{"id":281441,"date":"2025-05-14T10:20:39","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T09:20:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/?p=281441"},"modified":"2025-11-04T08:51:17","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T07:51:17","slug":"emergency-funding-as-a-lifeline-for-environmental-defenders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iucn.nl\/en\/story\/emergency-funding-as-a-lifeline-for-environmental-defenders\/","title":{"rendered":"Emergency funding as a lifeline for environmental defenders"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Effective forest conservation requires a safe operational space for (women) environmental defenders and civil society organisations (CSOs). However, partners and communities in IUCN NL\u2019s Forests for a Just Future programme<\/a> face substantial challenges in their civic freedoms, as was revealed by a 2023 survey<\/a>. In order to address urgent cases of repression, intimidation or safety and security concerns, IUCN NL has set money aside for a so-called emergency fund. Over the past four years, we have provided emergency funds to 33 organisations  and individuals for legal support and safety and security measures to environmental defenders and for urgent natural disaster relief.  <\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Header photo: Protest against open pit mining in The Philippines, 2021 \u00a9 Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM)<\/mark><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The emergency funds that IUCN NL provides as part of the Forests for a Just Future programme of the Green Livelihoods Alliance<\/a> (GLA) are a flexible financing model. They are created to provide immediate, much-needed support to Indigenous peoples and local communities (IP&LCs), their organisations, GLA partner CSOs, and (women) environmental defenders in their network. In Asia, IUCN NL and NTFP-EP have established the Quick Response Grants fund managed by NTFP-EP.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The size of the emergency grants generally ranges from \u20ac 500 to \u20ac 5000. Funds are allocated to support urgent activities or provide tools to address key safety and security issues and to monitor and document environmental cases. Additionally, the funds are used to provide legal support in case of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) which are unfounded lawsuits used to repress individuals and\/or CSOs. In some cases the funds are used to assist IP&LCs in responding to natural or man-made disasters in GLA landscapes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Legal support for environmental defenders in the Philippines and DRC<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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In the Philippines, a Women Environmental Human Rights Defender (WEHRD) received crucial support through a quick response grant, advocacy efforts, and legal assistance. This support led to the acquittal of the WEHRD on two counts of cyberlibel that had been filed against her by a mining company. Cyberlibel is the act of spreading false information about another person, group, or organisation through a computer network.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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In the DRC, we also supported legal actions defending Virunga National Park and other protected areas. The organisation involved faced significant pressure and legal proceedings after successfully invalidating activities set up by the Ministry of Fisheries. The emergency funds were crucial in ensuring the continued protection of these critical conservation areas, providing much-needed security and legal aid.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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‘In countries where civic space is repressed and where natural disasters are omnipresent is that the speed at which emergency funds can be provided is crucial.’ <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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