Last Thursday, a judge in Paris ordered mediation in a legal dispute between France's Casino Group and Indigenous groups over deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. Representatives of Brazil's Indigenous community and environmental groups filed suit last year against the supermarket chain, arguing it was selling beef from cattle raised in the rainforest in violation of human rights and environmental rules (AP). The parties have until September 15 to reach an agreement, or the case will proceed to trial.

The dispute marks the first time a French supermarket chain has been sued in court over deforestation and the loss of land and livelihood under a 2017 law that requires large companies to prevent serious human rights and environmental violations in their businesses and supply chains (AP, Reuters). Under the law, violators must pay reparations for any damage caused by their inaction.

Cattle ranching is responsible for much of the Amazon's deforestation, which reached record levels earlier this year (AP). According to data released last month by Brazil's national space research institute INPE, deforestation exceeded 1,000 square kilometers in April, the highest total since 2006 (Mongabay).