Saint Lucia, October 2024 – Conserva Aves actively participated in the RedLAC 2024 Congress, held October 7-11 on the island of Saint Lucia. This initiative, which promotes the protection of bird migration routes in Latin America and the Caribbean through the creation, expansion and management of sub-national protected areas, was represented with an introduction to the Initiative and then a panel discussion that addressed the achievements and impacts to date, as well as future challenges to ensure the long-term sustainability of its projects.
Currently, Conserva Aves is promoting 65 projects in 90 subnational protected areas that are in the process of being declared in four countries in the Tropical Andes and are supported by the Bezos Earth Fund: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Thanks to new resources, expansion to other countries in Mesoamerica is projected. The vision is clear: to expand the initiative in the region for the protection of territories in the conservation of species and critical habitats, and to protect the migratory routes of birds that connect the continent.
Sebastian Herzog, Conserva Aves Coordinator for Audubon Americas presents the Initiative and the achievements obtained after almost 3 years of implementation at the RedLAC 2024 Congress. Photo credit: RedLAC.
During the panel, representatives of Conserva Aves shared success stories in the conservation of the Tropical Andes, highlighting the work of the Fondo para la Acción y la Niñez in Colombia and Profonanpe in Peru. The role of inter-institutional collaboration and the use of existing regulatory frameworks were highlighted, which have maximized the impact on the protection of species and critical habitats.
The meeting provided a space of trust to strengthen the inter-organizational commitment of Conserva Aves and the entities that support the initiative, underscoring the importance of working together to address the environmental challenges affecting the region.
Participation in the congress was an opportunity for Conserva Aves to strengthen ties with environmental funds and other strategic allies in the region, fostering new alliances in favor of biodiversity. Participants agreed on the importance of continuing to integrate innovative and sustainable practices into their projects, adapting to the regional and global challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.
From right to left: Anton Willems, executive director of Profonanpe; Daniel Lebbin, Conserva Aves Coordinator for American Bird Conservancy; Natalia Arango, executive director of Fondo para la Acción y la Niñez; Cecilia Vides, Conserva Aves regional coordinator for the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Environmental Funds (RedLAC); Jorge Oviedo, RedLAC president; Greg Spira, Senior Director of International Cooperation and Conservation for Birds Canada; Sebastian Herzog, Conserva Aves Coordinator for Audubon Americas, participants in the panel discussion “Conserva Aves: From Initiative to Action – Results and Perspectives”. Photo credit: RedLAC.
Conserva Aves thanks RedLAC and the environmental fund community for facilitating the exchange of ideas, experiences and perspectives that will allow us to promote a comprehensive and sustainable conservation agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean and reiterates its mission to lead high-impact conservation efforts in the continent.
Conserva Aves is the protection of territories of life!
It is an innovative and inclusive hemispheric conservation initiative developed by American Bird Conservancy, Audubon, BirdLife International, Birds Canada and the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Environmental Funds (RedLAC) to protect areas of exceptional biodiversity value, as well as to promote climate resilience, sustainable development and community well-being. It is supported by the Bezos Earth Fund.
