Environmental organizations in South America include locally led nonprofits, Indigenous federations, scientific institutes, legal advocates, and regional conservation networks. Their work ranges from Amazon forest monitoring and threatened-species recovery to environmental justice, coastal protection, community development, and wildlife conservation.
This guide profiles 23 organizations working across the continent’s 12 sovereign countries. It is a curated starting point rather than an exhaustive directory or endorsement. Review each organization’s latest reports, governance information, and official donation or volunteer terms before contributing.
Key takeaways
- South America’s conservation sector includes more than conventional charities. Indigenous organizations, environmental-law groups, scientific institutes, and community networks also play essential roles.
- No single organization covers every issue or country. Choose a group based on the ecosystem, community, species, or policy problem you want to support.
- Forest loss is a major regional concern, but organizations also address mining, polluted water, wildfires, climate risks, marine ecosystems, environmental rights, and unsustainable production.
- Verify recent reports, local leadership, financial transparency, safeguarding policies, and measurable program results before donating or volunteering.
- The Green Climate Fund has a portfolio and country program in Uruguay, but it is an international climate fund rather than a local Uruguayan environmental NGO.
Environmental organizations in South America at a glance
| Organization | Country or region | Primary focus |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Conservation | Regional Amazon | Forest science, protected landscapes, sustainable livelihoods |
| Amazon Conservation Team | Regional Amazon | Indigenous rights, territorial management, traditional knowledge |
| COICA | Regional Amazon | Indigenous representation, territorial governance, direct advocacy |
| Fundación Rewilding Argentina | Argentina | Ecosystem restoration, species reintroduction, protected areas |
| Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina | Argentina | Biodiversity, sustainable production, public policy, education |
| Fundación Natura Bolivia | Bolivia | Water funds, forest conservation, community incentives |
| Asociación Armonía | Bolivia | Birds, threatened habitats, community conservation |
| Instituto Socioambiental | Brazil | Indigenous and traditional-community rights, forests, public policy |
| Imazon | Brazil | Amazon research, satellite monitoring, sustainable development |
| SOS Mata Atlântica | Brazil | Atlantic Forest restoration, monitoring, water and coastal protection |
| Instituto Onça-Pintada | Brazil | Jaguar research, habitat conservation, human-wildlife coexistence |
| Rewilding Chile | Chile | National parks, ecosystem restoration, threatened species |
| Fundación Terram | Chile | Environmental policy, research, justice, public-interest advocacy |
| Fundación Natura Colombia | Colombia | Biodiversity, restoration, community conservation, climate solutions |
| Gaia Amazonas | Colombia | Indigenous governance, Amazon territories, biological and cultural diversity |
| Fundación Jocotoco | Ecuador | Private reserves, habitat restoration, threatened species |
| Guyana Marine Conservation Society | Guyana | Marine turtles, coastal ecosystems, research and policy |
| Guyra Paraguay | Paraguay | Birds, biodiversity research, habitat protection |
| ECOAN | Peru | Andean forests, wetlands, threatened species, community restoration |
| SPDA | Peru | Environmental law, justice, policy and public participation |
| Green Heritage Fund Suriname | Suriname | Coastal ecosystems, biodiversity, wildlife rehabilitation, education |
| Aves Uruguay | Uruguay | Birds, grasslands, wetlands, monitoring and education |
| Provita | Venezuela | Threatened species, research, community-led biodiversity conservation |
How these organizations were selected
Organizations were selected using five practical criteria:
- Active regional work: The organization conducts or supports identifiable environmental programs in South America.
- Clear mission: Its official materials describe specific environmental, community, scientific, or legal objectives.
- Local relevance: The work responds to the ecosystems, laws, communities, or species of the country or region listed.
- Public presence: Readers can find an official website, recent program information, or an authoritative institutional profile.
- Distinct contribution: The organization adds a useful specialty such as forest monitoring, Indigenous governance, rewilding, marine research, environmental law, or species recovery.
Inclusion does not certify every program, expenditure, partnership, or fundraising claim. Conditions can change, so readers should complete their own due diligence.
