WWF in North America: Conservation from Montana to Mexico

World Wildlife Fund is coming to Houston!

When we think of wild animals losing their habitats, we usually think of exotic species in faraway places. But, from bison that roam the expansive grasslands of the Northern Great Plains, to monarch butterflies that migrate from the United States and Canada to the fir-forested mountains in Central Mexico's highlands, there are species losing their homes right here in our own backyard. Hear from Martha Kauffman, Managing Director, Northern Great Plains, WWF-US, and María José Villanueva, Director of Conservation, WWF-Mexico, about how WWF is working to sustain and enhance biodiversity in North America and ensuring a brighter future for monarchs, bison, black-footed ferrets, and the people that live among them.

Martha Kauffman
Managing Director, Northern Great Plains

Martha Kauffman is Managing Director for WWF’s Northern Great Plains Program, one WWF’s 35 global priority places. As leader of this program, Martha engages leaders from across the region including tribal communities, ranchers, public land and wildlife managers and other conservation organizations to conserve these important grasslands and restore abundant wildlife. A hydrologist and earth scientist by training Martha has been focusing on solving complex environmental problems throughout her career. She has worked in the public, private and non-profit sectors, giving her a broad perspective on conservation solutions. In her role as Managing Director for the NGP Program, Martha has built an ecoregional program focused on addressing the greatest threats (plow-up and energy development) and building partnerships with the communities that manage them. She is the current chair of the Northern Plains Conservation Network, and serves on several committees. She earned a B.S.in applied earth sciences from Stanford University and a Master's degree in earth sciences from Montana State University.

Maria Jose Villanueva
WWF Mexico Conservation Director

Maria Jose Villanueva’s areas of expertise are biology, genetics and conservation of marine organisms, natural resources, sustainable development and natural protected areas. She is a biologist form the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), with a PhD in Marine Sciences and Limnology with emphasis on marine mammals from the Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology - UNAM.

Maria Jose has collaborated with several conservation organizations in Mexico and worked closely with the Mexican government as a consultant for the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) during the implementation of a GEF project to strengthen 12 key areas. She has participated on diverse research projects and taught undergraduate and graduate biology and conservation related courses.

Since 2011 she has been working at WWF – Mexico. She coordinated the Alliance between WWF and the Carlos Slim Foundation: a US$ 100 million nation-wide innovative partnership of more than 60 local NGOs and indigenous communities, federal government and private sector partners to conserve Mexico´s remarkable biodiversity. She was the Deputy Director of Science and Strategy in charge of strategic planning and monitoring and evaluation before assuming her role of WWF Mexico Conservation Director in 2017.