Ana María Cano

Colombian environmentalist who pioneered Colombia's national park system and biodiversity conservation

Conservation Legacy

Ana María Cano (1936-2015) was a Colombian botanist and environmental activist instrumental in establishing Colombia's national parks system. Her 1960s research on Andean cloud forests led to the creation of the first Colombian national park, Los Nevados.

Policy Impact

Cano's work with the Colombian Academy of Sciences in the 1970s influenced passage of the 1985 National Natural Parks Law, creating 58 protected areas. She co-founded Colombia's first environmental NGO, ProAves, now managing 20 bird reserves.

Biodiversity Contributions

Her discovery of the yellow-eared parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis) in 1972 led to successful conservation programs. Cano's advocacy for sustainable agriculture practices prevented deforestation in the Cauca Valley. She developed Colombia's first environmental education curriculum adopted nationwide in 1990.

Global Recognition

Recipient of the 1995 Goldman Environmental Prize, Cano's efforts conserved 15% of Colombia's territory as protected areas. Her memoir Memorias de un Parque details her conservation journey. Explore her legacy at Colombia Biodiversity Institute.