Amazonia and Siberia:Legal Aspects of the Preservation of the Environment and Development in the Last Open Spaces

The preservation of the Amazonian environment has stirred up public discussion worldwide. The main issues are the preservation of the tropical rain forests and the threat posed to the area by big development projects. These projects commonly threaten the existence of the indigenous peoples, who live in a traditional harmony with the pristine environment. Although similar problems are prevalent in Siberia, they have become a matter of international public awareness to a lesser extent. The ecological balance here, especially in non-industrialized areas of the Northern regions, is also very delicate and the presence of vast quantities of natural resources makes the area susceptible to economic exploitation that threatens the environment as well as indigenous peoples.

The book initiates and develops a comparison of the ecological situation in both areas, and the attemps to manage the emerging ecological problems. Based on an interdisciplinary approach, the legal framework of environmental protection and the utilization of natural resources on the national and international levels are analyzed and compared. In addition, the situation of indigenous peoples in Amazonia and Siberia and their legal status are examined. The book contains contributions from experts from various countries (e.g. Brazil, Colombia, Russia, etc.) and scientific disciplines. Most of the contributions formed the basis of an international colloquium which was held in Frankfurt in October 1990. These manuscripts have been revised for this publication. Some additional articles and a dcoumentation of relevant legal materials are also included.