As we reflect on the amazing women we met at New York Climate Week who are leading the global fight against climate change and biodiversity loss, I want to thank you for making our work possible. Women for Conservation would not exist without your support and our wonderful community, who have been with us every [...]

For 20 years, Women for Conservation founder Sara Lara has been advocating for women's rights to family planning. Over this time, we have seen a transformation in women and their partner’s perception of these services; they have increasingly come to prioritize the ability to decide. In rural areas, campaigns like these are profoundly moving. Many [...]

We are thrilled to announce that Women for Conservation President and Founder, Sara Lara, will be speaking at New York Climate Week! We are honored to join Daughters for Earth and Vital Voices Global Partnership for The Earth Has a Song, a special gathering celebrating women, climate leadership, and the power of women-led solutions for [...]

In the humid cloud forests of Carchi, Ecuador, we’re taking action for orchids.  Ecuador is home to the second highest diversity of orchids in the entire world, boasting 4,200 described species with new species being discovered every year. Each species is entirely unique; they come in a plethora of shapes and colors. Some look like [...]

On Monday, August 10th, western Colombia experienced a devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake—one of the deadliest disasters the country has faced this century. More than 250 lives have been lost, entire city blocks and buildings have collapsed across Valle, Cauca, Chocó, and Quindío, and thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes, including members of [...]

by Sariaka Langrand - May 2026 Introduction:  Protecting nature, natural resources, and ensuring inclusive and income generating projects is central to global development and local populations, especially for traditionally marginalized communities. These include rural women and Global South populations. In times of economic struggle, people’s actions towards nature can often be harmful and extractive. This [...]

It's been a few months since we announced our partnership in the Sundarbans, India, so I thought it was time to share a few updates! Since the beginning of the project in March, Simran and her project partners have experienced a blooming — of confidence, knowledge, and love for nature.  The Sundarbans is an incredibly [...]

This past Earth Day, Women for Conservation was honored to be included in the inaugural grant round of the Superbloom Fund for Women and Nature, alongside eight other global organizations working tirelessly to raise up women and protect nature. This grant honors W4C’s community-based conservation approach – empowering rural and Indigenous women to become leading [...]

For HERD Elephant Sanctuary in South Africa, March was a month of creation. Slowly recovering from the devastating floods that swept the region at the beginning of the year, the JabuLadies are now preparing for the busy season at the Jabulani lodge. They made 120 luggage tags, 158 bookmarks, and 150 bracelets for the sanctuary's [...]

Dracula reserve. Photo by Callie Broaddus. Deep in the remote cloud forests of Carchi, Ecuador, the Drácula nature reserve is nestled between the peaks of the Andes. Here, you can find an incredible diversity of rare orchids, some that have not even been discovered yet. Andean bears, with their spectacle-like markings, roam alongside Brown-headed spider monkeys, [...]

Written by: Sariaka Langrand, Masters Student in Social and Cultural Anthropology and Field Research at Concordia University Numerous articles and studies have demonstrated how rural women are disproportionately affected by poverty, daily burdens, gender-based violence, and socially ingrained forms of marginalization. These outcomes occur due to a socially-created hierarchization that labels intersectional identities as inferior [...]

Imagen - Línea - Texto Our president and founder, Sara Lara, has been named one of the Top10 Leaders in Latin America , a category of the Top100 Innovative Leaders Ranking. This distinction underscores her transformative leadership in conservation, social innovation, and the strengthening of women’s leadership. The awards ceremony took place on March 17th [...]

In Port Loko, Sierra Leone, change is driven — by women on a motorbike   In 2025, Women for Conservation funded a motorbike for our partners at Fridays for Future Sierra Leone as part of our Women on Wheels initiative: providing bikes to women-led conservation projects to improve on-the-ground transportation. Through this initiative, we provided [...]

In South Africa, our partners at HERD elephant sanctuary have been busy! Over the past few months, the region has been dealing with the aftermath of devastating floods caused by unprecedented rains. Imagen - Línea - Texto The flooding caused widespread damage across the country, and the HERD sanctuary was no exception. After making sure [...]

In the framework of International Women’s Day, Women for Conservation will participate in a virtual panel on Wednesday, March 11, at 2:00 p.m. (ET) / 11:00 a.m. (PT), in partnership with Population Connection, to discuss the relationship between population dynamics, women’s empowerment, and environmental conservation. Imagen - Línea - Texto During the event, Hannah Evans, [...]

Imagen - Línea - Texto Mangroves, the gangly, zigzagging trees that live in coastal brackish water ecosystems, have a hidden power living inside of them: the power to transform an ecosystem. Found in coastal areas where fresh water meets the ocean, they are remarkably adapted to survive in saline water, and can capture four times [...]

Imagen - Línea - Texto After a rigorous application and evaluation process, Women for Conservation and the Asociación Colombiana de Herpetología (ACH) officially announce the five women selected as fellows of the Women in Science and Conservation Scholarship Program, an initiative aimed at strengthening women’s leadership in amphibian and reptile conservation in Colombia. The program, [...]

Imagen - Línea - Texto We are thrilled to announce that we will be partnering with HERD, South Africa’s first elephant orphanage. HERD was established in Hoedspruit, South Africa in 2019 to help young endangered African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) that have been orphaned due to poaching and human-wildlife conflict. Their approach combines ecotourism and [...]

Imagen - Línea - Texto In the coastal town of Msambweni, Kenya, our partner organization SheNature is building something beautiful. Driven by their leadership, women are gathering to share knowledge with one another, restore local habitat, and stop indoor pollution — building a healthier environment for all. SheNature has trained 45 women on improved cookstove [...]

