about us

The team and stories behind this great project.

Join Us

F4N&W was established in 2024 as an initiative aimed at creating a new conservation fund for nature and wildlife in Mexico.

In response to the limited availability of resources and the lack of long-term sustainable programs, F4N&W is committed to promoting and financing innovative solutions that support the conservation of natural heritage through strategic investments in local initiatives with global impact.

In addition, F4N&W focuses on enhancing the resilience of human communities to global change through the implementation of nature-based solutions. The conservation of natural landscapes and the preservation of ecosystem functionality are among the most effective strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change.

MISSION

 We promote an inclusive and sustainable conservation model grounded in scientific research, education, and collaboration with local communities and other key stakeholders. Our programs aim not only to protect nature but also to improve the well-being of the populations who depend on ecosystems, recognizing their vital role in preserving biodiversity.

We foster sustainable development through options that align environmental conservation with social and economic progress, ensuring that decisions are inclusive and reflect both community needs and the protection of natural resources. We support and partner with local organizations to strengthen their capacities and create new funding opportunities, driving a more holistic conservation approach.


vision

We envision a future where biodiversity and ecosystems are valued, protected, and managed collaboratively, with the active participation of local actors and recognition of their ancestral knowledge and practices. Our vision is to achieve a balance where the conservation of nature and human well-being reinforce one another, creating a sustainable future for both.

Through research and collaborative work with communities, we strive to understand how the use of natural resources impacts species and their habitats. We believe that conservation solutions must be tailored to each local context, emerging from participatory and respectful collaboration among communities, institutions, and decision-makers.


Our Model

Our organization advances a conservation model grounded in applied scientific research to assess human impacts on biodiversity; participatory governance that integrates local knowledge and traditional management systems; and capacity building for the sustainable stewardship of natural resources.

This systemic approach prioritizes adaptive ecosystem management, linking the protection of species and critical habitats directly to improvements in local livelihoods.

Through strategic partnerships with communities, institutions, and the private sector, we generate evidence to design scalable interventions supported by socioeconomic indicators. The core innovation of our work lies in our comprehensive monitoring framework, which combines citizen science technologies with spatial planning tools, ensuring that conservation decisions are guided by ecological resilience as well as social and environmental equity and justice.


who we are

Meet the Team.

  • Administrative Director, Fund 4 Nature & Wildlife

    Marina Rivero is a biologist with over 12 years of experience in research, monitoring, and conservation of terrestrial vertebrates in Mexico, with a particular focus on mammals and bats. Throughout her career, she has specialized in the use of camera traps and the development of participatory strategies for community-based wildlife monitoring.

    Her work has made significant contributions to the implementation of environmental education and awareness programs across different regions of the country, especially in rural areas and Indigenous communities. Marina has played a key role in training community brigades, promoting conservation through an inclusive approach grounded in local knowledge and the active participation of the people living in areas critical for biodiversity.

    In her role as Administrative Director of Fund 4 Nature & Wildlife, she coordinates operational, logistical, and institutional management processes, strengthening the implementation of conservation projects that integrate science, education, and collaborative work with local communities.

  • Executive Director, Fund 4 Nature & Wildlife / Postdoctoral Researcher, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana – Lerma

    Antonio is a Mexican conservation scientist with 20 years of experience in research and the conservation of mammals, primarily jaguars and other flagship species of southern Mexico. He has led long-term monitoring programs and conservation initiatives both in Mexico and abroad. His work integrates biological research, protected area management, citizen science, and sustainable development.

    He currently directs the Jaguares de la Selva Maya Program, an initiative focused on building local capacities to promote coexistence between communities and wildlife. Internationally, he has contributed to projects such as the Management and Ecology of Malaysian Elephants (MEME), led by the University of Nottingham Malaysia, where he collaborated in developing conservation strategies for Asian elephants. Additionally, he served as a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Integrative Conservation at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden in China.

    Antonio is the author of more than 50 scientific publications and has received several awards, including the Recognition for Nature Conservation granted by Mexico’s National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) in the Research category. In 2018, he was named a National Geographic Explorer.

    His approach combines applied science, community empowerment, and landscape-scale planning. He is committed to training local leaders and generating knowledge that drives effective ecosystem conservation.

    In his role as Executive Director of Fund 4 Nature & Wildlife, Antonio designs and coordinates conservation projects, leads the scientific component, and promotes the integration of science with environmental education and collaborative work with local communities. He also spearheads and strengthens strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to enhance the impact and long-term sustainability of the organization’s initiatives.

“It all began with THE idea. THAT Maybe WE CAN CHANGE the world.

TOGETHER WE can make A difference.”

— Antonio de la Torre, F4W&N