Dr Luis Ureña has travelled the world, but it’s his home in Central America that makes him happiest. “As a Panamanian I love my country, I love what we have to offer to the world,” he says. From lush forests to its population of jaguars, Panama has an extraordinary ecological diversity. But it’s under threat. Ureña is committed to safeguarding the country’s natural life as the director of Panama Wildlife Conservation. The non-profit’s focus is on creating opportunities for local communities and scientists, while also fundraising to drive vital resources into organisations that don’t receive much support otherwise.
Alongside fellow ecologists, Ureña takes guests on rainforest expeditions to expose them to the beauty and devastation of these natural habitats. “Forty percent of the whole territory of the country is still virgin jungles,” Ureña says. “Seeing nature in its raw format feels like, ‘Wow, this is so beautiful, we need to protect this’.”
Up Next in Season 2
-
Durgesh Agrahari
They say money doesn’t grow on trees, yet Durgesh Agrahari quit his job as a banker to pursue a much more rewarding career with SayTrees. The non-profit is at the forefront of tree plantation campaigns and tree preservation in India. What began as a greening mission in Bangalore has now spread to...
-
Rabari People/Leopard by Adrian Steirn
Living among wild leopards is common in India. But these creatures must hunt in order to survive - leaving local communities and their livestock vulnerable. Conflict is inevitable, and it’s the leopards who often suffer at the hands of humans. Yet the Rabari people of Jawai have embraced the pres...
-
Adrian Steirn Reveals a Poacher's Hum...
In a quest to understand the true horror of poaching, wildlife photographer Adrian Steirn has come up close to dehorned rhinos, and even closer to the men carrying out the bloodshed. What he’s uncovered is a reality not many would like to consider. “Nobody grows up wanting to be a poacher,” Steir...
