UDTR Global Rights of Nature Radar

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Environmental Protection in Latin America: Emerging Guideline Principles

Identification

Public canonical key

openalex:w7203730505

Authors

Manuela Corrado

Reported year

2026

Reported language

en

Source type

dissertation

First detected

2026-11-09T19:04:47.993553+00:00

Last metadata observation

2026-11-09T19:11:15.680914+00:00

Last HTTP verification

Not checked

Documentary abstract — original language

The triple planetary crisis calls for urgent changes in the way environmental protection, climate regulation and ecosystem conservation are approached. In this context, artificial intelligence (AI) offers new possibilities, as it can pro-vide solutions that are more accurate, efficient and rapid than some traditional methods. AI systems have already made significant progress in the environ-mental field, for instance by supporting forest monitoring, air quality assess-ment, biodiversity protection and water resource management. However, the use of AI for environmental protection also raises important risks and challenges. These affect both the environment itself, since AI sys-tems require large amounts of energy, water, data storage and hardware, and human rights, particularly where technologies are deployed without adequate safeguards, participation, transparency or accountability. These concerns are especially relevant in Latin America, a region marked by significant environ-mental challenges, high biodiversity, socio-economic inequalities and the presence of Indigenous Peoples and other vulnerable local communities. The thesis analyses international and regional legal instruments, national legis-lation and jurisprudence, with the aim of identifying relevant environmental principles and legal concerns for AI for environmental protection governance. Selected national jurisprudence and legislation in Colombia, Ecuador and Bo-livia demonstrate how natural entities can acquire legal personhood. New leg-islative developments in Brazil also show the emergence of the rights to nature movement in anthropocentric contexts. This new ecocentric approach derives from Indigenous conceptions on nature, which understand human beings as an integral part of nature. Additionally, Indigenous traditions and practices demonstrate forms of coexistence and resource management based on reci-procity, sustainability and responsibility, which could inform AI systems and contribute to the creation of more sustainable and context-sensitive technolo-gies. In conclusion, this thesis proposes new guidelines for the development and deployment of AI for environmental protection, including interdisciplinary and ecocentric approaches; the adaptation of environmental law principles, such as pro natura preference, in dubio pro natura, prevention and precau-tion; participatory and oversight mechanisms; integrated AI impact assess-ments; and the integration of Indigenous knowledge and practices. These as-pects are proposed as elements that can support the development of AI tech-nologies that are more sustainable, rights-compliant, context-sensitive and effective. Therefore, this thesis participates in the ongoing discussion on how emerging technologies may contribute to environmental protection while re-specting both human and non-human life.

Identifiers

OPENALEX

W7203730505

Documentary context

Documentary family

Thesis

Source-reported types

dissertation

Natural entities mentioned

Forest · Ecosystem

Entity mentions are not evidence of legal recognition. Jurisdiction studied is separate from author affiliation country.

Sources

OpenAlex · Record 1 · Record 2

• Document · https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9245864
• OpenAlex · https://openalex.org/W7203730505

Documentary status

Relevance pending

Library

This identity is not yet included in the Legal Library.