Diana Ochoa

Diana Ochoa is the Program Coordinator for Coastal Solutions at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Diana is an ecologist from Ecuador who has developed professionally in environmental project management and science communication, running successful research projects in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador and large reforestation programs in London, UK, working closely with various stakeholders across sectors to ensure that initiatives can be strengthen through communities and legislation. With help from her research and expertise, the Association of Natural Guides in the Galápagos Islands was able to achieve a permanent ban on pyrotechnics across the archipelago, achievable thanks to the collaborative network of community leaders, legislators, and science professionals. Based in the NGO sector, Diana has worked in environmental protection and project management in inner city London, with projects focused on community participation and increasing the canopy cover, delivering on a higher sense of empowerment of the communities over their green spaces. With inclusive communication strategies, the community was able to participate in every decision made, successfully 4 new woodlands with over 25,000 trees alongside more than 2000 volunteers across London in a single year, while also maintaining some 900+ trees from the previous 3 years to ensure their urban survival. Focused and dedicated to conservation for over 15 years, Diana has also worked in fundraising and grants management for WWF-UK supporting bat and mammal conservation in Belize, Brazil, Uganda and Nepal.