Regional Amazon conservation organizations
Amazon Conservation
Amazon Conservation supports forest protection in the western Amazon through scientific monitoring, protected landscapes, locally led conservation, and sustainable economic alternatives. It is particularly relevant for readers interested in Peru, Bolivia, forest data, and cross-border Amazon ecosystems.
Amazon Conservation Team
The Amazon Conservation Team partners with Indigenous and local communities to protect tropical forests, strengthen territorial governance, and sustain traditional knowledge. Its rights-based model recognizes that durable forest conservation depends on the leadership and consent of the people who live there.
COICA
The Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin, commonly known as COICA, is an Indigenous umbrella organization rather than a conventional conservation charity. It represents national Indigenous organizations across the Amazon Basin and advocates for territorial rights, climate action, direct financing, and Indigenous participation in decisions affecting the forest.
Environmental organizations by country
Argentina
Fundación Rewilding Argentina restores damaged ecosystems by rebuilding populations of native species, strengthening protected landscapes, and developing nature-based economic opportunities with surrounding communities. Its work demonstrates how rewilding can combine ecological recovery with long-term local stewardship.
Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina works on biodiversity, protected areas, responsible production and consumption, environmental policy, and public education. It addresses multiple Argentine ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, coastal environments, and marine habitats.
Bolivia
Fundación Natura Bolivia is known for community-based agreements that connect upstream forest conservation with downstream water security. Its work gives municipalities, water users, and rural landholders practical incentives to protect forests and watersheds.
Asociación Armonía protects Bolivia’s birds and natural habitats through species programs, reserves, research, restoration, and collaboration with local communities. It is particularly relevant for supporters interested in endemic and threatened birds.
Brazil
Instituto Socioambiental works where environmental protection intersects with Indigenous peoples, quilombola communities, other traditional communities, land rights, public policy, and access to reliable information. Its socio-environmental model treats cultural rights and ecosystem protection as connected issues.
Imazon is an independent research organization focused on the Brazilian Amazon. Its work includes forest monitoring, geospatial analysis, public-policy research, and tools designed to detect or anticipate deforestation pressure.
SOS Mata Atlântica focuses on Brazil’s Atlantic Forest rather than the Amazon alone. It works on forest restoration and monitoring, water, marine and coastal ecosystems, environmental policy, and public mobilization.
Instituto Onça-Pintada
Instituto Onça-Pintada, also known in English as the Jaguar Conservation Fund, was founded in Brazil by researchers. It specializes in scientific research, population monitoring, habitat protection, and strategies that reduce conflict between people and large cats. Our guide to jaguar conservation provides additional species context.
Chile
Rewilding Chile works on ecosystem restoration, protected landscapes, threatened species, and the relationship between national parks and nearby communities. Its programs are strongly associated with Patagonia and Chile’s Route of Parks.
Fundación Terram conducts research and public-interest advocacy related to environmental policy, climate, energy, forestry, fisheries, pollution, and environmental justice. It is a useful organization to follow when the reader’s interest is regulation and accountability rather than direct wildlife care.
Colombia
Fundación Natura Colombia works on biodiversity conservation, habitat restoration, sustainable landscapes, climate responses, and locally led environmental projects. Its programs bridge field conservation with planning and nature-based solutions.
Gaia Amazonas works with Indigenous peoples and organizations in the Colombian Amazon. Its focus includes territorial governance, cultural and biological diversity, Indigenous knowledge systems, and coordination between Indigenous authorities and public institutions.
Ecuador
Fundación Jocotoco protects threatened species and habitats through a network of reserves, land protection, habitat restoration, scientific management, and local partnerships. Its sites span ecosystems from Amazon rainforest to Andean páramo and coastal habitat.
Guyana
Guyana Marine Conservation Society began with a strong focus on marine turtles and now contributes to wider marine and coastal conservation, research, collaboration, and policy. It is a useful starting point for readers interested in Guyana’s Atlantic coast and marine biodiversity.