Imagen - Línea - Texto In the Upper Guinean Forest System, a global biodiversity hotspot, Pangolins and Western Chimpanzees are in danger. A century of habitat degradation has destroyed over 90% of the forest, which spans the western coast of Africa through Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana (USGS). The forest that remains is [...]

We are glad to be one of the initiatives highlighted by @daughters4earth that are driving gender transformation and nature conservation. We continue weaving real change alongside the women who lead, care for, and regenerate our territories. We invite you to read their report.

Written by Hannah Evans | Published: December 5, 2025 Population Connection Senior Analyst Hannah Evans reports on a site visit to El Dorado Nature Reserve in the Sierra Nevada with Women for Conservation, our Global Partner based in Colombia.   Imagen - Línea - Texto When we first met the Women for Conservation team at [...]

Imagen - Línea - Texto Women for Conservation and the Colombian Association of Herpetology (ACH) announced a strategic alliance to strengthen women’s participation in research, conservation, and environmental education focused on Colombia’s herpetofauna. The initiative was officially presented during the 4th Colombian Congress of Herpetology (CCH), one of the country’s most important scientific events on [...]

Imagen - Línea - Texto Women for Conservation returned for the second time to the community of Pueblo Bello, in the north of Colombia, to bring family planning services to rural and Indigenous women. (ICFP) in Bogotá, Colombia. The initiative, developed with a community-based approach prioritizing respect for women's autonomy, expanded access to long-acting contraceptive [...]

Imagen - Línea - Texto Women for Conservation attended the 2025 International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) in Bogotá, Colombia. The conference brings together global leaders in reproductive health to discuss this year’s theme, “Equity Through Action: Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All,” with experts in the field leading workshops, panels, and [...]

Kormos’s book highlights the story of our founders, Sara Inés Lara and Isabella Cortés, and other inspiring women conservationists.     We are proud to share that the book Intertwined: Women, Nature, and Climate Justice, written by conservation primatologist Rebecca Kormos, was awarded the 2025 Gold Medal in the Environment/Ecology category of the Independent Publisher [...]

  In an effort to strengthen regional alliances and promote female leadership in conservation, Women for Conservation participated in the Third Meeting of the Network of Women in Water and Forest Conservation held by Amazonia que Late in Peru. Our organization was represented by Kelly Julio Donado, Project Coordinator for Women for Conservation in the [...]

Strategic Roadmap presented at the 2025 IUCN Congress Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates — October 2025 Last week in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates and a city known for its technological innovations and futuristic architecture, Founder and Director of Women for Conservation Sara Ines Lara and Isabella Cortes attended the 2025 IUCN [...]

Sara Inés Lara and Isabella Cortes with Soary Randrianjafizanaka, Regional Director of Fanamby Each year, the WCPA (World Commission on Protected Areas), along with Conservation Allies, Universal Ranger Support Alliance, and the IUCN, grant the International Ranger Awards to men and women rangers who tirelessly work to advance conservation, science, and education. We are incredibly [...]

CONAPAC and Women for Conservation joined efforts to provide training to rural teachers as socioenvironmental leaders in Peru. On the banks of the majestic Napo River Amazon Rivers, environmental education took center stage for Women for Conservation and the Amazon Nature Conservation Organization of Peru (CONAPAC). The two organizations led a series of workshops for [...]

Isabella Cortés, founder of Women for Conservation, wins four titles in the Fiestas del Mar 2025 pageant. Our founder Isabella Cortés Lara shone brightly at the unforgettable Fiestas del Mar 2025 in Santa Marta, Colombia, being awarded four sashes in the annual pageant, a monthlong event where women representing their hometowns compete in a number [...]

The title of “Iconic Women Creating a Better World” is granted to women who inspire meaningful change in their fields. By: Juan Camilo Cely – La FM Colombia The defense of nature and women’s leadership was represented by a prominent name at the 2025 Women Economic Forum (WEF): Sara Inés Lara. The president of Women […]

Septiembre 2025 – Chocó, Colombia   For the first time in the Chocó Pacific region of Colombia, 62 women from four community councils met in Bahía Solano in June to create the Network of Women Amphibian Monitors, a pioneering strategy that seeks to address the many threats that endanger amphibians in Colombia. In addition to […]

  July 24th, Santa Marta, Colombia The city is vibrant with heat, energy, and color — it is the first day of the Fiesta Del Mar, a week-long celebration that celebrates the city’s history, culture, regional identity, and connection to the sea. This year, as the city marks its 500th anniversary, Santa Marta looks to […]

August 2025 – Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia This summer, 40 women from rural and indigenous areas gained access to contraceptive methods thanks to our family planning sessions. At Women for Conservation, we assert our commitment to women’s well-being and the protection of nature through our “Healthy Communities for Healthy Habitats” program. During the […]

August 2025 – Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia Environmental Education Sierra Nevada: Empowering Rural Schools Environmental education Sierra Nevada is gaining strength thanks to a new partnership between Women for Conservation and the Bodega Palestina Rural Educational Center. This initiative, launched in February 2025, aims to raise awareness and promote the protection of local […]

Women for Conservation is delighted to announce our newest partnership with the Liberian Youth Biodiversity Network, the Liberian branch of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network. This group of passionate young people is on the ground making waves in Liberia, fighting deforestation and spreading knowledge to women about the importance of conserving endangered ecosystems. We will […]

Who hasn't heard of the Magnolia, the name of a tree that carries with it an inevitable reminiscent character because it brings to mind one or many things at once: the unforgettable pseudonym of the protagonist of a children's story, the title of a famous film, a celebrated play brought to the big screen, countless [...]

