Theresa Buppert
Director, Rights, Governance and Social Policy, Center for Environment and Peace
As part of Conservation International’s Social Policy and Practice Program, Theresa Buppert helps to advance the organization’s rights-based approach to conservation. She promotes the integration of human rights in conservation action through the development of institutional social policies to guide our work as well as through engagement in key policy arenas affecting communities, such as Access and Benefit-sharing under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Building on Conservation International’s collaborations over many years, Theresa’s work especially strengthens our partnerships with indigenous peoples and local communities around the world.
Prior to joining Conservation International, Theresa’s interest in communities and conservation took her to both Asia and Latin America where she worked with Catholic Relief Services on grassroots peace-building initiatives in Mindanao, Philippines, and with the Peace Corps as an environmental educator in Bolivia.
Theresa holds a B.A. in Biology and Spanish from Franklin and Marshall College and a M.A. in Latin American Studies with concentrations in political science and geography from George Washington University. Her master’s research examined the relationship between natural resources and conflict within the Zapatista movement of southern Mexico.
In addition to speaking Spanish, Theresa is a student of Portuguese which she began studying as a recipient of the Kathryn Davis Fellowship for Peace at the Middlebury Language School. She hopes to continue improving through practice! Theresa has also enjoyed dabbling in Cebuano, Aymara, Quichua, and French over the years.
As part of Conservation International’s Social Policy and Practice Program, Theresa Buppert helps to advance the organization’s rights-based approach to conservation. She promotes the integration of human rights in conservation action through the development of institutional social policies to guide our work as well as through engagement in key policy arenas affecting communities, such as Access and Benefit-sharing under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Building on Conservation International’s collaborations over many years, Theresa’s work especially strengthens our partnerships with indigenous peoples and local communities around the world.
Prior to joining Conservation International, Theresa’s interest in communities and conservation took her to both Asia and Latin America where she worked with Catholic Relief Services on grassroots peace-building initiatives in Mindanao, Philippines, and with the Peace Corps as an environmental educator in Bolivia.
Theresa holds a B.A. in Biology and Spanish from Franklin and Marshall College and a M.A. in Latin American Studies with concentrations in political science and geography from George Washington University. Her master’s research examined the relationship between natural resources and conflict within the Zapatista movement of southern Mexico.
In addition to speaking Spanish, Theresa is a student of Portuguese which she began studying as a recipient of the Kathryn Davis Fellowship for Peace at the Middlebury Language School. She hopes to continue improving through practice! Theresa has also enjoyed dabbling in Cebuano, Aymara, Quichua, and French over the years.