Conservación ConCiencia
Conservación ConCiencia is a Puerto Rican non-profit organization committed to the environment and conservation. The organization strives towards sustainable development goals through various research projects, as well as collaborating with other organizations, academia, or the private sector. Their ultimate vision is a world where nature can thrive, economies prosper, and people flourish. In hopes of reducing the damage caused by unsustainable ocean-based practices, Conservación ConCiencia is working to address these issues through a multidimensional approach in science, social welfare, and economic development. They primarily focus their efforts on Puerto Rican ocean conservation, but they also have current projects in Cuba.
***Environment, Community, Conservation
Plenitud PR
Plenitud PR’s mission statement is to “demonstrate love through service”. As an educational farm and community, they aim to fulfill their mission statement by engaging people in service that highlights the importance of sustainability. Some major pillars of their outreach include facilitating the construction of various bioconstructions to help sustainably alleviate the housing crisis, providing access to holistic education programs for children, harvesting rainwater, as well as teaching others methods of utilization. On their ‘demonstration’ farm, they work to display the effectiveness of permaculture methodology as a way to establish sustainable and productive spaces. Service learning is another essential component of Plenitud PR—offering field trips and visits such as alternative breaks, agrotourism, and academic trips.
***Community, Education, Agriculture
Programa del Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan
The Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan Program operates specifically within the Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan, a tropical estuary of vast ecological and economic importance to the eight municipalities it reaches. The program’s primary purpose is to maintain the ecosystem found within the estuary through studies, increase public awareness, and implement the Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan. This plan is a comprehensive document that records past and future scientific research and goals the program works to achieve. The Estuario also sponsors various programs such as the Resident Artists Program, Certification for Citizen Scientists, Guardians of the Estuary, a water quality task force, and much more.
***Research, Education, Conservation
Emerge Puerto Rico
Emerge Puerto Rico works to address the climate crisis through community-based work and leadership. Founded on the information and resources given by the Proyecto Apoyo Mutuo Mariana, the non-profit seeks to achieve a systemic change that allows for the replication of climate leadership initiatives throughout Puerto Rico and, in turn, create an educational curriculum that teaches essential lessons in sustainability and environmental issues. Through gathering the knowledge and wisdom of grassroots and community organizations, Emerge Puerto Rico is helping Puerto Rico become a more resilient and sustainable place.
***Individual
Organización Pro Ambiente Sustentable (OPAS)
Organización Pro Ambiente Sustentable (OPAS) works to promote environmental awareness and reform by administering international certifications and programs geared towards turning Puerto Rico into a more sustainable island. They also develop their own initiatives to educate Puerto Ricans on environmental issues in hopes of promoting behavioral and consumer choices that benefit the natural world. Through facilitating programs like Green Key certifications and Young Reporters for the Environment, OPAS is making leaps and bounds towards making Puerto Rico a more sustainable place.
***Individual
Para La Naturaleza
Para La Naturaleza is a non-profit organization whose goal is to ensure that 33% of Puerto Rico’s natural ecosystems are protected by 2033. They also have land management and reforestation projects which help with the sequestration of carbon. Volunteers can easily sign up to assist these projects through their website and make an impact right away!
***Individuals
Fundación Borincana
The Fundación Borincana (or Borincana Foundation) was formed in July of 2018 as a not-for-profit with a focus on enabling and accelerating the energy transformation of Puerto Rico for the benefit of its people and the people of the world. The Borincana Foundation aims to build critical capacities in Puerto Rico that proactively develop a modern, resilient, distributed grid and energy infrastructure. Moreover, a prosperous Puerto Rico transformed to lead the world in resilient, inclusive energy infrastructure and sustainable energy business innovation. While engaging in economic and community development, the non-profit works to promote and refine clean and sustainable energy technologies, business practices, financial innovation, and dynamic regulatory structures.
***Individuals
The Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust
The goal of The Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust is to foster, protect and conserve environmental, archaeological and cultural resources of Vieques. One of the primary organizational objectives is to preserve and study the bioluminescent bays found on the island. The Trust supports a broad array of educational programs for the community, with a special focus on youth through lectures, experiential learning, educational exhibits, seminars, and a unique scholarship program for Viequense students. The non-profit assists the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, as co-managers of the reserve, in erosion and sedimentation control, water quality monitoring and dinoflagellate counts.
***Individuals
Institute For Socio-Ecological Research
Established in 2012, the Institute for Socio-Ecological Research (ISER) develops innovative research on ecological restoration of coral reefs, potable water research, and climate change science. ISER Caribe promotes healthy and sustainable livelihoods by endorsing a model that is economically viable and oriented towards the preservation of the environment and the empowerment of the local people. Through their collaborative projects, ISER builds consensus that allows them to develop participatory actions, capacity and transfer knowledge through local outreach activities and education. ISER aims for their work to aid in the transition from centralized governmental management into community-lead stewardship of natural resources within social ecological systems.
***Individuals
National Organizations
