The Power of Connections Project is led by the Tropical Conservation and Development Program (TCD) within the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Florida (UF). TCD is proud to partner with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, who have funded this project and website.
“Harvesting Lessons and Strengthening Coalitions for Amazonian Conservation” is at the heart of this project, which aims to connect people and collaboratively advance pathways for enduring Pan-Amazonian conservation.
The Project represents a crucial opportunity to bring together diverse voices and fortify strategic networks needed to protect the Amazon.
By blending lessons from the past with innovative, future-facing conservation approaches, this initiative is poised to make a lasting impact on the region’s ecological, economic, and sociocultural sustainability. The main project goals are:
To exchange and disseminate lessons learned in the development and implementation of conservation strategies; and
To invigorate existing networks and catalyze new cross-generational coalitions to advance enduring Amazonian conservation.
Project Activities:
- Organize five thematic workshops in Amazon basin countries;
- Convene those who shape Amazonian realities to connect with each other;
- Exchange knowledge, experiences, and strategies that promote conservation;
- Host an Amazon Summit at the University of Florida.
Project Approaches:
- Uplift current and future conservation leaders ;
- Highlight innovations that change the way we work;
- Center people and communities in conservation ;
- Build strong, cross-generational coalitions.
Expected Results and Impacts:
- Establish a full-circle learning approach through iterative events, preparing current and future conservation practitioners.
- Analyze five key Amazon conservation themes, focusing on challenges, achievements, and opportunities.
- Highlight people-centered conservation mechanisms, often overlooked in leadership development.
- Foster cross-generational learning and coalition-building for stronger conservation efforts.
Organizers and Collaborators
Workshops
The Power of Connections Project brings together diverse Pan Amazonian leaders, knowledge holders, and practitioners to share lessons learned, strengthen and expand networks, and chart new Amazonian conservation pathways.
Sociobioeconomies and conservation finance
Seasoned practitioners, from conservation finance experts to local entrepreneurs, share details of market-based experiences that enhance community well-being while conserving the region’s rich biocultural diversity.
Reshaping institutions for next generation conservation leaders
Intergenerational community leaders and educators from geographically and culturally diverse Amazonian institutions stimulate dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration in support of next generation conservation leaders.
Sociobioeconomy or Market based Conservation
Highlight a specific feature of your product or service.
2026 Conference
74th Annual Conference
UF CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES
FEB 22 – 27, 2026
News and Updates from
The Power of Connections
Final Pan-Amazon workshop meets in Quito before conservation summit at University of Florida
From January 26-29, 2026, participants from across the Amazon region are meeting in Quito, Ecuador to culminate a series of workshops to collaboratively identify and examine significant Amazonian conservation achievements, challenges and future opportunities.
Amazon Conservation Workshop aims to bridge Local Knowledge and Scientific Research Approaches
The regional workshop “Innovations in the Research Process” will spotlight innovative, replicable research tools and methodologies designed to advance equity, capacity building, and effective conservation outcomes across the Amazon Basin.
The Power of Connections: Third Workshop Advances Indigenous and Local Leadership in Collaborative Management Across the Amazon Basin
Diverse voices from across the Amazon Basin convened for the third workshop of the Power of Connections project series, focused on strengthening Indigenous and local leadership in collaborative management of natural resources and territories.
Clipping
Follow our media presence.
RWL Amazonia at the Power of Connections Summit: Lessons Learned and Coalitions Built
In late February, the Rising Wildlife Leaders (RWL) Amazonia Program participated at the landmark ( … )
Sociobieconomia como aliada na conservação da Amazônia, tema foi destaque em evento internacional sediado pela ESCAS
Vencer as barreiras do sistema econômico atual e fomentar um novo modelo sociobioeconômico ( … )
ESCAS IPÊ sedia Workshop Internacional de Lançamento de “O Poder das Conexões” para a Conservação da Amazônia
De 28 a 31 de maio de 2025, a ESCAS – Escola Superior de Conservação Ambiental e Sustentabilidade do IPÊ ( … )
Explore
your resources
Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum – quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velitNeque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.