Paraguay
Guyra Paraguay is a national conservation organization and BirdLife partner working on birds, habitats, biodiversity research, protected areas, and public engagement. Its work extends beyond birdwatching by using birds as indicators of wider ecosystem health.
Peru
Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos, or ECOAN, works with local and Indigenous communities to restore Andean forests and wetlands, establish or strengthen conservation areas, and protect threatened species. Its restoration work is especially relevant in high-elevation Polylepis landscapes.
Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental, or SPDA, specializes in environmental law, policy, public participation, conservation governance, and environmental justice. It helps translate environmental goals into legal frameworks, enforceable rights, and informed public debate.
Suriname
Green Heritage Fund Suriname works on biodiversity, environmental education, marine and coastal resources, and wildlife rehabilitation. Although it is widely associated with sloths and other xenarthrans, its mission extends to broader sustainable management of Suriname’s natural resources.
Uruguay
Aves Uruguay works on the conservation of wild birds and their habitats through research, monitoring, environmental education, partnerships, and practical projects. Its work includes natural ecosystems as well as productive landscapes such as grasslands and rice-growing areas.
Venezuela
Provita develops socio-environmental solutions for biodiversity conservation in Venezuela. Its work combines research, environmental education, species recovery, community participation, and long-term conservation planning.
What environmental problems do these organizations address?
Forest loss and degradation
Agricultural expansion, illegal land clearing, roads, logging, fire, and extractive activity can fragment or remove forests. Monitoring groups detect changes, restoration organizations rebuild habitat, and community organizations help residents secure the rights and resources needed to manage forests over the long term.
Biodiversity loss
South America contains globally significant rainforest, grassland, wetland, mountain, coastal, and marine ecosystems. Habitat conversion, hunting, trafficking, invasive species, infrastructure, pollution, and changing climate conditions can reduce wildlife populations. Species-focused groups often combine field research with habitat protection rather than treating an animal in isolation.
Mining and water pollution
Legal and illegal mining, oil extraction, untreated wastewater, agricultural runoff, plastics, and industrial contamination can damage rivers, wetlands, groundwater, and coastal ecosystems. Different forms of water pollution require different responses, including scientific monitoring, enforcement, infrastructure, public-health safeguards, and restoration.
Climate risks
Heat, drought, altered rainfall, retreating glaciers, fires, floods, sea-level rise, and ocean changes affect ecosystems and communities differently across the continent. Organizations respond through ecosystem adaptation, fire prevention, watershed protection, climate policy, data collection, and education about climate change.
Indigenous and community rights
Many of South America’s best-conserved territories overlap with Indigenous and community-managed lands. Effective conservation therefore requires informed participation, secure territorial rights, respect for traditional knowledge, fair distribution of benefits, and meaningful local authority. Outside organizations should support rather than replace local leadership.
How to evaluate an environmental organization
A polished website or emotional fundraising message does not establish effectiveness. Use the following checks before
donating, partnering, or applying to volunteer.
- Confirm its legal identity. Look for a registered name, country of incorporation, leadership, governing board, and reliable contact information.
- Read recent reports. Annual reports, audited accounts, project updates, scientific publications, and partner disclosures provide more evidence than general mission language.
- Identify the actual intervention. Determine whether the organization buys land, restores habitat, conducts research, litigates cases, manages grants, educates communities, rehabilitates animals, or advocates for policy.
- Look for local decision-making. Strong programs explain how affected communities, Indigenous authorities, landholders, researchers, and local institutions participate.
- Distinguish outputs from outcomes. The number of workshops, seedlings, posts, or participants is useful, but it does not automatically prove healthier ecosystems or stronger community rights.
- Check safeguarding practices. Organizations working with children, vulnerable communities, volunteers, wildlife, or sensitive location data should have suitable protections.
- Question absolute claims. Be cautious when a group guarantees that one donation will save a specified area, species, or amount of carbon without explaining its calculation and limitations.
How to support South American conservation responsibly
- Donate through an official channel. Confirm the domain, currency, tax treatment, recurring-payment terms, and data-security practices.
