I am an Assistant Professor at Madda Walabu University, which is situated very near to Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP), which is endowed with rich and unique biodiversity with local, regional, and international significance. Professionally, I am an ecologist specialing in birds (especially cranes). In the past, apart from promoting BMNP for tourism for local and international visitors, I spent most of my time teaching and advising BSc students of the Ecotourism and Biodiversity conservation department. But, I am very much interested to work on Community-based wildlife conservation in my area which is being threatened due to human-induced factors. 

My name is Ani Henriquez, I'm the Executive Director of ProCosta El Salvador an NGO that works for hawksbill turtle conservation, habitat protection, research with participation of local communities. Since 2010 I been working with sea turtle conservation focused on critical endangered species, promoting alliance with key stakeholders and creating sustainable tourism in local areas.

I'm a biologist from Ecuador with more than five years of fieldwork experience with birds. I'm a founder and CEO of Amazona Lilacina Foundation I'm interested in everything around wildlife conservation, conservation NGO management, conservation solutions.

My conservation career started in 1992 when I helped set up and joined a University expedition to the Bolivian Amazon. What started out as a 3-month experience ended up being a life-changing inflection point that set my professional and personal course to the present day. My conservation experience was built bottom-up and hands-on, and includes field data collection and logistics, grassroots organization leadership and project management, community engagement and capacity building, M&E, training and behavior change, and lately climate education through authorship of graphic novels and other resources. My conservation career includes positions as a senior staff member and a principal investigator at the Bolivian BirdLife Partner Armonía, field investigator in the Gran Chaco with WCS Bolivia, field logistics officer for Conservation International's RAP expeditions, and Programme Manager and Senior Manager of M&E at Rare. I currently work as Senior Behaviour Change Specialist with TRAFFIC International, applying behavioural science approaches to support TRAFFIC's work across wildlife supply chains globally. 

As a biologist and the current Community Outreach Program Director at Macaw Recovery Network, I am deeply committed to leading communities in impactful parrot conservation efforts. My passion lies in connecting people with conservation initiatives, understanding that effective conservation is intrinsically linked to improving the quality of life for local communities. With a strong background in networking and communication, I excel at building relationships and presenting projects with clarity and enthusiasm. These skills have allowed me to represent our NGO internationally, successfully attracting donations and support. My strategic vision and expertise in project planning and management, guided by conservation standards, ensure that our projects are not only effective but sustainable. Beyond my professional life, I find joy and energy in the company of dogs and cats, and I am deeply interested in mental health and relaxation techniques, which I believe are essential for a balanced and fulfilling life.

I was born in Switzerland, but my current home is Costa Rica where I have been living with my wife and daughter for the last 25 years. Over two decades, I have developed extensive knowledge in sustainability topics along with a wide experience in designing, fundraising, and implementing conservation biology programs, biological corridors, project planning, implementation and monitoring, the leadership of inter-institutional alliances at the national, bi-national, regional and international level, as well as in the creation of protected areas. My areas of expertise include biodiversity, landscape issues, connectivity conservation, transboundary conservation, protected areas, and World Heritage Sites, sustainable development, wildlife, governance, and ecosystem conservation. I have worked for local and international NGOs and the academy, and define myself as a passionate conservation practitioner compromised with high standards of excellence, and a team player able to build strong intercultural relationships. I love trail running, photography, reading, cooking, traveling, and meeting new people from different cultural contexts. I am fluent in French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, with limited working proficiency in German and Indonesian. I am currently learning Mandarin and Arabic.

Marine biologist, governance and conservation specialist / conservation planning / Social and environmental entrepreneur

Mr Boka Kondua Dieuleveut , Ingénieur agronome en Gestion des Ressources Naturelles : Faune et Flore de l'Université de Kinshasa,  est le coordinateur principal de l'Environnement et de la Conservation de la Nature au sein de l'ONG Kimbala Développement (K.D). Il a été aussi  Peer Educator du programme  : I Act Italy and Irena Action for Climate Toolkit initié par gouvernement Italien à travers son  Ministère des Affaires étrangères et de la Coopération internationale (Maeci) en partenariat avec l’ Agence Internationale des Énergies Renouvelables (IRENA) , dans l’ optique de renforcer les connaissances et les capacités des jeunes leaders internationaux et locaux  qui  veulent devenir des leaders dans la lutte contre le changement climatique et dans la promotion de la transition énergétique pour un développement durable. En outre , il est l’ initiateur, le concepteur et rédacteur du Programme de Sauvetage des pangolins Africains (en cours de rédaction). Il est également l’ initiateur , le concepteur et rédacteur du projet : BUMBU  vert et résilient aux effets et impacts du changement climatique. Ce projet consiste à impliquer les jeunes et les propriétaires fonciers de cette contrée dans l'identification , la promotion et  la mise en oeuvre des actions communautaires de lutte contre le changement climatique axée sur des éco-gestes dans les écoles , les  église et les différents ménages ainsi que la création des habitations vertes et la restauration des zones vertes par la plantation d'arbres . Notons que Bumbu est est une  commune urbaine vulnérable au changement climatique. I'm also a member of the 12th cohort of the African Union's Corps des Jeunes Volontaires.