May 7, 2025 – Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia Kogui Mamos Legal Identity: Historic Indigenous Rights Achievement Kogui mamos legal identity Colombia: In a remarkable and deeply meaningful event, Women for Conservation proudly organized a historic initiative achieving kogui mamos legal identity recognition. This brought 23 mamos—spiritual and community leaders of the Kogui Indigenous […]

Women for Conservation is proud to announce the recipients of our 2025 Women in Science & Research Grants — three passionate young female scientists who are making a meaningful difference in conservation research: * Herpetofauna: the reptiles and amphibians of a particular region or habitat. Program Background In 2024, Women for Conservation introduced the Women […]

Support rural women in Kenya to protect rare species of trees,  fight for climate justice, and promote healthier communities. In the lowland coastal region of Msambweni, Kenya, women are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis. Facing high poverty levels, many families have no choice but to rely on endangered indigenous trees for cooking fuel, […]

Women Leading the Fight to Save Endangered Species Endangered Species Day | May 16, 2025 On this Endangered Species Day, Women for Conservation celebrates something powerful: Hope. In a world where biodiversity is vanishing at an alarming rate and funding for endangered species is being slashed, hope blooms through the courage and leadership of grassroots […]

Impact Report 2024: For the Earth We Love, For the Future We Dream Happy Earth Day! Today, we pause to celebrate the Earth—its wild beauty, its vital ecosystems, and the extraordinary women who are rising to protect it. At Women for Conservation, we know that when women thrive, nature thrives too. And thanks to your […]

As part of Earth Day 2025, our Founder and Executive Director, Sara Lara, will participate as a panelist in the roundtable organized by Population Connection, an official virtual side event at the 58th session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development (CPD58). During this 90-minute session, conservation experts, dedicated storytellers, and advocates for [...]

At the heart of this movement is a story deeply rooted in family, passion, and purpose—one that spans three generations of women dedicated to safeguarding nature and empowering communities. Founded by myself, Sara Inés Lara, Women for Conservation has grown from a grassroots initiative into a global movement dedicated to empowering women's leadership in conservation. [...]

On March 22, 2025, in commemoration of World Water Day, we will embark on a transformative journey to the heart of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a sacred place ancestrally protected by the Kogui Indigenous people. We will be accompanied by Yamil Amaya, leader of the Arhuaco Indigenous community, guide, and expeditionist of the [...]

  Women Leading Reforestation: A New Alliance for Conservation At Women for Conservation, we have joined forces with ProAves and Fondation Franklinia in the Magnolia Project, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to restoring ecosystems by identifying, monitoring, and replanting threatened magnolia species in Colombia. This project not only contributes to the conservation of these iconic trees [...]

      As part of the International Women’s Day celebration, we held a panel discussion dedicated to the challenges women face in environmental conservation and community work in rural areas. This space not only recognized the crucial role of women in biodiversity protection but also aimed to strengthen their leadership and make their contributions […]

  Women on Wheels: How W4C Rangers are Protecting Madagascar’s Ancient Baobabs In the heart of Madagascar’s Menabe region, a quiet revolution is unfolding among the towering, ancient baobab trees of Allée des Baobabs. Thanks to the support of our generous donors, Women for Conservation has equipped local women rangers with bicycles—an investment that is […]

 A Groundbreaking Victory for Women in Conservation: Sierra Leone’s First-Ever Grant Win! A monumental achievement—Women for Conservation Sierra Leone has won its first-ever external grant! Thanks to the support of Women for Conservation (W4C), our Sierra Leone team has been awarded €10,000 from Conservation Connect’s W4C Circle Grant, a game-changing step in protecting endangered wildlife […]

A major achievement in strengthening environmental education in the Heart of the World – the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta! Women for Conservation has signed a significant agreement with the Rural Educational Institution Bodega Palestina, located in Ciénaga, Magdalena. This partnership aims to instill a strong sense of environmental awareness and conservation among students and [...]

Celebrating Colombia’s Wildlife: A Photography Roundup of Protected Animals At Women for Conservation, we believe in the power of storytelling to inspire action and protect our planet’s biodiversity. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our latest Wildlife Photography Roundup, showcasing the extraordinary species safeguarded by our work in partnership with ProAves Colombia. Thanks to the […]

Bridging the Funding Gap for Women in Conservation Women for Conservation is thrilled to announce the launch of our Women for Conservation Circle Grant, opening February 1st, 2025. This initiative aims to support women-led conservation efforts in the Global South by providing critical seed funding to grassroots organizations that are driving change at the intersection [...]

Uniting Women Around the World for Conservation This January, we launched a groundbreaking initiative—the Women for Conservation Circle— and so far we’ve united 33 international organizations from 20 countries. This global movement is driven by a shared, holistic vision: uplifting women while protecting nature and endangered species on the IUCN Red List. As we enter […]

The artist, conservationist, and founder of Mujeres por la Conservación, Isabella Cortés Lara (Isabella Endémica), has unveiled her music video “Agüita de Páramo,” a stunning audiovisual creation that blends art, nature, and a profound message of conservation. Filmed in the breathtaking Páramo de Puracé in Cauca, Colombia — Isabella’s place of origin — this music [...]

On Sunday, January 19, Sara Inés Lara and Isabella Cortés Lara, founders of Women for Conservation, participated in the prestigious TEDx Vail event. This gathering brought together people from around the globe to hear inspiring stories from women dedicated to conservation, empowerment, and connecting with nature. Their talks captivated the audience and left a profound [...]

In a collaborative effort to promote nature conservation and community well-being, Mujeres por la Conservación and ProAves have organized the fifth vasectomy brigade in Medellín. Men from El Carmen de Atrato, Chocó, are ready to participate in this initiative, which aims to foster responsible family planning directly linked to the protection of our natural environment. [...]

