Exploring the nuances of environmental governance in Venezuela and Colombia reveals a complex interplay of government actions, NGO involvement, and international influence. I draw on interviews with 18 key informants to understand how the countries’ approaches to governance and civil society engagement differ, despite the similarities they share in facing environmental challenges. Venezuela’s restrictive policies towards NGOs and constrained international cooperation contrast with Colombia’s more inclusive strategies and robust international support. However, the findings also highlight complexities within each country’s approach, seeing as Venezuela has found ways to involve local governments and NGOs in grassroots environmental initiatives to fill the gaps left by policy inaction, while Colombia faces institutional challenges when it comes to addressing the disconnect between policy formulation and on-the-ground action. Based on these findings, I provide policy recommendations aimed at enhancing collaborative frameworks between governments, NGOs, and local communities. This approach looks to both address current environmental challenges and also establish a foundation for future sustainability efforts.