Who Are We?
The Environment and Natural Resources Foundation (FARN) was created in 1985.

It is a non-governmental, not-for-profit and non-partisan organization whose principal objective is to promote sustainable development through policy, law and the institutional organization of society.

FARN’s Vision
We aim for a democratic and participative society with strategic environmentally sustainable public policies.

Institutional Objectives

• Generate knowledge on the topics of sustainable development, governance, environmental policy, pollution, conservation, trade, corporate social responsibility and social inclusion.
• Foster consensus-building for the implementation of public and private policies.
• Train community leaders from the public and private spheres on issues related to sustainable development.
• Promote access to information and citizen participation in decision-making processes.
• Publicize and promote the legal instruments available for individuals and communities to participate actively in the defense of their rights.
• Foster the creation of instruments that improve the application of and compliance with environmental standards by authorities and citizens.
• Protect the rights of all people to a healthy environment fit for human development.
• FARN works in coordination with other organizations in Argentina and articulates at a regional level in Latin America.

Public Participation
FARN promotes environmental citizenship and public participation in the defense and enforcement of environmental rights through the dissemination of legal tools and mechanisms designed to increase access to public information and access to justice, as well as the transparency of institutions and decision-making processes. It works to build a society which assumes a more active role in the defense of environmental rights, with a focus on compliance, rule of law and efficiency in the judicial system. To this end, FARN organizes workshops and meetings in different regions of the country and provides support, legal advice and counsel to communities and vulnerable populations confronted with environmental problems.

Environmental Policy
The development of environmental policies through participative processes and based on sound technical knowledge has been a central focus of FARN’s activities since its inception. In accordance with these principles, FARN generates normative proposals to strengthen international environmental governance, national environmental standards laws, and legislation at the provincial and municipal levels and for the City of Buenos Aires. It thus creates more favorable conditions for dialogue between relevant stakeholders from diverse sectors.

Another area of FARN’s work is dedicated to application and compliance with environmental regulations. It works to educate public servants and civil society in order to strengthen tools for the enforcement for environmental laws and indicators of compliance, applicable to government and private spheres.

Global Change
FARN seeks to generate public and private policies which promote climate justice on global and local levels, sustainable production and responsible consumption. Sustainable production includes a number of different topics associated with energy, agriculture and biofuels, while responsible consumption focuses on the promotion and diffusion of tools to foster corporate social responsibility and awareness of the importance of conservation of natural resources for the use and enjoyment of future generations. To achieve these goals, FARN carries out investigations based on sound technical knowledge and intersectorial analysis, with the goal of generating recommendations on important decisions to promote sustainable development.

Conservation
The objective is to promote the sustainability and viability of ecosystems and their biodiversity, as well as an equilibrium between human society and nature. In order to achieve this aim, FARN draws from a diversity of models for public and private management, to stimulate policies, participation, efficiency of legal-institutional frameworks, and tools for valuating ecosystem services. Conservation activities include research, workshops, and recommendations that stress the importance of an ecosystemic approach in issues such as the management of the Patagonian Sea, wetlands, protected areas, private conservation and native forests.

Riachuelo
FARN works toward the integrated cleanup and environmental restoration of the Matanza-Riachuelo Basin, through the articulation of public participation, access to public information and access to justice, assuring compliance with the Mendoza ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice. Moreover, supported by the ruling on behalf of the Riachuelo, FARN seeks to foster the prevention of contamination and the purification of other watersheds throughout the country and the Latin American region through joint efforts with other civil society organizations.

Education and Training
The principal beneficiaries of FARN’s education and training activities are public, private, and social leaders who need reliable information and tools in order to adopt sustainable decisions.

FARN organizes workshops and conferences where participants can exchange ideas, generate proposals, and disseminate recommendations.

• Courses on environmental law and policy at public and private universities (ITBA, Di Tella, UBA, UP, and others).

• Environmental Law Clinic: FARN and the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) Law School.

• Courses and workshops for journalists.

• E-Learning and online training programs for institutions and professionals in Argentina and Latin America.

• Joint training with law schools and professional legal organizations.

• Internships and volunteer programs for university students from Argentina and abroad.

The work of FARN is financed thanks to the contributions of individuals and organizations; if you are interested in donating please contact:

donantes@farn.org.ar Telephone: (54 11) 4312-0788