Defend Them All

Kimsakocha es hogar de algunas de las especies más raras del planeta. El cóndor andino, el tapir andino, el pudú del norte y decenas más dependen de estos antiguos ecosistemas altoandinos. La minería aquí fragmentaría zonas críticas de alimentación, devastaría suelos frágiles y empujaría al ave nacional del Ecuador y a otros mamíferos emblemáticos aún más cerca de la extinción.

En septiembre de 2025, más de 90.000 personas marcharon en Cuenca para exigir la revocatoria de la licencia ambiental del proyecto Loma Larga. Esta vez, las autoridades escucharon. El Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía ha revocado la licencia del proyecto, citando el principio de precaución establecido en el Artículo 396 de la Constitución. Las y los defensores celebran con prudencia.

¿Dejará por fin Dundee Precious Metals en paz a Kimsakocha?

Después de décadas de oposición al proyecto minero Loma Larga, el mensaje desde Cuenca es claro: el agua, la vida y la protección del páramo deben estar por encima de todo.

Lee el informe completo aquí:https://www.defendthemall.org/s/SP-Kimsakocha-PDF.pdf

Kimsakocha is home to some of the rarest species on Earth. The endangered Andean Condor, Mountain Tapir, Northern Pudu, and dozens more rely on these ancient high-Andean habitats. Mining here would fragment critical foraging grounds, devastate fragile soils, and push Ecuador’s national bird and other iconic mammals closer to extinction.

In September 2025, more than 90,000 people marched in Cuenca to demand revocation of the Loma Larga environmental license. This time, authorities listened. Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment and Energy has now revoked the project’s license, citing the precautionary principle in Article 396 of the Constitution. Advocates are celebrating with cautious* prudence.

Will Dundee Precious Metals finally leave Kimsakocha in peace?

After decades of opposition to the Loma Larga mining project, the message from Cuenca is clear: water, life, and the protection of the páramo must come first.

Read our full report here:https://www.defendthemall.org/s/ENG-Kimsakocha-PDF.pdf

Our 2025 Advocacy Project Pitch Competition is officially underway! As the summer comes to a close, we invite you to watch this year’s proposals to learn more about issues affecting animals and their habitats and what we can do to direct change. We are proud to showcase the voices and perspectives of this year’s participants 🗳️✨

WATCH 2025 SUBMISSIONS https://www.defendthemall.org/pitch-competition-2025

VOTE to help us decide which projects to take on next! (Ends Saturday, ​September ​10, 202​5 @ midnight) www.defendthemall.org/vote-now-​2025

Protection

Slovakia has approved the killing of 350 brown bears, bypassing EU and international protections by declaring a state of emergency.

The plan lacks scientific backing, ignores non-lethal alternatives, and sets a dangerous precedent for wildlife management across the EU.

Brown bears are a keystone species. Removing them from an ecosystem can trigger cascading effects—disrupting everything from vegetation patterns to the health of other animal populations. It’s time to change our relationship with nature.

Humans and bears CAN COEXIST With prevention, education, and mutual respect.


Ursiasia_sk Senda Verdeerde

APPLY NOW | DTA’s Advocacy Abroad Externship Program is a two-and-a-half week field placement in La Paz, Bolivia for law and graduate students interested in environmental/animal law and policy. Students from various countries are selected to travel with DTA staff, receiving hands-on guidance and experience in identifying and addressing animal welfare issues.

Through cultural immersion and collaboration with local advocates, legal professionals, and organizational partners, participants gain new perspectives and a deeper understanding of a community’s unique challenges and barriers to sustainable change. In addition to experiential learning, students play a key role in fulfilling our ongoing commitment to assisting and empowering advocates in their efforts to defend animals and the environment.

Please apply here → https://www.defendthemall.org/summer-2025

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through April 30th, 2025 or until positions are filled.

Students seeking academic credit will be prioritized.

Senda Verde Rodrigo Herrera Vicky Ossio Ayvú Pacha by Propacha Amor por los animales Bolivia APLAB Well Beings Shroff Animal Law Vancouver

Rodenticide Free Ontario (RFO) is calling on the Minister of Health to protect our wildlife, pollinators, and communities from dangerous pesticide practices. With alarming declines in birds and other wildlife, we need full transparency in how pesticides—like rodenticides—are evaluated.

RFO has launched Petition E-5320 demanding transparency to protect wildlife, companion animals, human health and the environment from the harm of pesticides. Sponsored by MP Mike Morrice, this petition demands:

→ Full transparency in the pesticide evaluation process by publicly disclosing all data sources considered—and not considered—in the re-evaluation or special review of pest control products including rodenticides.

→ Commitment to scientific integrity by prohibiting individuals with financial conflicts of interest from serving on advisory committees that inform pesticide policy decisions.

→ An independent review of systems in place for monitoring risks and consequences of pesticides on wildlife, including collection and analysis of mortality data.

→ Halting registration of all new pesticide products until full transparency is achieved in the evaluation process.

Sign the petition today: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-5320&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaa6HbO2Joqif_I04mkBxvSU1uT5X6Os1CiZLPAJDQGepyd1d39iqI2P7w0_aem_AFosGZDWav12wFytjPOYhg

Interested in Animal or Environmental Law? We are now accepting applications for our 7-week Virtual Advocacy Internship Program beginning June 2nd.

Please apply here → https://www.defendthemall.org/summer-2025

and feel free to contact us with questions.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through April 30th, 2025 or until positions are filled.