Support for groups working to protect the environment in the South
Pacific
The EDO welcomes requests from in the South Pacific. We regularly provide
assistance in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Fiji and across
the South Pacific region. Typically, the EDO works with community groups
and non-government organizations, but will also consider providing assistance
to inter-governmental organisations and government departments.
Legal advice and litigation support
The EDO can assist local lawyers providing legal advice and conducting
litigation. Our solicitors can provide telephone and email support for
legal research, review of documents and advice on strategy. For major
cases, we may be able to travel to assist lawyers during litigation.
The EDO can also assist groups to obtain assistance from barristers
and other legal experts.
 In
2006, one of the EDO's longstanding partners in PNG was awarded the
prestigious Goldman Prize, the world's largest award for grassroots
environmentalists. Ms Anne Kajir, CEO of the Environmental Law Centre (ELC)
in Port Moresby, received the award for her tireless work, often at
great personal risk, to draw attention to widespread corruption and
government complicity in illegal logging that is destroying the largest
remaining intact block of tropical forest in the Asia Pacific region.
In 1997, her first year practicing law, Anne successfully
went to the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea to force the logging
interests to pay damages to indigenous land owners.
More information about ELC,
Anne and the Goldman Prize...
Photo: Overlooking the Guavi River from Weliyo Village, Papua New Guinea.
EDO lawyers also participate actively in the Environmental Law Alliance
Worldwide (E-LAW), an international network of public interest environmental
lawyers, to share and develop and legal capacity in public interest organisations.
Policy and law reform
The EDO provides assistance on environmental policy and law reform.
We can help with advice, research, drafting and review of submissions
on government proposals, reviews of legislation and proactive policy
work. We can also arrange assistance from experts, including academics
and specialist lawyers.
The EDO attends key international meetings, particularly on climate
change and biodiversity. The EDO can support groups and individuals seeking
to influence and participate in international policy and law reform activities.
- EDO submissions and policy papers can be found here.
Scientific and technical advice
The EDO's two in-house scientists provide scientific and technical advice
to EDO lawyers and clients.
The EDO maintains an expert register, comprising over 120 experts in
a range of disciplines. These experts can be called on to provide pro-bono
assistance in public interest matters.
Education
The EDO provides assistance to local groups working to empower the community
to participate in environmental decisions and to inspire them to use
the law to protect the environment. We can help groups to develop publications
and other educational materials, and provide support for workshops and
other training and community awareness activities.
EDO publications can be found here.
Governance
The EDO can provide training and support on strategic planning, management
and governance for public interest organisations.
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