Increasing Public Participation at the Community Level in Mexico

Increasing Public Participation at the Community Level in Mexico

United States   Mexico

Received US$38000 in 1999

Participating organizations and geographic location of the project: The Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (E-LAW) is a global network of public interest lawyers and scientists dedicated to protecting the environment through law. More than 200 advocates from 50 countries participate in the E-LAW network, collaborating and sharing information and resources across borders. The U.S. office of E-LAW is in Eugene, Oregon. Instituto de Derecho Ambiental (IDEA) is a public interest environmental law NGO based in Guadalajara, Mexico. It is dedicated to legal research, environmental advocacy, sustainable development and citizen representation. IDEA and E-LAW U.S. have collaborated with other Mexican environmental advocates including lawyers at Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental (CEMDA) in Mexico City, the Centro de Defensoria Ambiental del Noreste de Mexico (CEDANEM) in Chihuahua and Monterrey; and Yeuani in Tijuana. Enrique Duhne, a scientist with Biocenosis in Merida has provided valuable scientific support to environmental advocates. Citizens and activists across Mexico have benefited from this project by participating in the Red Mexicana de Derecho Ambiental (RMDA). E-LAW U.S., IDEA and CEMDA have held workshops in 12 cities across Mexico and plan to hold four more. NGOs, citizens and government representatives all benefit from these workshops. Background and Problem Statement Mexico is among the most biologically diverse countries on the planet. However, overfishing, uncontrolled growth and unsustainable use of natural resources have put that biodiversity in jeopardy. To promote a more sustainable balance between development and environmental conservation, Mexican citizens and NGOs must be empowered to participate in decisions about the environment. To participate effectively, citizens need basic information about Mexico’s environmental laws and their rights to participate in decisions. Project Description This project aimed to help communities understand Mexico's environmental laws. Better understanding of these laws encourages communities to participate in environmental decision-making. We hoped to help people better understand the law through: 1) holding environmental law workshops in communities; 2) producing brochures on three legal topics of interest to local communities; and 3) increasing the distribution of the Guide to Public Participation. Outcome and follow-up Through this project, E-LAW U.S. and IDEA provided communities throughout Mexico with the information they need to participate more effectively in decisions about the environment. We provided this information by: Holding workshops in Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, La Paz and Ciudad Juarez; Making the Guide to Public Participation in Environmental Matters in Mexico, the United States of America and Canada available at workshops and on the internet at www.elaw.org/publicpart.html; Publishing and distributing three environmental law brochures: Luchemos por un Futuro Mas Sano (Let's Struggle for a Healthier Future--about Mexico's general environmental law), Cuidemos Las Aguas Nacionales (Let's Take Care of the National Waters--about Mexico's water law), and Los Arboles y el Bosque son Nuestros Amigos (The Trees and the Forests are our Friends--about Mexico's agrarian law, particularly those sections related to forest management and biodiversity); Providing Mexican advocates with legal and scientific information to support their work to protect the environment; Bringing Mexico's leading public interest environmental lawyers to E-LAW's 2000 annual meeting (Arusha, Tanzania, July 26-28) to collaborate with lawyers from around the world; Visiting the Universidad de Baja California Sur and lecturing about environmental law; Building the capacity of IDEA and lawyers in Mexico by providing them with opportunities to study English to improve cross-border collaboration and by working with IDEA in Guadalajara on fundraising and organizational skills; Helping lawyers at IDEA and CEMDA attend a seminar in Costa Rica on environmental law, study environmental law in Latin America and collaborate with lawyers from the region; Strengthening communication and collaboration between Mexican advocates by improving the electronic RMDA network; Providing advocates in other parts of the world with a model for increasing public participation; and Increasing the level of participation in decision-making in Mexico. We will follow up on the success of this project by holding workshops in Ciudad del Carmen and Cancun in October, and in Veracruz and Morelia in February 2001. Also in February, we will bring together public interest lawyers from throughout Mexico for a meeting in Morelia. E-LAW U.S. and IDEA will continue to provide Mexican advocates with the legal and scientific information they need to participate effectively in decisions which impact Mexico's environment. E-LAW U.S. and IDEA will work through the RMDA electronic network and by continuing to make the Guide to Public Participation and the environmental law brochure series available. E-LAW U.S. plans to host a lawyer from IDEA for a three month Working Exchange Fellowship next spring. This will build the capacity of IDEA to support local communities and help protect Mexico's environment. This will also strengthen the collaboration between E-LAW U.S. and IDEA. Finally, we will bring several Mexican lawyers to the E-LAW 2001 annual meeting in Oregon in February. This will give more Mexican lawyers the opportunity to collaborate with public interest lawyers from around the world, and help them obtain the tools they need to protect Mexico's environment. For more information about this project, contact E-LAW U.S. Staff Attorney Jennifer Gleason. Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide in collaboration with Instituto de Derecho Ambiental (IDEA) Eugene, Oregon/Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico http://www.igc.apc.org/elaw/ For more information about this grant, please contact the CEC Secretariat.  Related CEC Activities  Law and Policy Related products Increasing Public Participation at the Community Level in Mexico For info: Jennifer Gleason Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide ELAW 1877 Garden Avenue Eugene, OR 97403 USA Tel: (541) 687-8454 Fax: (541) 687-0535 E-mail: <elawus@elaw.org> Web site: <www.elaw.org> Raquel Gutiérrez Nájera Instituto de Derecho Ambiental IDEA Misión de San Felipe No. 13, Dept. No.10 Colonia Residencial Guadalupe Zapópan (Guadalajara), Jalisco 45040 México Tel: (523) 620-5726 Fax: (523) 620-5726 E-mail: <idea_ac@mail.udg.mx >