of the Paraguay River / Pantanal Biocultural Corridor.These committees have been working for more than 25 years to confront the socio-environmental threats posed by mining, projects such as waterways and hydroelectric dams, and soy and sugarcane monocultures.They represent an alternative model of ecosystem management in which communities organize themselves to protect their territory and promote sustainable practices. What does self-affirmation of the biocultural corridor mean?In environmental practice, the term “corridor” is applied to ecological corridors, whose main function is connectivity, i.e., the movement of wildlife species for shelter, feeding and reproduction, as well as plant dispersal.Adding the “biocultural” element to the corridors means thinking that human beings are part of the ecosystem, that the conservation of nature does not exclude the purpose of making possible the full life of human groups, and that culture—materialized in the diverse world views, ancestral knowledge, traditional practices and forms of organization—is a fundamental element for effective conservation of nature.The self-affirmation of the popular committees of the Pantanal is a milestone that reminds us that the protection of nature does not depend only on the action of governments but is made possible by the awareness and popular initiative of communities and peoples. It shows that the exercise of public participation rights is indispensable and fundamental for public policies that make life and socio-environmental justice possible.Biocultural corridors make it possible to integrate conservation and economic and cultural activities with ecological practices, thus promoting a more sustainable future for the communities and the Pantanal region.They represent the birth of a more legitimate and effective conservation initiative, a participatory management and an organizational system in which decisions and policies flourish from the bottom up. An alternative model to poor institutional governance In the context of the climate crisis and a political and economic system that exacerbates the threats, the devastating fire seasons in the Pantanal highlight the problems of land-use change, irresponsible use of fire for agricultural and cattle raising activities, inadequate management of resources to prevent and fight fires, and the lack of coordination and transboundary cooperation.Structural deficiencies in institutional governance have led to inadequate public policies or even to habitat loss through incentives for monocultures and extensive cattle ranching, water regulation using waterways and dams that provide ecosystem services, subsistence and culture for local communities and indigenous peoples.Faced with this panorama, the self-affirmation of the biocultural corridor emerges as an alternative model of territorial management, driven by the people as a response to the lack of effective public policies.With this model, the communities promote conscious popular education to protect water and adopt ecological agricultural practices, instead of relying on a system that favors an economy of degradation at the expense of habitat destruction. Reasons to be hopeful about preserving the PantanalThe self-affirmation of the biocultural corridor allows us to be optimistic due to:The resilience of the people of the Pantanal, which allows them to overcome the devastation and open an alternative path for the conservation of the ecosystem, with the initiative and participation of the farmers.Emancipatory awareness and action that puts life at the center, based on the rights of nature, respect for human rights, and social and environmental justice.An organization that resists and builds itself democratically, based on the Pantanal’s identity, mystique, ancestral knowledge and sustainable traditional practices.A popular and participatory management model that harmonizes conservation and integral development goals, builds bridges with other communities and indigenous peoples, and has the potential to expand as a transboundary socio-environmental governance system with an ecosystem approach.Thanks to the popular committees, the Pantanal is alive and has possibilities for a more sustainable future. The creation of the biocultural corridor is a clear sign of hope for this vast and rich wetland.This model, based on popular management and respect for nature, offers a viable alternative to the threats facing the Pantanal and is a source of inspiration for other territories in crisis on the continent.* Jorge Lu Palencia is an attorney with AIDA's Ecosystems Program; Andrea Islas López is an attorney and intern at AIDA.