FARN was founded in 1985, only two years after democracy was restored in Argentina. For the last 32 years it has been advocating for environmental sustainability, rule-of-law, and the strengthening public participation, as stipulated in the National Constitution and corresponding legal-institutional framework. Today, FARN occupies a unique niche as Argentina’s leading organization on legal-environmental issues.

FARN’s activities include research and policy analysis, publications and training, conferences and meetings, community legal advising and environmental litigation. These activities are carried out in diverse local, national, and international contexts. The primary beneficiaries of FARN’s work are public, private and civil society decision makers, as well as disadvantaged populations affected by contamination, deforestation, unauthorized development, access to clean water, and other legal-institutional problems related to natural resources and specific environmental policies.

In terms of thematic scope, FARN works to improve policy and governance on a wide range of issues, including water and watershed management, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, energy (promoting renewables), land use change, agriculture and pesticide use, climate change, mining and glaciers, among others. Recent projects also include the drafting of legislation regarding corporate social responsibility, private land conservation, land use planning and public access to environmental information. FARN participates in diverse national and international networks, which bring together NGO’s and other private sector actors, to exchange information and build common ground on issues of shared concern. Lastly, FARN litigates on behalf of individuals and communities whose rights to a healthy environment have been threatened by inadequate implementation of the law.