SARITA EMMANUEL

Researcher / Director , Conserve Habitats and Protect Organisms (CHAPO)
Lex Plasmans

Project Manager, Fundación ProAves

I am a Dutch tropical field ecologist living in Colombia, working as a Project Manager for the NGO Fundación ProAves. In this role, I focus on securing funding for a wide range of conservation initiatives across the country and beyond. My work allows me the privilege of frequently visiting ProAves’ 27 nature reserves spread throughout Colombia’s diverse ecosystems. As an ecologist, my interests span multiple disciplines, including botany, geology, and soil science. However, my true passion lies in zoology, especially birds, primates, and herpetofauna. Over the years, I’ve conducted extensive scientific fieldwork throughout the Neotropics during numerous internships and expeditions. That deep connection to the region’s biodiversity ultimately led me to stay and dedicate my life to conserving the extraordinary species and habitats of what is truly the land of birds.  Soy un ecólogo tropical neerlandés radicado en Colombia, donde trabajo como Director de Gestion Proyectos para la Fundación ProAves. En esta labor, me dedico a gestionar y asegurar financiamiento para una amplia gama de iniciativas de conservación a nivel nacional e internacional. Gracias a ello, tengo el privilegio de visitar con frecuencia las 27 reservas naturales que ProAves protege en distintos puntos del país. Como ecólogo de vocación, mis intereses abarcan diversas disciplinas como la botánica, la geología y las ciencias del suelo. Sin embargo, mi verdadera pasión está en la zoología, particularmente en las aves, los primates y la herpetofauna. A lo largo de los años, he realizado extensos trabajos de campo científico en el Neotrópico durante múltiples pasantías y expediciones. Esta conexión profunda con la biodiversidad de la región me llevó finalmente a quedarme y dedicar mi vida a conservar las especies y hábitats extraordinarios de este territorio que, con razón, puede llamarse la tierra de las aves.
Huruma David

Monitoring and evaluation officers, EarthLungs Reforestation Foundation

My name is Huruma David Mwasomola. I have a background in Wildlife Management, and I’m passionate about environmental conservation, research, and promoting human-wildlife coexistence. Over the years, I’ve gained experience working on various conservation projects focusing on wildlife monitoring, mangrove restoration, biodiversity surveys, and community outreach programs. My work has involved data collection using tools like Kobo and ODK, GIS mapping, monitoring and evaluation, and engaging with local communities to support sustainable conservation efforts. I'm always eager to learn and collaborate on projects that contribute to preserving our natural ecosystems.
Adam Barlow

Executive Director, WildTeam UK

I help run a UK charity that builds the capacity of conservationists to plan, implement, monitor, and report on their work. I also have a fair bit of experience in tiger and sea turtle conservation.
Marta Villasán Barroso

Biodiversity Conservation Biologist , Ecoenergías del Guadiana / Fauna&Vida NGO / SEO BirdLife

I'm from Badajoz, a little city near Portugal at Extremadura, Spain. I love my region because is plenty of wild nature, birds, forests, rivers... but is endangered too. I have a BSc in Biology and a MSc in Biodiversity Conservation. I have more than 15 years of experience in Environmental Education with school kids and the general public. I'm interested in all related topics about ecology, conservation and all living creatures and their relationships, that makes possible the life on Earth.  I have worked in Paraguay granted by University of Salamanca and UNESCO Chair "Education for Sustainable Development: Strengthening lines of research in the area of ​​biodiversity and the link with society". My duties were teaching experiments design and basic biostatistics at UNA (Universidad Nacional de Asunción); doing a biodiversity's bird research at the San Rafael National Park (the major Atlantic Forest patch remaining), ringing birds and teaching young students how to carry out a basic research; and doing environmental education with young child and population living at the natural park influence area.  I stayed at Madeira (Portugal) working on two LIFE projects, one to protect the endemic sparrowhawk "Furabardos" and the other to take care of marine birds. The LIFE projects are the UE tool to support and fund the conservation on their territories.   Later I have devoted to natural ecotourism at Extremadura (Spain) and scuba diving tourism at Sharm el Shaik (Egypt), in addition to environmental education, or little research and consultancy tasks. I have a  youtube channel  to outreach environmental issues and my own talks. Is in Spanish, but if you want you could take a look at it.  Currently, I have a job at an environmental consulting at Extremadura (Spain), working about the compensatory measures to take during and after the construction of photovoltaic plants. I take care of bird nests, mitigation and prevention of bird and bat mortality at the high voltage lines, soil restoration, reforestation, etc. I'm glad to carry out this work because I'm sure I'm doing the best to protect the nature while the construction of renewable energy plants are trying to reduce the climate change.  In addition, I take part from two NGOs: Fauna&Vida, a environmental conservation and education organization from Paraguay, where I'm currently the Education and conservation programs Director, and SEO/BirdLife, the ornithological society to protect birds, where I coordinate the volunteer group in my city.