W4C Promotes Rural Women’s Eco-businesses & Bird Conservation at the IUCN South America Forum From October 14th to 18th, 2024, Women for Conservation (W4C) played a pivotal role in the 4th IUCN South America Forum held in Santa Marta, Colombia. This milestone event, hosted at INVEMAR—Colombia’s leading marine and coastal research institute—brought together conservation leaders […]

  Isabella Cortes is CEO of Women for Conservation, a valued partner of Population Matters. Here she shares her transformative experience at COP16 in Cali, Colombia. From empowering rural women leaders to spotlighting the critical link between family planning and conservation, her reflections highlight the power of grassroots action. 18 NOVEMBER 2024 COP16 in Cali […]

In a landmark event, Women for Conservation partnered with Conservation Connect to bring together 25 passionate rural women leaders from across Latin America for the first-ever “Women for Conservation Circle,” held at the breathtaking Las Tangaras Regional Park in Colombia’s Chocó cloud forest. From November 5-9, 2024, these remarkable women united to share knowledge, build […]

  CALI, COLOMBIA  Women for Conservation (W4C) made a powerful impact at COP 16 in Cali, Colombia, driving meaningful discussions on the importance of gender equality in conservation while amplifying the voices of rural Colombian and Indigenous women. Throughout the conference, W4C’s initiatives and partnerships not only advanced the dialogue on biodiversity protection but also […]

Women for Conservation at Half-Earth Day 2024: Amplifying Indigenous, Afro-Colombian, and Rural Latinx Colombian Women’s Voices for Global Biodiversity Action Women for Conservation is thrilled to announce our participation in the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which will take place in our home country Colombia from October […]

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to learn more about Women for Conservation at COP16. >>> Women for Conservation Shines in First Week of COP 16, Elevating Women’s Voices in Conservation

The Rana Chiva Transforms into Reinita Chiva for Migratory Bird Season Our beloved and iconic Rana Chiva educational bus raises awareness about conservation and biodiversity by bringing educational resources directly to rural communities. The Rana Chiva Project has reached an impressive 21,527 individuals, inspiring the next generation and fostering community engagement in conservation efforts. Now, [...]

Our Rana Chiva's Success Story From the vibrant chiva, a traditional Colombian mode of transportation known for its colorful designs and ability to conquer any geographic challenge, the Rana Chiva traveled to the most remote urban and rural areas of Colombia with a mission to save three endangered species: the Lynch’s Santander Frog (Hyloscirtus lynchi), [...]

      Family Planning in El Chocó: A Win for Women's Reproductive Justice and Nature Conservation Over the course of two days, Women for Conservation in collaboration with ProAves and Profamilia organized a reproductive health brigade in Medellín, where 27 women on our waitlist from El Carmen de Atrato, Chocó, received tubal ligation procedures. [...]

From left to right: Hernando García, General Director of the Humboldt Institute; Maria Isabel Hernández Parra, President of the ANUC Board of Directors; Sara Inés Lara, Executive Director of ProAves; Martha Rosero, Delegate of Conservation International; Arnold Rincón, General Director of CODECHOCÓ. Historic Conservation Victory: Establishing Las Tángaras Regional Nature Park El Carmen de Atrato, [...]

  Women for Conservation and the community of Bethel in the Sierra Nevada have joined forces to celebrate the beautiful biodiversity and importance of conservation in the Santa Marta de Sierra Nevada region. Our Executive Director, Isabella Cortés Lara, has spearheaded the project’s artistic portion, designing a mural celebrating the most representative species of fauna […]

  Chadiz was born surrounded by the lush forests and vegetation of Colombia’s Pacific region. From a young age, Chadiz was aware of her identity within her Indigenous community. After a journey of personal recognition and acceptance within her community, she decided to transition to affirm her identity as the woman she always knew she […]

ProAves and Women for Conservation are thrilled to announce the selection of three remarkable women researchers as part of our "Women in Research and Science" scholarship program. These talented individuals will be conducting vital studies focused on the conservation of two critically endangered species: the Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti) and the Magdalena Spider Monkey (Ateles [...]

[one_fourth][/one_fourth][three_fourth_last] If there is anyone who understands the complex and challenging realities faced by the women of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, it is Kelly Johana Julio Donado. Her story mirrors that of many daughters, mothers, and families who have experienced violence but also hold onto hope, demonstrating through their wisdom that hardship can […]

“We think that the tribe is like an eagle. One wing is male and the other is female. And only when the two wings are equal, the tribe is able to fly.” These words are from Jane Goodall, renowned English ethologist who the world knew for her pioneering studies on chimpanzees. He cited them from […]

    In the remote, breathtaking landscapes of Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a transformative initiative is taking root. Women for Conservation recently spearheaded an ecotourism training program for 11th-grade students at Colegio Agroecológico Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, located in the picturesque village of Vista Nieves. This initiative is part of Women for Conservation’s […]

Nestled in the verdant embrace of the Amazon Rainforest, Colombia’s El Jaguar Nature Reserve stands as a sanctuary for a plethora of wildlife, including the endangered Yellow Spotted River Turtle (Podocnemis unifilis). Facing severe threats like poaching, egg harvesting, and habitat loss, these freshwater turtles are vital to the ecological balance of the Amazon River […]

Join Us for an Inspiring Event on Women’s Environmental Leadership! Women for Conservation is thrilled to announce the book launch of Intertwined: Women, Nature, and Climate Justice by the acclaimed author Dr. Rebecca Kormos. This event will take place on June 1st at 10 a.m. EST, at Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria, VA.   We are […]

