Ana Maria Chiriboga

Ecuadorian environmentalist leading global efforts to protect the Galápagos Islands' ecosystems

Ana María Chiriboga is a pioneering Ecuadorian conservationist who transformed environmental protection in the Galápagos Islands. Appointed as the first female director of the Galápagos National Park in 2003, she implemented groundbreaking measures to combat invasive species and regulate tourism. Under her leadership, the islands were removed from UNESCO's "in danger" list in 2010 - a first in the organization's history.

Chiriboga established the Galápagos Conservancy in 2007, raising $50 million for conservation projects. She pioneered the use of drones for ecological monitoring and created a biosecurity system that inspects 100% of incoming cargo. Her work inspired the 2015 documentary "Galápagos: A Journey Through Time". Now director of the Latin American Environmental Network, she continues promoting sustainable practices across the region.