Maria Teresa Vargas

Maria Teresa Vargas President, Fundación Natura Bolivia (12/99-present)

"Created, organized and directed new environment and development NGO in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Developed organization, defined vision, policies and objectives, organized administrative structure, selected and hired personnel, and wrote proposals and administered $100 000 budget (major funders Conservation International and the US Fish and Wildlife Service). The Foundation is currently developing a system of payments-forenvironmental- services between communities that share a watershed in the buffer zone of Amboró National Park. This pilot experience is based on three pillars: a) strengthening local organizations; b) strengthening the application of existing environmental laws, and; c) the generation of incentives for sustainable management."