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the book Intertwined: Women, Nature, and Climate Justice by Rebecca Kormos, which features a chapter telling the inspiring story of our founders, Sara and Isabella. This powerful book argues that greater inclusion of women in conservation and climate science is key to the planet’s future, highlighting the […]

Our Partnership with Programa Jucumari Embark on a journey with Women for Conservation as we team up with the Jucumari Program to champion Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) conservation in Cochabamba, Bolivia. In a landscape where these majestic bears roam freely, human-wildlife conflict becomes a pressing concern, threatening both bear populations and local communities. Programa Jucumari, […]

We are in the midst of an extinction crisis and the ecosystems richest in biodiversity – such as the Colombian Andes – are most under threat. Yet, there are also emerging conservation success stories, thanks to community-led action, collaboration, and women’s leadership helping to conserve the Yellow-eared Parrot and Quindío Wax Palm. For more than […]

  As we celebrate National Love a Tree Day, it’s a perfect opportunity to reflect on the vital role that trees play in our lives and the environment. From providing oxygen and shade to supporting biodiversity and combating climate change, trees are truly the unsung heroes of our planet. At Women for Conservation (W4C), we’re […]

Community Engagement in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta In the vibrant heart of the Santa Marta region, Women for Conservation is sparking a revolution of empowerment and change within local communities like never before. Our tireless dedication to community work is not just about preserving wildlife; it's about uniting rural women to become guardians of [...]

In collaboration with our partners World Vasectomy Day and ProAves, Women for Conservation carried out its fourth vasectomy day in Medellín, Colombia over two days. For this event, 17 men with and without children chose to undergo simple and safe vasectomies, an important step for family planning in the region and the conservation of our [...]

From right to left: Sara Inés Lara, Founder of Women For Conservation and Executive Director of ProAves; Luis Gilberto Murillo Urrutia, Ambassador of Colombia to the United States; Paloma Carrillo, Operational Director and Accountant of ProAves Colombia; Juan Diego Villa, Director of Legal Affairs at ProAves.  Protecting the environment and promoting women's leadership are highly [...]

From left to right: Sara Inés Lara and Isabella Cortes Lara co-founders of Women for Conservation and Martín Tapias, Director Caracol Radio Barranquilla Caracol Radio Interview For International Women’s Day, Caracol Radio, one of Colombia’s top radio networks, interviewed Executive Director Isabella Cortes Lara and co-founder Sara Inés Lara, two remarkable women leading the charge […]

This year for International Women's Rights Day, women artisans, piangueras (shellfish collectors), vicheras (Afro-Colombian Viche distillers), barequeras (artisanal gold miners), green business managers, and tourism operators from the municipalities of Medio Atrato, Nuquí, Bahía Solano, Tadó, Condoto, and El Carmen de Atrato in the department of Chocó commemorated their strength, resilience, and contributions to nature [...]

  As the sun rises over the misty mountains of Palmor, a picturesque city nestled in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, one is greeted by the sight of lush hilly rainforests and sprawling coffee farms. Here, life moves at a different pace, where the streets are filled with people riding donkeys, and the air […]

In the heart of Colombia’s biodiverse landscapes, Women for Conservation (W4C) proudly celebrates a significant stride in empowering women in amphibian research. Partnering with ProAves, our mission to break barriers for Colombian women scientists has found a remarkable success in the recently concluded course “Techniques for the Study of Colombian Amphibians”. Held for 4 days […]

Environmental education stands as a cornerstone for Women for Conservation and our Colombian partner ProAves. With this commitment in mind, the mobile classroom known as Rana Chiva made its mark at the 12th World Congress on Environmental Education (WEEC) held from January 29 to February 2 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The congress serves [...]

Guest article by Maria José Diniz da Costa, PhD Maria José Minhoto Diniz da Costa, PhD is a reproductive biologist dedicated to women’s health research. After completing her PhD at Warwick University in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Maria worked as a Postdoctoral Associate at Duke University in Fetal-Maternal medicine research. Maria’s passion for community health led […]

Women Reforesting Sierra Leone: A Climate Justice Success Story A Beacon of Hope in a Vulnerable Land Nestled along the Atlantic coast of Africa, Sierra Leone emerges as a jewel of biodiversity, yet it stands among the 10% of countries most vulnerable to the ravages of climate change. While the African continent unfairly bears the […]

Empowering Women, Saving the Rainforest We’re beyond excited to unveil a captivating episode of the Lookfar Podcast titled Empowering Women, Saving the Rainforest featuring our very own Sara Lara and Isabella Cortes. Dive deep with us into a transformative conversation that underscores our grassroots efforts in Colombia and sheds light on our mission at Women for […]

Women Scientists Saving Wildlife In the heart of the Amazon, where the vibrant tapestry of biodiversity is woven, a groundbreaking initiative is taking shape, transforming dreams into reality for Colombian women scientists. Thanks to the unwavering support of individuals like you and the visionary initiative of Daughters for Earth, Women for Conservation proudly presents the […]

This Indigenous Amazon Conservation mural project combined Women for Conservation’s mission to conserve critical biodiversity while uplifting women and youth in surrounding communities.   For Indigenous People’s Day this October, we take a look back at one of our most significant environmental education field projects in collaboration with the Jiw Indigenous community this past March. […]

Women for Conservation is thrilled to welcome Isabella Cortes Lara, our dynamic new Executive Director! In her inaugural letter, Isabella shares her vision for empowering women as leaders in conservation, highlighting the transformative journey that lies ahead. Dear Supporters, Partners, and Champions of Conservation,  Your generous support has been pivotal in driving our mission to […]

