The tensions left behind by oil in a key area of ​​the Colombian Amazon

Almost the entire Ombú oil block, operated by Emerald Energy, overlaps Colombia’s Macarena Special Management Area, created to conserve connectivity between the Andean, Amazon and Orinoquía natural regions. The project, now suspended after social protests, exposes the tensions caused by hydrocarbon extraction in protected areas without clear regulations.

Fueling Ecocide: 7,000 protected areas are threatened by oil and gas projects worldwide

The “Fueling Ecocide” investigation, led by Environmental Investigative Forum (EIF) and European Investigative Collaborations (EIC), reveals that oil and gas licences overlap with 7,000 protected areas worldwide. The total overlap is 690,000 km², an area bigger than the size of France — despite existing regulations and ongoing efforts to safeguard key biodiversity zones.

Women Babassu Nutcrackers Demand Compliance with Legislation Protecting this Traditional Activity

Native to Brazil, babassu nuts grow mainly in the Cerrado savannas and the Amazon rainforest. For centuries, groups of women have cracked these nuts to survive, preserving this tradition in several Brazilian States. Although their activities are protected by the Babassu Access Act (Lei do Babaçu Livre), these women nevertheless continue to face legal and physical challenges in some States.

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