Promoting Environmental Justice, Land Rights, and Racial Equity in a Diverse and Interconnected World
Alma Segoviano: A Visionary Advocate for Environmental Justice
Alma Segoviano is a Senior Legal Advisor with over 18 years of diverse experience in environmental justice, land tenure, property rights, conflict transformation, and project management. Her work emphasizes achieving sustainable growth through capacity building and facilitation, particularly with indigenous, rural and afro descendant communities. Alma’s expertise extends to collaborating with diverse stakeholders, managing complex programs, and providing technical guidance on innovative solutions. She is fluent in Spanish, Danish, Italian, English, and is learning Sign Language and French, reflecting her commitment to cross-cultural communication and understanding.
Alma’s academic journey includes an LLB from Universidad Iberoamericana, an LLM from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a PhD in Law from Birkbeck, University of London. Her doctoral thesis, The Protection of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and the Conservation of Natural Resources, explores the ejido system in Mexico and its potential to contribute to sustainable development and poverty alleviation. Alma’s research underscores the need to rethink property law fundamentals in the face of climate change, demonstrating how traditional collective property systems can address contemporary challenges.
Her career has seen collaborations with international organizations such as USAID, WWF, RFFUK, UNODC, and FARM COMMONS. Notably, she has worked on behalf of indigenous forest peoples in the Democratic Republic of Congo, successfully advocating for the preservation of community land rights through non-judicial means. Alma’s efforts have led to significant improvements in environmental assessment processes and protections for indigenous rights, further emphasizing her belief in peaceful, non-violent approaches to resolving land conflicts.
In academia, Alma has inspired future leaders by teaching and supervising master’s projects. She lectured on property law at Birkbeck and has since designed and facilitated courses for graduate students and public servants at Universidad del Medio Ambiente (UMA). Her interdisciplinary approach to education led to the creation of a one-year certificate program on Socio-environmental Conflict Transformation, which she currently coordinates. Additionally, she serves as a Strategic Advisor for the Water Justice Lab at Universidad de Chiapas and is actively involved with the Environmental Peacebuilding Association, and the Energy Bar Association.
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Alma’s commitment to conflict transformation is rooted in personal experiences, including her role in supporting displaced communities in the DRC and negotiating with the British Parliament on behalf of indigenous communities. Her work has consistently focused on empowering local, rural, and indigenous communities through knowledge and legal advice, making complex legal concepts accessible to diverse audiences.
KHaRMAlma Land & Environmental Justice (KALEJ) embodies a decade-long dream, originally created to inspire fellow colleagues and students to realize their capability to create change. This initiative aligns with Alma’s personal and professional growth as an environmental lawyer and advocate for collective land rights and environmental justice. Her extensive global experiences—from Denmark to London and Vienna—have deeply influenced her path, leading her to establish KHaRMALMA as a platform for motivating and empowering others to contribute to sustainable and equitable development.
My Mission
is to advance environmental justice, land tenure, and property rights by providing legal advocacy, capacity building, and conflict transformation. I am committed to empowering indigenous, rural, and Afro-descendant communities with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to protect their land and promote sustainable development. Through cross-cultural communication and innovative solutions, I aim to make a lasting, positive impact on both communities and the environment.
I envision a world where indigenous, rural, and Afro-descendant communities are fully empowered to safeguard their land and environmental rights. I strive for a future where collective property systems and peaceful conflict transformation are central to addressing climate change and fostering sustainable development.
My Vision
is to inspire and lead a global movement towards equitable and inclusive societies, where legal frameworks and community-driven solutions work together to protect both people and the planet.
More about Alma`s work
Thesis: The protection of indigenous of people`s rights & the conservation of natural resources.
Enviromental justice a way forward the deconstruction of property rigths