Guest article by Maria José Diniz da Costa, PhD Maria José Minhoto Diniz-da-Costa, PhD is a reproductive biologist dedicated to women’s health research. After completing her PhD degree at Warwick University in the field of Recurrent Pregnancy loss, Maria worked as a Postdoctoral Associate at Duke University in Fetal-Maternal medicine research. Maria’s passion for community […]

(From left): Marline, Justine, Huguette, Lucienne, Celine, Fenosoa. The six new women forest rangers are helping Fanamby Organization preserve Madagascar’s biodiversity. Thanks to your support, six women have been trained and employed by Fanamby Organization to carry out essential community patrols. The women are part of the Committee called KMMFA which stands for Komity Miaro […]

Women for Conservation is proud to partner with the ProAves Foundation and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund to promote the Rana Chiva Bus, a community-based mobile environmental awareness project. This real-life Magic School Bus of environmental education brings endangered wildlife conservation inititives to school children and community members throughout Colombia. The project’s objective [...]

As the co-founder of Women for Conservation, I am filled with pride to share some truly inspiring news with our valued W4C family. Today, I have the honor and pleasure to announce that one of our incredible partner ProAves rangers, Cristian Andrés Vásquez Bermúdez, has been awarded the prestigious 2023 IUCN WCPA International Ranger Award. […]

Women show their new Jadelle arm implant after receiving this life-changing procedure.       Mapiripán: Small Town in the Colombian Amazon On April 19th, 89 women from our waiting list received access to free contraception in Mapiripán, Meta, a municipality in the Colombian Amazon. This was the largest number of women that have participated [...]

Date: June 28th, 2023 Women for Conservation celebrated World Rainforest Day 2023 by presenting for our global partner, Population Connection about W4C’s grassroots projects empowering rural women saving Colombian rainforests and endangered wildlife. In this presentation, we delved into Women for Conservation’s community-based programs in conservation training, sustainable livelihoods, and family planning— all aimed at […]

Tolima, Colombia, June 30, 2023 It is with great pride and excitement that we announce an extraordinary triumph for ProAves and Women for Conservation (W4C), organizations that have long been at the forefront of championing environmental stewardship and empowering women in conservation. On June 30th, Sara Inés Lara, Women for Conservation’s founder and Executive Director [...]

Jhojanna is a woman forest ranger in love with conservation. Eight months ago she courageously and enthusiastically started working as a forest ranger in the ProAves Hormiguero de Torcoroma Nature Reserve in Colombia’s eastern Andes. Jhojanna is a mother of two daughters – 19 and 9 years old– and as a professional in forestry engineering [...]

Women for Conservation’s Isabella Cortes Lara celebrated International Biodiversity Day 2023 by presenting alongside Gen Z for the Trees’ Roshan Khan, in a virtual event hosted by our partner, Planet Women.  These women are in their 20s and leading international projects to protect rainforests, wildlife and human rights. Tune into the video below to watch […]

In the heart of Colombia, the preservation of endangered species and their habitats has become a critical concern. However, amid the challenges, a beacon of hope shines through the efforts of Women for Conservation, an organization dedicated to empowering rural women and implementing grassroots movements to protect the rainforest and its endangered wildlife. Recently, a […]

We are excited to announce the success of our first accessible Family Planning campaign in Puerto Pinzon, a rural Colombian community buffering our ProAves El Paujil Reserve. Women for Conservation and ProAves partnered with Profamilia to provide women with free and voluntary access to family planning and information about their reproductive rights. From March 29-31st, [...]

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has highlighted our Executive Director, Sara Inés Lara, as one of the women making history in bird conservation in the Americas. Sara is the Executive director of both ProAves and Women for Conservation,  which have participated in several projects supported by the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) program. […]

We are thrilled to announce that our first Women for Conservation project in Sierra Leone is off to an incredible start!   We have teamed up with local grassroots leader Roseline Isata Mansaray and Fridays for Future Sierra Leone to provide reforestation training for 100 women and children in the Waterloo community, empowering them to take […]

Women for Conservation is proud to be featured in a new article on the positive environmental impact of empowering and educating girls by UC Berkeley Professor Matthew Parker. Read the full article “Educating Girls: An Earth-Saving Enterprise” on Vox Populisphere. >>>  This article highlights the importance of girls’ education in promoting sustainable development and protecting […]

In celebration of International Women’s Rights Day, Women for Conservation held our second annual Entrepreneurship Fair “La Sierra es Mujer” on March 5, in the village of Vista Nieves in the municipality of Minca, in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, in the department of Magdalena. This second annual fair was attended by more than [...]

Thanks to donors like you, Women for Conservation reached our fundraising goal of $3,600 to employ 6 female forest rangers who will spend the next year protecting baobab trees and establishing a permanent tree nursery in Madagascar! Women for Conservation’s global partnership is supporting Fanamby’s incredible workpreserving 800-year-old Baobab Trees and reforesting degraded land. Baobab […]

Listen to podcast on the PGAP website: https://pgap.fireside.fm/w4c We are excited to announce that W4C Vice President, Isabella Cortes Lara, sat down with Post-Growth Australia for a podcast episode about her experiences facilitating access to family planning resources and conservation training to women in rural Colombia. In this podcast, Isabella highlights her personal experience organizing […]

The Population Connection Global Partners Program: We are thrilled to be a part of the Population Connection Global Partners program. Population Connection has supported smaller global partner organizations since 2016. They focus on funding local and community-based organizations that include programming related to sustainable global population growth. In Population Connections’ words, they “support a growing […]

Community Organizing Protects Wildlife We are excited to announce that Las Tangaras ProAves Reserve will be officially recognized as a Colombian Regional Park! In addition to this new government-protected status, the reserve will also expand its area by 3,500 hectares (8,649 acres).This new federal status will make Las Tangaras Reserve part of the National System [...]

