AIDA is a pioneer organization working on environmental protection in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities and critically endangered habitats. We craft legal arguments based on science, incorporating international law to strengthen our partners’ domestic litigation and policy advocacy. We also build capacity for more effective species and environmental protection, empowering communities and policymakers with the knowledge needed to make responsible choices through our communication, education, and alliance-building initiatives. We also advocate before international bodies–including the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights–to strengthen international environmental protections and increase government accountability. AIDA prioritizes high-need, high-impact cases that can set replicable precedents, thereby fundamentally changing policies to fortify environmental protection.
AIDA’s marine program defends coastal ecosystems, protects threatened species, and advocates for improved policies and practices nationally and internationally. We promote sustainable management of biodiversity from three perspectives: ecosystem protection, sustainable extraction, and climate change. Our primary focus is on coral reefs, mangroves, and critical areas of the high seas. Geographically, our projects range from protecting the crystalline waters of Mexico’s Gulf of California to the fjords of Chile, and from the Mesoamerican Reef to the Galapagos Islands.