- Support locally led work. Indigenous federations and local organizations may have different fundraising infrastructure from large international charities but often hold essential territorial knowledge and relationships.
- Volunteer only through a structured program. Review supervision, required skills, safeguarding, fees, insurance, accommodation, and the role local workers play. Our overview of conservation volunteering explains additional questions to ask.
- Avoid casual wildlife handling. Responsible conservation programs do not use unnecessary animal contact or staged wildlife encounters as a volunteer perk.
- Follow research and policy work. Sharing verified reports, attending public consultations, translating credible resources, or contributing professional expertise can be useful even when a donation is not possible.
- Reduce harmful demand. Personal and business choices involving timber, minerals, food, wildlife products, travel, plastics, and energy can affect South American ecosystems. Start with practical ways of conserving natural resources.
What is the greenest country in South America?
There is no universally accepted “greenest country” in South America. The answer changes according to the indicators used, such as air quality, sanitation, emissions trends, forest integrity, biodiversity protection, wastewater treatment, or renewable electricity.
For example, the 2024 Environmental Performance Index placed Colombia at 63rd globally, Chile at 64th, and Guyana at 67th. The same index placed Uruguay at 98th. Those results are based on 58 indicators across 11 issue categories, so they should be treated as one comparative framework rather than a final judgment about a country’s environmental leadership.
A country can perform well in one category and poorly in another. National rankings may also miss community-led conservation, Indigenous governance, regional inequalities, enforcement gaps, or recent policy changes.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main environmental organizations in South America?
Prominent examples include Amazon Conservation, Amazon Conservation Team, COICA, Rewilding Argentina, Instituto Socioambiental, Imazon, SOS Mata Atlântica, Fundación Jocotoco, ECOAN, SPDA, and country-specific bird, marine, legal, and community-conservation groups. The best choice depends on the country and issue you want to support.
Which South American countries have environmental organizations?
All 12 sovereign South American countries have environmental organizations or conservation networks: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Some organizations also operate across the Amazon Basin or multiple national borders.
What is the biggest environmental problem in South America?
There is no single problem across the entire continent. Forest loss and degradation are major concerns, especially in Amazon and Atlantic Forest ecosystems, but mining pollution, biodiversity loss, fires, climate extremes, water contamination, coastal degradation, and threats to Indigenous and community rights are also critical.
Is Green Climate Fund Uruguay a local environmental organization?
No. The Green Climate Fund is a global multilateral climate fund for developing countries. It has projects, readiness activities, an official country relationship, and a country program involving Uruguay, but it is not a Uruguay-based environmental NGO.
How can I volunteer for conservation in South America?
Apply only through an organization’s official volunteer or employment program. Check the required skills, supervision, fees, safeguarding policy, insurance, wildlife-contact rules, visa conditions, and the role of local workers. Avoid programs that advertise unnecessary handling of wild animals or replace paid local jobs with untrained visitors.
Which country is considered the greenest in South America?
No country has an uncontested claim. In the 2024 Environmental Performance Index, Colombia ranked 63rd globally, Chile 64th, and Guyana 67th. That index measures 58 indicators across 11 categories and does not capture every aspect of environmental governance, justice, or community-led conservation.
Choosing an organization to follow or support
Start with a specific priority. A reader concerned about satellite forest monitoring may find Imazon relevant, while someone focused on environmental law may prefer SPDA or Fundación Terram. Wildlife supporters can investigate Jocotoco, Armonía, ECOAN, Provita, or Instituto Onça-Pintada. Readers who want to support Indigenous territorial leadership should begin with COICA, Amazon Conservation Team, Gaia Amazonas, or Instituto Socioambiental.
Then review the organization’s latest work in the location that matters to you. Look for recent reports, named programs, local partners, transparent limitations, and a clear explanation of how resources are used.
Supporting an organization is only one route. You can also study how to be an environmentalist, participate in responsible environmental activism, or help with teaching sustainability in your workplace, school, or community.
See Related: South Asian River Dolphin: Is It Endangered?