Patricia Zurita’s journey into environmental science began not in a lab or classroom, but in the cloud forests of Ecuador—face to face with the dazzling Andean cock-of-the-rock. That breathtaking encounter sparked a lifelong commitment to conservation, leading her to become the Chief Strategy Officer at Conservation International and one of the most influential voices connecting nature, economics, and climate action.
In a recent episode of The Scientista Podcast, Zurita joined us to share how her early experiences in Ecuador shaped her belief that conserving nature isn’t just a moral responsibility—it’s an economic necessity.
Nature Is Not a Luxury—It’s the Foundation of Our Economy
Zurita is clear: we’ve put nature and development at odds, and it’s a false choice. “More than 50% of our economy depends directly on nature,” she points out. And the other 50%? Indirectly. From food to clean water to stable weather patterns, everything we value—and everything we need—depends on healthy ecosystems.
But conservation isn’t just about protecting species for their own sake. It’s about resilience, security, and survival. Whether it’s fires in California or floods in South America, the economic costs of environmental destruction are already here—and they’re rising.
Turning Conservation into Incentive
With a background in both environmental science and economics, Zurita is passionate about using market systems to drive change. Rather than treating nature as free and infinite, she argues, we need to integrate it into economic systems—not by putting a price tag on beauty, but by recognizing its value in sustaining life and livelihoods.
That means designing smarter subsidies, supporting regenerative agriculture, and bringing the private sector into the conversation—not as an adversary, but as a partner.
Hope in the Face of Crisis
Despite the scale of the biodiversity crisis, Zurita remains hopeful. Why? Because nature is resilient—when we give it the space to recover, it bounces back. She’s seen it firsthand, from lobster populations in the Galápagos to pollinator habitats restored through smarter farming practices.
And when asked what message she shares with young women interested in science and sustainability, her answer is simple: “Our survival depends on this. So let’s buckle up and make it happen—together.”
Don’t Miss This Episode
To hear Patricia Zurita’s inspiring story and bold vision for the future of conservation, listen to our full conversation on the Scientista Podcast.
