Víctor López

 In a region whose high rates of social inequality, socio-environmental conflict and vulnerability to climate change, the very existence of a number of successful cases of CBF, as well as the evident relationship between biodiversity conservation and territorial rights of indigenous peoples and multi-cultural local communities, is remarkable to say the least. Which are the factors that enable or hinder CBF? What are the future prospects for CBF in the region of Mexico and Central America? What potential does the region have to be a learning source regarding public policy and best practices of CBF? On those ideas and questions, Victor will build the conversation.

Speaker Biography

Víctor hails from Guatemala. He is the Program Officer for Natural Resources and Climate Change at the Ford Foundation regional office for Mexico and Central America. He is an honorary member and former executive director of the Community Forestry Association of Guatemala Utz Che’, a network of indigenous, peasant, fisherfolk, and other rural communities organized for protection and sustainable management of forests and communal lands in their territories. Víctor  has devoted his lifetime to promoting and defending human rights, dignity, self determination, and community organization in Central America. He led the Youth and Leadership Initiative (Escuela Mesoamericana) of the Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMPB). Víctor  is a member of Global Witness' Advisory Council and The Forests Dialogue Steering Committee.