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 in Banggai Regency in the 1990s (then the only woman founder of a nature group) – has over 20 years of conservation experience and runs the day-to-day operations.
Together, they established PROGRES to combine the power of people-oriented and science-based approaches. Underpinned by local values, they pride themselves on a diverse team which includes Sulawesi youth and people without formal training.
Asnim Alyoihana Lanusi (left) and Sheherazade (right). © PROGRES Sulawesi
Marina Kameni
“Every time I see a new frog species, it becomes a new love story in my life, and I would like more people to know about it. That is why I am trying to involve more children and women in my work.”
Marina Kameni established Cameroon’s only organisation dedicated to amphibian conservation, Herp-Cameroon, to protect species on Mount Manengouba – home to more than half of the most threatened frogs and toads in the country, many of which are found nowhere else in the world.
Along with ambitious plans to protect its wildlife, she is preparing to publish ‘Echele, the Frog King of Manengouba’ which will teach local children about what they can do to save frogs.
We are delighted to support Marina as she emerges as a new leader in amphibian conservation – a big win for women in herpetology!
Marina has trained her staff members in monitoring and biology, and led a workshop to introduce government officials to amphibian conservation. The next step is helping the community better protect the vital habitats around them.
Want to learn more about the incredible women we work with? In addition to our partners, our work greatly benefits from our affiliates, whose local knowledge helps to support partners in the field.
Meet our Latin America Affiliate, Grace Iara Souza
Meet our Congo Basin Affiliates, sisters Julie Gagoe Tchoko and Merline Touko Tchoko
For more stories about inspiring conservationists, sign up for our email updates below.