Women for Conservation has expanded our programs to a new location, in the municipality of Almaguer, Cauca in the Colombian highlands. This is an area of incredible biodiversity, as well as the site of the most important aquifer table in Colombia. W4C has already begun working in the municipality to facilitate voluntary access to family […]

World Vasectomy Day 2022: Family planning for men: Vasectomies are a commitment by men to conserve the planet and to share the responsibility of family planning with their partners.> On December 13th, Women for Conservation, in collaboration with ProAves and Profamilia, completed their third vasectomy campaign with 14 participants from the municipality of El Carmen […]

We are thrilled to announce that Women for Conservation has been chosen as a grant recipient by Daughters for Earth! This new partnership will empower us to move forward with the next steps of our  Amazon Rainforest Women’s Research station along the Guaviare River. This grant will support expansion of a biological research and conservation […]

Women for Conservation has always strived to create a lasting impact—not just on the lives of women, but also on the health of our planet. As the climate crisis worsens, we are stepping up our efforts to protect and preserve the world’s most extraordinary habitats. We believe in the power of grassroots, community-led conservation and […]

Project Overview: Women for Conservation is excited to announce our first women-led conservation partnership with Fanamby Organization in Madagascar! Our incredible supporters helped W4C raise $3,600 to fully fund this project to support 6 new women forest rangers, who help to protect and restore degraded land for the benefit of both wildlife and rural communities. […]

We are incredibly proud to announce that Women for Conservation has been chosen as an official member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)! The IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest environmental network, uniting more than 1,400 government and non-governmental organizations and more than 18,000 experts in over 170 countries. This membership […]

Celebrating World Vasectomy Day Earlier this week, global population hit 8 billion. Human population growth is projected to continue growing exponentially over the coming decades – threatening the existence of earth’s incredible ecosystems and the hundreds of thousands of species with whom we share the planet. The fist step to curbing unsustainable population growth is […]

Women for Conservation Serves Over 1,300 Women Caring for Nature Reserves This article was originally published September 5th, 2022 in Spanish by the Colombian news Outlet Semana. To see the original version of this article in Spanish, click here >>>  Women for Conservation empowers women and children to lead eco-friendly projects to protect critical ecosystems […]

Women for Conservation is celebrating our first family planning brigade success in the Amazon Rainforest! From March 15th - 17th, 2022, Women for Conservation partnered with Profamilia to provide seventy-two women with family planning medical procedures in the municipality of Mapiripán, in the Amazon Rainforest. Women for Conservation and Profamilia have been collaborating with the [...]

Women for Conservation and ProAves have worked since 2004 to protect the Critically Endangered Blue-billed Curassow and its unique habitat by raising awareness and empowering local women’s groups to save this spectacular species. Location: Magdalena Valley, Colombia Key Species: Blue-billed Curassow (CR), Magdalena Spider Monkey (CR), Magdalena Lowland Tapir (VU), Spectacled Bear (VU), Jaguar (NT) […]

Guest Report by Benjamin Skolnik, Conservation Projects Specialist, American Bird Conservancy It takes people to achieve on-the-ground conservation. This simple observation is actually quite complex given the variety of threatened ecosystems and our enormous and diverse human population, particularly in Latin America. Earlier this year, I found myself racing to keep up with a group […]

We are thrilled to announce our latest podcast interview! Women for Conservation’s executive director, Sara Inés Lara, discussed the organization’s conservation efforts through female empowerment on Brevard Zoo’s podcast, Paws for a Moment. Listen on Spotify >>> Listen on Apple Podcasts >>> After leaving Colombia to pursue a civil engineering career in England, Sara was […]

Celebrating Conservation Project Coordinator Kelly Julio Donado Happy Birthday to Kelly Julio Donado, our Women for Conservation Project Coordinator in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta! Kelly is the force who organizes and facilitates Women for Conservation’s community groups in multiple villages across the municipality of Santa Marta.  We are committed to listening to local […]

Educational Safari Inspires 5th graders in Nepal September 20, 2022 Earlier this week, Birds Nepal, with financial support from Women for Conservation, organized a conservation awareness safari for students from Green Valley School and Sunshine Secondary Boarding School, both in the buffer-zone of the mega-diverse Chitwan National Park. Women for Conservation and Birds Nepal understand […]

The feminist band Pussy Riot’s brave activism and performance art has inspired women all over the world to use their voices to stand up to oppression. Even after a two-year prison sentence, band co-founder Maria Alyokhina continued to speak out against injustice. W4C Director of Conservation, Isabella Cortes Lara, reflects upon meeting the incredible Maria […]

Birds Nepal & Women for Conservation Celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day The first Saturday in September each year is International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD). Of nine species of Vultures found in Nepal, eight of these are globally Threatened and three species are categorized as Critically Endangered in IUCN Red list. IVAD originated from Vulture Awareness […]

Project Overview: While our family planning efforts are usually focused on providing women and girls with access to contraception, we have recently received significant interest from men in Carmen de Atrato who wish to have access to vasectomies. Our first ever vasectomy campaign took place in February 2022, when we provided access to vasectomies to […]

Flash Flood Relief: Help Us Support the People of Puerto Pinzón Boyacá, Colombia June 8th Devastating floods forced the community of Puerto Pinzón to evacuate their homes as the Ermitaño River flooded their town last week. National media reports that 700 families in Puerto Pinzón have been affected, and many inhabitants have lost their homes, livestock, […]

W4C’s Latest Vasectomy Campaign Shatters Stigmas to Set New Records Women for Conservation’s latest vasectomy campaign on September 2nd provided 24 men with reproductive healthcare in the rural community of Carmen de Atrato. Families in this remote town lack access to adequate health clinics, and must travel 4 hours by bus to the city of […]

