Women play an immensely important role in the conservation world. From contributing ground-breaking research, to upholding traditional local knowledge, women are often the frontline of preserving nature and nurturing the communities around them.
Still, for many women in conservation, these roles often come with extra hurdles and challenges. That’s why it is essential we elevate women’s voices, stories, and impact – so they can be supported to continue this vital work.
In 2023, 64% of our partners had women in leadership roles, and we are striving to increase this. By 2027, we plan to ensure 80% of the organisations we support have women in leadership positions.
Here are just some of the women we collaborate with, who are making incredible progress as changemakers – empowering communities, protecting wildlife and people, and leading the way for women in conservation.
Helena Gualinga
Helena Gualinga is a young Ecuadorian environmental and human rights activist from the Kichwa Sarayaku community.
Helena grew up in a family of women fighting for nature. Her mother was the former Kichwa Women’s Association President, and her aunt and grandmother are advocates of Indigenous women’s rights and land defenders in the Amazon. After an upbringing of protests and strikes, Helena and her sister Nina continued the legacy of the women activists who raised them.
Today, our Freshwater Programme covers Helena’s fellowship with New York University’s Climate Litigation Accelerator Programme, supporting Helena with training to set up a programme that will protect large swathes of rivers, wetlands, and forests across the Ecuadorian Amazon from mineral exploitation.
Through this, Helena hopes to support Indigenous land rights in Ecuador and safeguard the many free-flowing rivers that intersect with these territories.
“There is a vision of my community called Kawsak Sacha, which means ‘The Living Forest.’ We see us and what surrounds us as equals, or rather, that we are a part of nature.”
Helena in 2020 in Sarayacu. © Helena Gualinga
Sheherazade and Asnim Alyoihana Lanusi
PROGRES Sulawesi is a female-led organisation in Indonesia, dedicated to building a network of empowered communities to protect Sulawesi’s rare and overlooked wildlife, so that nature and the island’s youth can thrive.
Sheherazade, previously part of the Women Earth Alliance Grassroot Program, leads the programs and strategies and is currently pursuing an Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management PHD.
Meanwhile, Asnim Alyoihana Lanusi – who founded of the first Nature Lovers Group i