We’re excited to share that three of this year’s Whitley Award winners have been featured in a recent BBC News Mundo article, published in Portuguese, spotlighting their vital work to protect endangered species and restore biodiversity across Latin America.
The article profiles:
Yara Barros (Brazil) – Conserving Jaguars in Iguaçu National Park
With jaguar numbers in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest now under 300, Yara and her team at Institute Pró Carnívoros are working to reduce human-wildlife conflict, fostering coexistence and protecting this apex predator in one of the country’s last remaining strongholds for the species.
Federico Kacoliris (Argentina) – The Guardians of Somuncura Plateau’s Biodiversity
On Patagonia’s remote Somuncura Plateau, Federico and Fundación Somuncura are safeguarding two freshwater species found nowhere else on Earth—the El Rincon stream frog and naked characin fish—through habitat protection and community engagement.
Andrés Link (Colombia) – Canopy Corridors: Reconnecting Brown Spider Monkeys in Colombia
In Colombia’s Magdalena River Valley, Andrés and his NGO Fundación Proyecto Primates are reconnecting fragmented forests to save the Critically Endangered brown spider monkey, using sustainable development strategies that benefit both people and wildlife.
Together, these conservation leaders are tackling some of Latin America’s most urgent environmental challenges with innovative, locally-driven approaches. We are proud to see their work recognised, bringing attention to their teams and the importance of supporting grassroots conservation.
🔗 Read the full article (in Portuguese): HERE
