Sandra Ramírez

Colombian environmental lawyer leading Amazon rainforest conservation through legal innovation

Sandra Ramírez's Environmental Advocacy

Sandra Ramírez is a Colombian environmental attorney and founder of the Amazonia Legal Defense Network (ALDN), established in 2021. Her groundbreaking work focuses on using legal strategies to protect the Amazon rainforest and Indigenous rights. Ramírez has successfully secured court orders halting illegal mining operations in 12 critical river basins since 2022.

In 2023, she pioneered the 'Biocultural Rights Framework' which integrates traditional Indigenous knowledge into national environmental law. This approach has been adopted by Peru and Ecuador, creating a new model for conservation policy in South America.

Her team's 2024 victory in the landmark Colombian Amazon Rehabilitation Case mandated government-led ecosystem restoration - the first ruling of its kind globally. Ramírez was named 'Environmental Defender of the Year' by Greenpeace in 2024.