Isabella Cortes is CEO of Women for Conservation, a valued partner of Population Matters. Here she shares her transformative experience at COP16 in Cali, Colombia. From empowering rural women leaders to spotlighting the critical link between family planning and conservation, her reflections highlight the power of grassroots action.

COP16 in Cali was one of the most significant events of my life. The months leading up to it were filled with intense preparation, especially as we transformed the Reinita Chiva – our mobile education bus – to showcase it at the conference. This bus, which symbolizes a commitment to environmental education, was a perfect tool for us to highlight our mission. 

Bringing women leaders together

A key focus was on bringing women leaders from La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Chocó, and other regions across Colombia, including indigenous, Afro-Colombian, and sustainability champions, to the forefront. This was made possible with the invaluable support of Women for Conservation and our collaboration with Fundación ProAves.  

Sara Inés Lara, the director of Fundación ProAves, played a crucial role as one of the key speakers, emphasizing their impactful outreach work in reaching remote and inaccessible communities. Notably, we were able to support women like Chadiz Valentina Domenico, the first trans indigenous forest guard, who shared her inspiring story on the main stage. For many of these women, including Chadiz, it was their first time traveling by plane. Witnessing their excitement as they participated in such a globally significant event was deeply moving and underscored the importance of providing access and opportunities to those from marginalized communities. 

As we represented organizations like Population Matters and Women for Conservation, it was surprising to see how little attention was given to family planning in the larger conversations on conservation. This gap highlighted a crucial intersection: that empowering women to access family planning not only benefits their personal development but also contributes to conservation efforts by reducing human impact on nature. 

COP16: A transformative experience

For many of the rural women we brought, it was their first time on a plane. Witnessing their excitement and seeing them confidently advocate for their communities was truly fulfilling. It reminded me that in Colombia, opportunities for rural women are scarce, and events like these can open doors to new possibilities. 

While Colombia has legalized abortion and family planning services, there remains a cultural taboo, especially in rural regions. The lack of awareness about Population, Health, and Environment (PHE) programs was evident in our interviews, revealing an urgent need to expand these conversations. COP16, with its rich representation of indigenous and grassroots voices, was a powerful platform, but it became clear that more emphasis on integrating sexual and reproductive health into conservation strategies is essential. 

Leaving COP16, I felt both proud and motivated. We have a long way to go, but the energy and enthusiasm from the event offer hope. It’s up to us to ride this wave and ensure that family planning and holistic approaches to conservation become more widespread across Colombia and beyond. 

— Yours in Conservation,  

Isabella

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Isabella Cortes is the CEO of Women for Conservation, a Colombian organisation that empowers women through education, sustainable livelihoods and advocacy for conservation and reproductive health. She is a Population Matters’ Choice Ambassador and spoke about her work during our webinar on World population Day 2024.

The views expressed in guest blog posts do not necessarily reflect the opinions and position of Population Matters.