Leader: Victoria Alonso

Contributed by Victoria Alonso

Name: Victoria Alonso

Job: I am a Private Lands Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy, Chile

Where do you work? Santiago, Chile

Describe your work:
I am in charge of looking for mechanisms that can enhance private conservation in our Chilean Mediterranean habitat: where less than 1% is protected and more than 90% is privately owned land.

What inspires you in your work?
I am inspired by all the possibilities to promote conservation in a country where environmental awareness is so recent.

Degree(s)
I am an agricultural engineer with an MSc in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Edinburgh.

What are the highlights of your career accomplishments? 
I worked for 7 years at the Environmental Agency, CONAMA, and I was assigned to produce and get approval of our National Biodiversity Strategy, which was approved in December 2004. And now, at TNC, I have been coordinating a group of very interesting and smart people working pro bono to create legal incentives for private conservation in Chile, Together we have been able to introduce, for the first time in Latin America a proposal to amend our civil code in order to create conservation easements adapted to Chilean legislation.

Why is the Global Mediterranean Action Network exciting to you?
Because there are not that many places with such a beautiful and threatened landscape and the ability to share experiences with other partners is so useful.

How did your early experiences in nature influence you?
I had the chance to live in the countryside where my family had a ranch. I used to horse ride for days taking the cattle out in the Andes. I always felt much attachment to natural experiences and I could not bear the idea that my girls might not have the same opportunities that I had.

What are your favorite species and/or landscapes?
The valleys that go from the Andes to the coast in the northern part of Santiago: there are oasis full of flora and fauna surrounded by deserts.

Why are you passionate about conservation?
I’m not too sure but somehow I feel that growing in natural environments gave me a sense of having a “big mother” taking care of me. As a good daughter I have to take care of her now that she needs it.

What gives you hope?
The new generation, that has an imbedded sense of caring for nature.

What activities do you enjoy in your spare time?
I like yoga, cooking, the beach and taking day trips with my husband and two girls in remote natural places in central Chile.