THIS VOLUME INCLUDES the conference proceedings and results of a number of activities, including an electronic dialogue, which addressed the specific constraints in achieving compliance with, and enforcement of, environmental legislation, standards and regulations in Latin America. Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (FARN), in Buenos Aires, hosted the electronic dialogue and subsequently an international conference with practitioners, officials, members of the judiciary and legislative powers, NGOs, academics and representatives of the private sector.

Discussions included the process of drafting and updating environmental law in Latin America; the institutional aspects of this process, including intergovernmental and administrative coordination; some possible mechanisms for environmental compliance and enforcement; the role of, and coordination between, the executive and judicial authorities; the promotion of incentives for environmental compliance; and the role and strengthening of the regional and international institutions for compliance and enforcement in Latin America. The working documents are presented in both English and Spanish, and include presentations made by speakers on the plenary panels, the workshops and the conclusions of the workshops.

The conclusions include the opinions and contributions from representatives of different disciplines involved in the debate, and emphasize the need for capacity-building activities to be conducted in various sectors, for the improvement of networking activities and for the development of suitable indicators of environmental enforcement and compliance for the region.