Photo courtesy of Sara Isabel Zelaya Landa
Sara Isabel Zelaya Landa is a Honduran biologist working to support marine conservation and to implement sustainable ocean policies, including in the maritime sector. In a GEF Voices interview, she shared life lessons from her work, including the importance of versatility and endurance in the long game of building a healthier future.
How did you get into this line of work?
My first job was with an organization dedicated to the conservation of endangered species, combined with a lot of informal environmental education activities focused on children. I then started teaching biology and ecology at a university. I was motivated to get involved with work related to environmental protection. Eventually, I had the opportunity to work with the maritime authority of my home country, Honduras. For nine years, I was in charge of implementing national and international regulations related to the maritime sector. There, I gained training and awareness and developed a deeper understanding of how vast and impactful the ocean is and its relevance to all living beings, particularly humans.
Could you describe a project you are currently working on?
I have been following negotiations on the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) for over five years, first from a national point of view, as part of the Honduras delegation, and now as an observer from a civil society organization: the Interamerican Association of Environmental Defense (AIDA). The process has impacted me in many ways, and it has been inspiring to collaborate with the amazing, passionate and diverse range of people involved in the negotiations – including diplomats, lawyers, environmental defenders, scientists, and academics. As the agreement has not yet entered into force, I am currently working with AIDA on advocacy and capacity building for activities to help advance the agreement’s ratification processes across Latin America.
I also work as a specialist on marine areas beyond national jurisdiction for the GEF-funded Common Oceans cross-sectoral Project, which aims to strengthen knowledge and capacity to take action on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in two regions, the Pacific islands and the southeast Pacific. This work to bring together all stakeholders related to this area, including the public and private sectors at national, regional, and global levels, is important to supporting progress towards the BBNJ Agreement’s goals.
Has anyone you have met through your work made a lasting impact on you?
While most everyone I have met working in ocean conservation and governance has impacted me in some way, two individuals have made a particularly lasting impact. The first, Mirella González, has been my best friend for more than 15 years. I had the opportunity to work with Mirella for seven years, and she is the most ethical and brilliant woman I know. The second, Mariamalia Rodríguez, a colleague from AIDA. She embodies the perfect combination of law, science, and passion for the ocean.
What life lessons have working on environmental issues taught you?
Persistence and adaptability. Advocacy and multi-stakeholder coordination take a long time to develop. Even after extensive engagement efforts, the desired outcomes may not be clearly visible. Despite this, it is incredibly rewarding to know the contribution you have made, directly or through others, to advancing progress on critical environmental issues. Those little steps will eventually build into real change, change that sometimes may look very different than what you initially imagined.
The state of the global environment, and the ocean in particular, is concerning. What gives you hope?
The outstanding people working for ocean conservation, particularly women, give me hope. Women in this sector keep showing us what true resilience, tenacity, and endurance looks like, and I believe this is exactly what our ocean needs.
What message do you have for today’s political leaders, about the ocean?
Be accountable. Take real responsibility for a shared and common good that determines the very survival of your communities. Play your role. Get to know the ocean and understand it. If you do so, there is no doubt that you will be the first in line protecting and defending the ocean.
What advice would you give to a young person today who is interested in a career related to the environment?
Please do it, please get involved. There are still so many ocean-related problems from the past that we have not been able to solve, in addition to emerging issues, so every piece of help is needed. Contribute from your own trench. There are so many ways of doing so, ranging from law to science to advocacy, and every piece of support has an impact.
