Announcing the 10 winning proposals for our reporting fellowships on biodiversity

September 12, 2025

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Our team at El Colectivo 506 is pleased to announce the results of the fourth call for proposals for our Latin American Solutions Journalism Fund. From Aug. 1-18, we accepted proposals for stories about responses to the biodiversity loss crisis in Latin America. All those registered for our Fund, which requires prior training in solutions journalism, were invited to apply.

This cohort of reporting fellows, made possible by the support of the Earth Journalism Network and its Biodiversity Media Initiative program, will investigate nature-based responses to this crisis.

We would like to thank the 57 people who submitted proposals. The quality of the applications we reviewed is remarkable. The selection process was very difficult; we prioritized those who presented their proposals in a manner that was both convincing and concise, demonstrating the journalists’ knowledge of the topic. Tina Rosenberg, the Solutions Journalism Network co-founder who again joined us as a guest juror for the final round of evaluation, highlighted the quality of information in the proposals regarding lessons learned. She noted that the proposals showcased how much journalism can contribute to Latin America by shedding light on ways to emerge from problems we are experiencing.

As with our previous calls for proposals, reporting ideas came from all over our region. The highest numbers of proposals came from Peru, Mexico, and Bolivia.

Chart showing the distribution by country of the proposals received.

Meet the journalists who will now receive reporting grants and mentorships. The 10 selected projects will be developed by 11 journalists (one project has a two-person team).

Meet the journalists behind the 10 selected projects:

	Andrés Gómez Colombia Philologist with master’s degrees in genocide and anthropology. A photojournalist and director of the alternative media outlet El Turbión, he investigates socio-environmental crimes against peoples and communities, and highlights the resistance that defends life in the face of extractivism and armed conflict.
	Cecilia Fernández Castañon Argentina Journalist specializing in science and environmental issues. Founder and director of ambientenea, a digital native environmental journalism outlet covering the northeastern provinces of Argentina. She is a professor at the National University of the Northeast and is a member of the board of directors of the Argentine Network of Scientific Journalism. Cecilia was a part of our gender equity cohort in May 2025.
	Cinthia Cherres Huamán Perú Journalist and co-founder of Norte Sostenible, a digital media outlet specializing in the environment. With more than ten years of experience, she promotes digital journalism and new audiovisual narratives that highlight the climate crisis, conservation, and community resilience in northern Peru.
	Fabián Uribe Betancur and Valentina Pineda Lamus Colombia Fabián is a journalist with experience in investigations and digital media. He focuses on social processes, the environment, memory, peace, and armed conflict, and develops multimedia content with a creative approach. He works at Hacemos Memoria and Breve Medio. Valentina is a journalist focused on culture, the environment, and human rights. She works as a copywriter and SEO specialist; creates digital content and websites, podcasts and videos; and develops scripts and campaigns with a social and cultural purpose. Creative at Breve Medio.
	Fabricio Lobatón Bolivia Bolivian communicator and frustrated filmmaker turned cultural and environmental journalist. Editor at “Opinión,” co-founder of “Casa de Nadie,” and audiovisual producer. Between unfilmed scripts and published articles, he tries to tell stories worth telling.
	Gabriela Castillo Albuja Ecuador Ecuadorian journalist specializing in investigations, the environment, and migration. She has worked in national and international media, was a finalist for the Jorge Mantilla Ortega Award, and received a special mention in the 2023 Mercosur Scientific Dissemination Award. Gabriela was a part of our gender equity cohort in May 2025.
	Jose Ignacio Estupiñán Martínez Colombia Social communicator and technologist in natural resource management; master’s student in social Innovation. Co-founder of Cuatro Palabras. He works in solutions journalism and community narratives, with an emphasis on memory and coastal biodiversity in the Colombian Caribbean.
	Lisa Mirella Corti Bolivia Bolivian environmental journalist and researcher, recognized in her country and internationally. Specializing in gender, the environment, and biodiversity, she is a member of the Oxford Climate Journalism Network. Her work merges journalism, poetry, and audiovisual work into innovative non-fiction narratives with social and cultural impact.
	Nicole Andrea Vargas Bolivia Journalist specializing in the environment, Indigenous peoples, and gender. Her writing has been published in EFE, Mongabay Latam, Connectas, Dialogue Earth, and Opinión Bolivia. She is a member of the 6th Generation of Young Journalists from Different Latitudes and the PUMA (Journalist) network United for the Environment.
	Scarlet Timaná Zapata Perú Peruvian journalist focused on sustainability, gender, and citizen participation. She creates narrative content that highlights stories of resistance in forgotten communities. Scarlet was a part of our gender equity cohort in May 2025.