FIRESIDE CHAT: Long term conservation, putting local people at the heart of project

​People at the Centre of Conservation

​At the heart of effective conservation is a simple truth: the future of nature is inseparable from the people who live alongside it. From Argentina to communities across the global south, the most enduring conservation outcomes are those shaped not from the outside, but from within and led by local knowledge, local leadership and local priorities.

​In this conversation, Catherine Barnard, Lula Castro and Marianna Cassini will explore how conservation must reflect the communities it serves. Projects cannot succeed unless they are participatory and inclusive, recognising existing local and Indigenous power structures and elevating the knowledge that has sustained these landscapes for generations. This is not just good practice; it is essential to delivering meaningful progress towards global goals such as 30×30.

​Together, they will share a vision of environmental justice in action: one where conservation is not imposed but co-created; where benefits are shared equitably; and where no decisions about people are made without them. Because when conservation truly represents and reflects local people, it becomes stronger, more resilient, and ultimately, more successful for both nature and communities.

• ​Speakers:

  • ​Dr Catherine Barnard, CEO, World Land Trust

  • ​Lucila Castro, Director, Natura Argentina

  • ​Mariana Cassini – Patagonia Azul Coordinator, Fundación Rewilding Argentina