Environmental Law

Melinda is an expert on national and international environmental law. She drafted Guyana’s laws on environmental impact assessments as well as the Protected Areas Act 2011. Melinda provides legal advice and assistance on compliance with Guyana’s environmental regime.

Melinda acted for the WaiWai in the creation by the WaiWai of a community owned and managed protected area over their territory of 2,300 square mile – a unique achievement among native and tribal peoples around the world. She was instrumental in getting Guyana to join the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing. She was involved in the drafting of the Escazú Agreement, and successfully lobbied Guyana to sign up.

Melinda is a member of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law and served on the WCEL’s steering committee for two terms.