LUCIA RUIZ

USA Board Member

Lucía Ruiz Bustos is a conservation leader with over 18 years of experience working at the intersection of biodiversity policy, conservation finance, and community-based approaches. She is currently Director of Conservation Areas at WWF-US, where she supports area-based conservation efforts in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, helping shape impact strategies and developing innovative conservation finance approaches. 

Lucía’s career has spanned government, NGOs, and international organisations. At Mexico’s National Commission for Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), she led initiatives to strengthen sustainable tourism, mobilise funding, and engage the private sector in conservation. Later, at WWF Mexico, she coordinated national and global policy efforts, including advocacy for the adoption of the 30×30 target.

Rooted in both field and policy work, her journey began in the Lacandona Rainforest in southeast Mexico, where she implemented Payment for Ecosystem Services programs with local communities. This experience shaped her commitment to conservation models that are inclusive, participatory, and grounded in local realities.

Lucía holds a degree in Biology and a master’s in Environmental Management. She is an active member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas and a mentor to emerging environmental leaders. She brings to the board a passion for collaborative action, a deep understanding of conservation governance and finance, and a lifelong dedication to protecting nature while advancing just and lasting solutions for people and the planet.