Conserva Aves participated in the 2025 Central America Donors Forum (CADF) in Guatemala, presenting its vision for a fair and inclusive approach to conservation and emphasizing the importance of cross-sector partnerships and innovative mechanisms such as the Equity Fund to support historically excluded communities in carrying out conservation actions. Its presence helped strengthen regional collaboration and position conservation as a key pillar in addressing Central America’s social and environmental challenges.
Photo: RedLAC
Presentation of Conserva Aves at the Central American Donors Forum 2025
Guatemala – October 6, 2025. The Conserva Aves initiative actively participated in the 2025 Central America Donors Forum (CADF), held in Guatemala City, a high-level gathering that brought together hundreds of leaders from civil society, philanthropy, the private sector, and government. Under the theme “Resist, Unite, and Rebuild in Times of Change,” the forum positioned itself as a platform to promote dialogue and action in response to the structural challenges Central America faces in democracy, justice, equity, and environmental sustainability.
Although the event primarily focused on development and social justice, the environmental dimension had a strategic presence, particularly through sessions aimed at rethinking socio-environmental investments from collaborative and inclusive approaches. Within this framework, Conserva Aves took part in the fishbowl session “Collaborative Philanthropy: A Strategy for Socio-Environmental Impact Investments,” highlighting how cross-sector alliances can strengthen effective and transformative conservation efforts in the region.
During this session, Cecilia Vides, Regional Coordinator of Conserva Aves representing the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Environmental Funds (RedLAC), presented the initiative and shared concrete experiences in regional cooperation to protect ecosystems that are vital for both birds and people. She also introduced the Equity Fund, an innovative financial mechanism that provides direct access to multi-year resources for women, Indigenous communities, Afro-descendant peoples, and other historically excluded groups to implement conservation actions in priority areas.
Beyond this session, Conserva Aves used the forum as an opportunity to explore strategic collaboration in Central America, participating in other key spaces and holding bilateral meetings with allied organizations to strengthen partnerships, exchange lessons learned, and expand its regional network.
Participation in CADF 2025 represented a key opportunity to position Conserva Aves’ vision of a fairer, more inclusive model of conservation grounded in shared power, in dialogue with actors committed to systemic change in the region.
About the Conserva Aves Initiative
Conserva Aves is an alliance formed by American Bird Conservancy (ABC), National Audubon Society, BirdLife International, Birds Canada, and the Latin American and Caribbean Network of Environmental Funds (RedLAC). Its mission is to accelerate the creation and effective management of municipal protected areas by combining science, innovative financing, and community engagement for the benefit of birds, people, and the climate.