News · 23 September 2026
The Superior Court of Mocoa ruled on the OZIP's appeal in the tutela action concerning the Area of Environmental Interest of Mocoa
The voice of the 15 Indigenous Peoples of Putumayo was heard: prior consultation cannot serve extractive interests
The Superior Court of the Judicial District of Mocoa, in Judgment No. 139 of September 23, 2026, ruled on the appeal filed by the OZIP within the tutela action concerning the Area of Environmental Interest of Mocoa.
Thanks to the legal defense of our organization, the Court upheld three key points for the territory:
1. All potentially affected ethnic communities must be identified.
The National Prior Consultation Authority must identify all potentially affected ethnic communities in Mocoa, not only the two plaintiffs. The OZIP, the MPC Putumayo, the other Inga communities and the representative organizations may participate in the proceedings.
2. Prior consultation cannot favor extractive interests.
The Court stated that prior consultation "cannot serve as an instrument to favor extractive interests", since its purpose is to protect the physical, cultural and spiritual survival of the peoples.
3. The already consolidated Area of Environmental Interest remains in force.
The already consolidated Area of Environmental Interest and the previous environmental determinants remain in force. Only the new modification is on hold while the competent authority issues its decision.
The OZIP joined this proceeding in defense of the water, the forests, the sacred sites and the upper basin of the Mocoa River: an interest that belongs to the Indigenous Peoples and to the entire population of Putumayo.
We will remain present in every legal and institutional forum where the future of the Amazon is decided.
The territory is defended with the word, with unity and with the law.
Originally published by Organización Zonal Indígena del Putumayo – OZIP on Facebook
