Who is Natalia Machain?

A specialist in environmental law with a regional track record

Natalia Machain is a legal professional focused on environmental issues. For over two decades, she has worked in the design, promotion, and management of policies related to environmental conservation, both in Argentina and in several Latin American countries. Since 2018, she has led Greenpeace Andino, one of the regional offices of the international environmental organization Greenpeace, which operates independently and without government or corporate funding. This office, based in Buenos Aires, coordinates actions that directly impact the environmental agenda of Argentina, Chile, and Colombia.

Academic background and interdisciplinary specialization

Machain trained as a lawyer at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). She later broadened her perspective by incorporating tools from the social and environmental sciences: she earned a diploma in Social and Political Anthropology from FLACSO and specialized in Environmental Economics and Environmental Management at the Argentine Catholic University (UCA) and the Buenos Aires Institute of Technology (ITBA).

Origins of her environmental commitment

Her interest in the environment began in childhood, surrounded by nature and animals, and was channeled through law as a concrete tool to defend ecosystems. Throughout her career, she has worked on building legal frameworks and has participated actively in public and on-the-ground campaigns. One of her most significant contributions in the legislative arena was her involvement in drafting and promoting the Wetlands Law project in Argentina, a bill aimed at halting destructive activities in these ecosystems.

Key campaigns from Greenpeace Andino

As executive director of Greenpeace Andino, she has led high-impact campaigns. Among them, “Patagonia sin salmoneras” stands out, focused on opposing the expansion of the salmon farming industry in southern Chile, particularly in the Magallanes region. This initiative included awareness-raising efforts, public interventions, and the production of the documentary Por aquí no, which exposes the ecological effects of the industry.

Another important campaign under her leadership was the “Carpincho Report,” a technical report documenting the threats of unplanned urban development in the Paraná Delta. Based on these findings, public and political pressure was generated to protect one of the country’s most important wetlands. She has also coordinated legal and logistical actions to stop illegal deforestation in northern Argentina, combining fieldwork with a strong focus on public reporting and visibility.

Comprehensive approach and educational dimension

In recent years, Greenpeace Andino has expanded its work to marine ecosystems, launching campaigns to strengthen the protection of the Argentine Sea and demand legal frameworks to prevent its indiscriminate exploitation. In addition, under Machain’s leadership, the organization reinforced its educational initiatives, including teaching materials, workshops, and content for young people with the aim of fostering active environmental awareness from an early age.

Perspective on conservation in Latin America

In her public appearances, Machain has emphasized that biodiversity conservation cannot be separated from economic, social, and political decisions. She has also stressed that Latin American countries must assert their strategic position in terms of natural resources, adopting measures that not only address local urgencies but also align with global environmental commitments.

A legal, territorial, and communicative approach

Through her role at Greenpeace and her previous experience, she has sought to connect the technical side of environmental law with territorial work, combining legal analysis, direct action, and the construction of public narratives that position environmental issues as a collective priority.