Stephen Kretzmann of Amazon Watch, one of the groups, said Mr. Gore met with him and several other environmentalists last month.

Founded in 1996, Amazon Watch is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California.

In Peru, Amazon Watch is a plaintiff in a case against the US oil company Occidental for its damage to the rainforest.

In Colombia, Amazon Watch has campaigned alongside the U'wa people as they have struggled against oil drilling on their lands.

Amazon Watch reports that the current rate of deforestation threatens to push the Amazon past a tipping point from which it cannot recover.

Letter with 300+ Groups Ask Senate for Stronger Climate Bill, included Amazon Watch.

Andrew E. Miller, human rights campaigner at Amazon Watch, said, "Many indigenous peoples, understandably, are skeptical that the latest silver bullet is really in their interest.

Ross has worked with indigenous rights organizations Survival International and Amazon Watch.

Amazon Watch, a US-based non-profit organisation, said the refusal "threatens to set a chilling precedent for human rights and sustainable development throughout the Americas."

Advocacy groups such as Amazon Watch and ChevronToxico have attempted to document the oil spills, ecological damage and human impacts of these operations.