Ana María Botero

Colombian environmental lawyer who pioneered Latin America's first wetlands conservation law

Ana María Botero is a groundbreaking environmental lawyer whose 1990s work transformed Colombia's approach to ecological preservation. As founder of the Colombian Association for the Defense of the Environment (ACCU) in 1988, she led the campaign that resulted in Law 23 of 1990 - the first legislation in Latin America specifically protecting wetlands ecosystems. This law established protected status for 12 million hectares of critical habitat.

Her 1995 lawsuit against the government over illegal mining in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta wetlands led to landmark rulings that expanded public participation in environmental decision-making. This case became a model for the 2000 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

In 1998 she developed the 'Environmental Impact Assessment' framework still used today, requiring companies to conduct biodiversity audits. Her work with the Ramsar Convention in 2000 helped Colombia become the first country to designate urban wetlands as protected areas.

Ms. Botero's 2002 establishment of the 'Green Corridors' program has restored 85% of degraded mangrove ecosystems in the Caribbean region. Her advocacy led to the creation of Colombia's first environmental ombudsman position in 2005.

Explore her work through ACCU's official site and watch her interview on YouTube discussing wetlands conservation strategies.