FSC welcomes Helena Pavese, Regional Director for Latin America

“Latin America has an essential role to play in the future of responsible forestry. My focus will be on strengthening FSC’s presence in the region in a way that supports forests, respects communities and Indigenous Peoples, and helps markets reward responsible management.”

With this purpose guiding her work, Helena Pavese joined FSC on 1 August as the new Regional Director for Latin America.

A Brazilian national with more than 20 years of experience across the region and internationally, Helena brings a long-standing commitment to conservation, biodiversity, and sustainable development. Working across Portuguese, Spanish and English, she is well placed to engage partners throughout Latin America and across FSC’s global Network.

Trained in biological sciences, environment and development, and international environmental diplomacy, Helena has built a career focused on protecting nature while helping institutions, markets and decision-makers understand its value.

Her professional path spans international organizations, the United Nations system and civil society, including work with UNEP-WCMC and Conservation International. She has also brought this conservation perspective into nature finance, responsible land use and the private-sector, including through her role as advisor for Business for Nature, and in a senior sustainability role at Suzano.

This combination gives Helena a strong understanding of the ecological, social and economic realities shaping Latin America’s forests, and of the partnerships needed to protect them.

Helena is also a long-standing FSC stakeholder and a committed advocate for our mission. In this new role, she will focus on strengthening our Network Partners and field teams, while ensuring that Latin America’s realities and opportunities are reflected in FSC’s global decision-making.

As part of FSC International’s Senior Leadership Team, Helena will help connect regional priorities with the support and reach of our global Network, strengthening FSC’s impact for forests, people, and responsible markets across Latin America.