26 August, 2022 Women from the towns surrounding Minca, including La Tagua, Tigrera, and Vista Nieves, gathered for an educational day to raise awareness about preventing gender violence. The event was organized by multiple government bodies, including the Mayor’s Office of Santa Marta, the Attorney General’s Office, the Metropolitan Police, and the Colombian Institute of […]

El Dorado Successes: Updates from the Field July 2022 The megadiverse ProAves El Dorado Reserve is located in the incredible Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta which is considered “Most Irreplaceable Site on Earth” by the journal Science. Women for Conservation supports the reserve by engaging local communities in workshops and campaigns which mutually benefit biodiversity […]

Project Overview: Women for Conservation is excited to announce our development plans for a biological research and conservation station in the Colombian Amazon! This Amazon Rainforest Research Station will be located in the ProAves El Jaguar Natural Reserve, a site of extraordinary biodiversity in Colombia’s Orinoco River basin. This project will prevent poaching by allowing […]

After two years of running programs in Nepal, the Women for Conservation leadership team was finally able to visit and see our projects in person. This April, WFC Founder & Executive Director, Sara Inés Lara, along with Co-founder & Director of Conservation, Isabella Cortes, spent three weeks visiting Women for Conservation’s Nepal projects with Birds […]

Breaking barriers and stigmas, 26 women join the conservation movement through family planning July 20, 2022 Thanks to your support, 26 more women have been provided with family planning procedures in the mega-diverse Chocó Rainforest region! Women for Conservation organized the logistics for these women to travel 5 hours from rural Carmen De Atrato to […]

Women for Conservation is excited to announce the addition of two new female forest guards in our training program! These women have been involved with Women for Conservation’s community group in the village of Puerto Pinzón, Puerto Boyacá, Boyacá which has been active since 2013. “I believe this is a special opportunity for us, especially […]

Record Breaking Campaign Empowers 93 with Family Planning Procedures in Single Day Women for Conservation is celebrating a new record, with 93 family planning procedures delivered in two Colombian communities within a single day. In the first two months of 2022 we have already delivered more procedures for family planning in Colombia than any year […]

Women for Conservation is celebrating another family planning brigade success! From January 26-28th, 2022, Women for Conservation and Profamilia were able to provide a total of 63 women with family planning medical procedures in the rural municipality of Carmen de Atrato, in the Chocó Rainforest. Women for Conservation is proud to have empowered these 63 […]

Women for Conservation is absolutely honored to have been chosen as an ongoing partner of Melbourne Florida’s Brevard Zoo. April 8, 2022 In only the first quarter of 2022, we have already blown past previous annual impact records, demonstrating the rapid growth of our programs in the field. This incredible 3+ year partnership will provide […]

Conservation through Education and Family Planning: Population Matters’ Guest Report 1 APRIL 2022 Between July 2021 and February 2022, Empower to Plan supported Women for Conservation in the provision of environmental education workshops and family planning clinics in biodiversity hotspots of Colombia. Our Empower to Plan Project Coordinator, Catriona Spaven-Donn, visited Women for Conservation over […]

Sara Inés Lara featured as Female Hero of Bird Conservation January 25, 2022 We are proud to announce that Women for Conservation’s founder and President, Sara Inés Lara, has been honored with a chapter in the new book Female Heroes of Bird Conservation by Rosemary Low. The book shines a spotlight on over 30 female […]

November 21, 2021 Since 2020, Women for Conservation has been partnering with Birds Nepal in a community conservation initiative centered around promoting environmental education, eco-job training, and supporting a sustainable ecotourism economy. This project  provides resources to support wildlife conservation in Nepal, focusing on rural areas suffering from high illiteracy and poverty rates and communities […]

Sara Inés Lara Recognized as One of 100 Great Latin American Women November 2019 Colombian conservationist Sara Inés Lara was recognized by the oldest children’s magazine in Latin America, Billiken, in a special publication that celebrates the magazine’s centennial and honors women of the continent. Presented on November 21, 2019, before the Honorable Chamber of […]

Women for Conservation’s latest sustainable livelihoods success has been empowering women owned microbusinesses in El Dorado. December 29, 2021 Women for Conservation seeks to promote women’s economic empowerment in ways that mutually benefit rural communities and biodiversity conservation. Earlier this month, we celebrated the graduation of 15 women from our new intensive program in culinary […]

We are thrilled to announce that we have raised the funds to protect a unique Magdalena Rainforest habitat from destruction! Along with our partner organization ProAves Colombia, we were able to acquire 183 acres of strategic land, which will block a proposed road from cutting through the heart of our Pauxi Pauxi Reserve. Rainforests are […]

Ninfa Honored with IUCN International Ranger Award June 2021 With great pride we congratulate Ninfa Carianil Damaso, Proaves’ & Women for Conservation’s first female forest ranger, who currently works Fundación ProAves Aguila Arpia Reserve. She is one of the winners of the important International Park Rangers Award of the International Union for Conservation of Nature […]

With the conviction that the world needs science and science needs women, the L’Oréal Foundation and UNESCO held the first edition of the For Women In Science festival, where they invited 40 brilliant female researchers from different parts of the world, including our executive director, Sara Inés Lara. These innovators were part of last Tuesday’s […]

Ninfa Estella Carianil now serves as the first female forest ranger for Fundación ProAves. Women for Conservation supports her in this groundbreaking role. Ninfa’s life changed abruptly with the loss of her son, and then later her husband, José Rufino Mora, in April 2020. Their family lived together in the ProAves Águila Arpía Reserve in […]