Conservation Ecology Lab
@ UC Santa Cruz
About CEL
The Conservation Ecology Lab is based at the University of California, Santa Cruz led by Principal Investigator Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela. Our goal is to guide conservation of global biodiversity, with an emphasis on tropical regions and birds, using the best possible science, seeking solutions that also benefit communities, and with a lens on equity and inclusion.
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Our research
The Conservation Ecology Lab’ research uses different types of data to answer questions pertaining to the impact of anthropogenic activities on biodiversity with the goal of guiding conservation and restoration priorities and action. We use data from field and community science observations, geospatial layers, and interactions of people and nature, to build spatial models and tools that support conservation needs.
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The main research themes in our lab are:
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Our values
Our lab is guided by core values that permeate the research we do, the people with whom we work, and the way in which we approach science and conservation itself. Our goal is to develop a supportive and respectful community that fosters curiosity and exploration, produces high-quality original science, and launches productive, passionate, and kind independent scientists.
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As a community, we acknowledge the richness of commonalities and differences we share, the intrinsic worth of all who work and study here, and that science and learning are enhanced by investigation of and reflection upon multiple perspectives. We recognize that our identities shape the way the world perceives us, and that those from unrepresented groups face barriers to success. We are committed to supporting our research group members and mentees considering their diverse backgrounds and identities. We also aspire to create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our academic community and to achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity as well as ensures full opportunities for all who teach, learn, work and do research here!
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Our lab's core values are:​
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Conservation Impact
We are committed to doing conservation research that can be translated into on-the-ground action. Our lab strives to produce data, tools, and recommendations that are useful for conservation decision makers, particularly those in tropical countries who often have limited resources.
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When possible, we partner with conservation organizations from international to local scales to provide scientific advice to their conservation efforts. Examples of these partnerships include: designing tools that allow decision makers to explore the conservation outcomes of different decisions to the connectivity of birds; or contributing to grant writing and fundraising for purchasing land for conservation and restoration.
Spotlight
We are delighted to showcase our collaboration with Fundación Camaná and the Herrera Family on a project to protect and restore the habitat of the endemic and endangered Cundinamarca Antpitta (Grallaria kaestneri). Our lab has worked with Fundación Camaná to raise funds for the purchase of 180ha of forest through funding from American Bird Conservancy, and an additional 20ha of pasture to restore with funding from Saving Nature. Our role is to provide the science needed to inform these land purchases, help with the grant writing and fundraising, and provide guidance for studies on the natural history and population status of the species. This project involves the Herrera Family running a birdwatching tourism business and benefitting from the conservation of the species.
Latest News
Here you can find the latest updates on scientific publications, media appearances, grants, and other exciting developments from the Conservation Ecology Lab!
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Fall 2025 - PhD student Julián Llano was awarded a WWF Fonseca graduate fellowship to support his PhD research documenting the role of Indigenous and Afro-Colombian lands for bird conservation. See the news here!
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Summer 2025 - Postdoc Monte and PI Natalia co-authored a paper titled "Range-restricted species are poor proxies for functional diversity in the world's largest avifauna" published in the journal Conservation Science and Practice. Read it here!
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Summer/Fall 2025 -PI Natalia and postdoc Monte are authors on a new paper on birdwatching tourism titled "Human development, societal stability and bird capital predict global tourist eBirding activity". Out open access in the journal People and Nature, read it here!. Related media: UCSC press release, American Birding Podcast, El Espectador, Audubon Magazine.
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Summer 2025 - PI Natalia gave a plenary at the 2026 American Ornithological Society meeting in St. Louis, MI titled "Advancing Equitable Bird Ecology and Conservation in the Tropics"
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Donate to CEL!
If you feel inspired by our cutting-edge, inclusive, and impactful research and support of conservation actions, we invite you to donate to the Conservation Ecology Lab!
Our lab welcomes donations to help fund our research program, the graduate and undergraduate students that work with us, and the conservation efforts that we support in Colombia and elsewhere. Please get in touch if you would like to arrange a donation to a specific project, student, or initiative (nocampop@ucsc.edu).
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If you want to make an unrestricted donation, the easiest way is through the UCSC Giving Website. Once there, make sure the "Conservation Ecology Lab" is selected under "Area of Support".
We appreciate your support!
