The world-leading, free online curriculum – developed by UNEP, IUCN’s World Commission on Environmental Law Conservation-Litigation.org and legal experts from across Asia-Pacific – draws on legal analyses and case studies from countries across the region region to further promote the protection of the environment and natural resources through improved implementation, adjudication and enforcement of environmental law.

Directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Richie Mehta, the series dramatises the real-life case of WTI’s investigation and enforcement response into one of the most far-reaching wildlife crime cases in India.

In 2024 we will be bringing five precedent-setting lawsuits in countries around the world to demand justice and meaningful remedies for nature.
Here we look back at the work in the last year that has brought us to this point, and look ahead to the future as we continue to pursue our mission: to use law to defend and protect biodiversity.

ICEL – the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law, and a key member of the Conservation Litigation network - last month presented at a Forum to mark the launch of the report “Enhancing the Role of Environmental Public Interest Litigation to Advance Environmental Rights in Southeast Asia” published by EarthRights International with support from the UN Environment Programme on environmental litigation and rights in Southeast Asia.

Collaborative learning: The Indonesian Supreme Court meets with Lancaster University conservation and legal researchers to explore legal responses to environmental harm.

CL legal researcher Rika Fajrini participated at a workshop held by the Climate Science and Law Forum to discuss damage-based claims against corporate actors for supply chain links to illegal deforestation.

Conservation Litigation co-founder Maribel Rodriguez shares her experience on remedies with an audience of young lawyers at the monthly knowledge session of Legal Voices for the Future, a collaborative learning forum established by early career practitioners from different fields of law.

CL legal researcher Miaomiao Tian awarded “Best Transdiscipliary Talk” for her presentation on Conservation Litigation at the 14th Annual Student Conference on Conservation Science in New York.

Lawyers, conservationists, scientists and economists from around the world meet in Rydal, UK, to begin five precedent-setting cases and launch a green wave of biodiversity litigation seeking justice for nature

Around the world, nature and people already have considerable existing legal rights – but many of these are never put into practice. These “hidden” rights include the fundamental right to ask for remedies when the environment is harmed. We are pleased to share four new legal analyses that explain these rights to remedies – in Liberia, Thailand, Cameroon and Indonesia.

Georgia’s 2022 Environmental Liability Law, based on the “polluter pays” principle, presents new and important opportunities for biodiversity and habitat conservation. This report, in cooperation with FFI and Caissa Law, explores how it can be used.

Law firm, DLA Piper, highlights how “there’s an increasing risk that companies will face litigation on biodiversity issues.”

The Law Society UK’s new report explores legal action - including liability litigation - to hold corporates accountable for biodiversity loss.

We are thankful for new financial support from the ARCUS Foundation, a philanthropy focused on our shared commitment to the global human rights and conservation movements.

We are proud that Conservation Litigation has been selected as a 2022 Nominee for the EarthShot Prize, whose mission is to repair our planet by 2030. The Prize sets out to identify a diverse range of solutions from across the world. Later this year, 15 Finalists will be selected to catalyse impact around the world.

We are pleased to be presenting during This Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR) Lecture Series on Restorative Justice and Environmental Harms, 4 -31 May.

Rika Fajrini will be presenting our work at this upcoming workshop on 11 March, 2022. This global, online workshop will explore efforts to use liability litigation to address pressing issues of socio-biological harm, with examples from Indonesia, China, India, South Africa and Brazil, among others.

We recently joined Fauna & Flora International’s (FFI) Wildlife Crime Platform -Georgia . This group engages judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement bodies across Georgia, with the goal of building understanding and fostering collaboration to reduce wildlife crime. Participants of the previous meetings had expressed interest to learn more about restorative justice, and so we were pleased to be able to discuss conservation litigation strategies with them. Notably, Georgia has a brand new environmental liability law, so this was an exciting opportunity to discuss its implications for illegal wildlife trade.

Corporate law firm, Clyde & Co, warns its clients of the growing risk posed to them by conservation / biodiversity litigation. “Momentum is growing for future biodiversity litigation and corporations may begin to undertake a thorough review of their relationship with natural capital in anticipation of closer scrutiny in the future by not only the public, but also shareholders and other stakeholders, such as banks and insurers.”

Orangutan Outreach is a US-based NGO that does all it can to help protect Orangutans in the wild and in captivity. They are offering their support, helping to fundraise for future cases, recognising that conservation litigation has a role to play in protecting both Orangutans and their habitat.