The Green Hour Podcast and TNC Collaborate on a Biodiversity Series

In this episode, Ian Thompson, Director to Accelerate Impact at TNC América Latina, shares his extensive experience in conservation and innovative strategies to protect the Amazon rainforest, promoting biodiversity and sustainable practices in the region. The conversation highlights the critical importance of Amazon biodiversity, discussing conservation efforts, the ecological roles of various species, and the threats facing this vital ecosystem.

In this episode, Thomas Walschburger, Senior Scientist at TNC Colombia, shares his expertise in studying and safeguarding Colombia’s rich birdlife. Together, Preston and Thomas delve into the global importance of the birds that inhabit or migrate to Colombia’s ecosystems, discussing the strategies implemented to conserve these species and providing a comprehensive view of the challenges and progress in bird conservation.

In this episode, Isai Victorino, Community Conservation Leader at TNC Colombia, and Gabriela Celi, Amazon Conservation Strategy Coordinator at TNC Ecuador, highlight the crucial role of Amazonian Indigenous communities in protecting ecosystems and their capacity to adapt to climate change. For instance, preserving the ancestral knowledge of these communities is essential for developing effective climate change adaptation strategies. However, these communities face numerous threats today, including deforestation, climate change, and pressure on their territories, all of which impact their way of life and relationship with the environment.

In this episode, Silvia Benítez, Director of Freshwater at TNC América Latina, shares her extensive experience in environmental conservation, focusing on the protection of freshwater ecosystems. Silvia highlights the importance of these ecosystems and their interconnection with economic, social, and environmental factors that are fundamental to biodiversity and human well-being. During the conversation, Silvia emphasizes the need for innovative and collaborative approaches to balance economic development with conservation efforts, stressing the importance of understanding local contexts and working with communities to ensure effective strategies.

In this episode, Daniel Ballesta, Director of Sustainable Debt for the Americas at TNC, and Julie Robinson, Program Director at TNC Belize, share their expertise at the intersection of biodiversity conservation and finance. They discuss various financial mechanisms that drive conservation, ranging from traditional methods to innovative approaches such as Nature Bonds. They also explore the need to scale these financing methods to have a greater impact in larger regions and countries, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between organizations to maximize the effectiveness of funding.

Mauricio Núñez, Leader of the Gran Chaco Program for TNC Argentina, shares his experience in sustainable agricultural practices that promote biodiversity and help combat climate change, highlighting Latin America’s critical role in the global food supply chain and the importance of scaling these regenerative practices worldwide. Mauricio dives into specific examples of successful regenerative agriculture initiatives in Latin America, emphasizing their long-term viability and benefits.

Catalina Góngora, Public Policy Leader at TNC Colombia, and Karen Oliveira, Director of Public Policy and Government Relations at TNC Brasil, explore the crucial role public policies play in biodiversity conservation efforts, focusing on the challenges and opportunities faced in the region. Góngora and Oliveira emphasize the importance of effective policy frameworks for promoting biodiversity conservation and share insights on the bioeconomy and its impact on sustainable development, particularly in the Brazilian State of Pará. They also discuss the significance of COP30 on Climate for Brazil and its potential to influence global biodiversity efforts.