Dr Lilian PAINTER

Bolivia Country Director, Wildlife Conservation Society

Lilian Painter began her conservation career 25 years ago. She co-led the establishment of the Greater Madidi Landscape Conservation Program implementing technical approaches for territorial planning that are strategic with regards to their conservation impact, contribute to institutional initiatives at the global level, and also to national policies and agreements with indigenous organizations, municipalities, and technical institutions. Since 2005 she is the country director for WCS in Bolivia. This program focuses on territorial management through bottom-up land use planning processes that are then implemented through community natural resource management , institutional strengthening of protected areas, grassroots organizations, and local governments. Improved management in the Madidi Landscape conserves 70% of Bolivia’s biodiversity, regional stronghold populations of wildlife and directly benefits the well-being of 300,000 people.