Rare Conservation Fellow Heidy Valle is protecting Andean cloud forest, safeguarding her community’s water supply and saving the endangered yellow-eared parrot. Through a unique two-year social marketing campaign designed to inspire community pride in natural resources Heidy has changed local attitudes and behaviors. She established a municipal water fund whereby downstream consumers provide training and equipment to upstream farmers in exchange for protecting the watershed. Heidy proves that one person can make a difference.
Visit rareconservation.org to learn more about Heidy’s Pride campaign and Rare’s watershed protection program.