Colombia elects first Black woman vice president, Francia Marquez
Marquez is a celebrated environmental activist whose opposition to gold mining in her home municipality of Suarez saw her receive the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize in 2018.
South America
Indigenous group and locals in Colombia sign agreement to protect sustainable livelihoods and culture
A coexistence agreement signed between the Nukak and local campesinos is bringing the Indigenous community closer to returning to their territory.
Ecuador becomes first Latin American country committed to Fisheries Transparency Initiative standards
Ecuador now must grant public access to information related to the management of the country’s marine resources to journalists, civil society groups and others.
Ecuador’s Pastaza province and Indigenous groups collaborate on $52 million sustainable development plan
The plan relies on curtailing dependence on oil and mining projects for economic development and implementing ancestral agroforestry systems and conservation projects.
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. pledges to plant 6 million trees across the U.S., Brazil, India, and Indonesia
Through a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and Teen, West Elm, and others will plant one tree for every piece of indoor wood furniture sold.
World’s biggest tropical crop bank opens in Colombia
The Future Seeds facility will not only safeguard tropical crop biodiversity, but also serve as a living laboratory for some of the world’s most advanced agricultural technologies.
Moore Foundation pledges extra $300m to boost conservation of Amazon
New targets include ensuring 247 million acres of freshwater and forest ecosystems, as well as Indigenous and local communities’ lands, are effectively managed.
Giant anteaters lead biodiversity resurgence in Argentina’s Iberá
In 2007, the first pair of giant anteaters was reintroduced Iberá reserve, a region from which it had gone extinct decades earlier. Today, more than 200 anteaters live free in the reserve.
Colombia becomes 4th Latin American country to decriminalize abortion
Now women in Colombia will be able to get abortions until the 24th week of their pregnancy without having to provide any justification.
Afro-Caribbean community safeguards pristine oceans with new protected area off coast of Colombia
The newly designated Isla Ají marine protected area covers over a total of 24,600 hectares (60,800 acres) of coastal, terrestrial and marine ecosystems on Colombia’s Pacific coast.