The Tropical Audubon Society’s Board of Directors has announce the engagement of a new executive director, Paola Ferreira, a former Climate and Conservation Director for World Wildlife Fund.
The passionate bird and wildlife conservation advocate has extensive expertise in environmental non-profit management.
“I am honored to be directing Tropical Audubon Society, a leading regional voice in conservation with a proud heritage of environmental stewardship,” Ferreira said. “I hope to build on this rich heritage with our partners and by reaching beyond the conservation community to help solve the pressing environmental challenges facing South Floridians.”
As a biologist and civil engineer with degrees from Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia, and an MSc from MIT, Ferreira has worked internationally in various roles to implement transformative environmental policy initiatives with positive outcomes.
“Paola will be a tremendous asset to both our organization and our South Florida community,” said Tropical Audubon president José Francisco Barros. “We want to tackle more of the important conservation work that urgently needs doing here. Her impressive credentials, international experience and extensive work on climate change and biodiversity conservation will help us grow our capacity and distinguish our organization.”
Ferreira is eager to undertake this important work.
“Restoring and protecting South Florida ecosystems — chiefly the Everglades, our aquifers, Biscayne Bay and Florida Bay — is vital to securing the well-being of human residents, birds and all wildlife,” Ferreira said. “With Miami as ground zero for sea level rise, it’s crucial that our county and municipalities take a leadership role nationally and globally.
“For Tropical Audubon Society to lead, we will be looking for more support from the private sector, whose economic future is directly tied to healthy South Florida ecosystems. Our longtime grassroots support and our education outreach are pillars of our mission. I intend to strengthen our links with the South Florida community,” she added. “It’s an exciting challenge, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute.”
Tropical Audubon Society works to conserve and restore natural South Florida ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats through advocacy and education for the benefit of biological diversity and humanity itself.
For more information visit www.tropicalaudubon.org.
