When laws destroy nature

Colonial law helped shape modern deforestation. Legal historian Mariana Dias Paes explains how 19th-century property law, land dispossession, and colonial legal systems accelerated rainforest destruction in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest and continue to influence environmental conflicts today. This episode of Green Frequency explores colonialism, Indigenous land rights, private property, environmental history, and the legal foundations behind modern climate and conservation crises across the Atlantic world, including the Amazon and Congo rainforests. Recorded live at The American University of Paris, the conversation connects legal history to present-day environmental governance, climate justice, and biodiversity loss. Full video version with presentation slides and maps available on YouTube. Episode Guests: Dr. Mariana Dias PaesBrowse Dr. Dias Paes’ publications on Google ScholarExplore the Pine Forest Media digital ecosystem on our websiteFind the full-length video on YouTube @PineForestPodsFollow us on Social Media @pineforestmediaAudio Editing by Clark Marchese, Video Editing by Madelyn Cho WeirVideography and Set Design by Le Studio Du PassageCover Art by Laurel WongTheme music by Nela RuizFind some more Pine Forest Media podcasts belowListen to Oceanography on Spotify or Apple PodcastsListen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple PodcastsListen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple PodcastsListen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.