OpEPA

OpEPA
Organization for Environmental Education and Protection Corp
Organización para la Educación y Protección Ambiental
Formation1998 (1998)

OpEPA, formally the Organización para la Educación y Protección Ambiental in Colombia and the Organization for Environmental Education and Protection Corp in the United States, is a non-governmental environmental education organization with offices in Colombia and US. It is a registered 501c3 in the US.[1] Its cofounders are Camilo Camargo, Nicole Zangen, Catalina Saravia, and Luis Alberto Camargo (Ashoka Fellow 2005,[2] Young Global Leader 2008,[3] Salzburg Fellow).[4]

Organization

OpEPA is a Colombian collaborative social entrepreneurship civil society organization founded in 1998.[5]

It focuses on four main areas, accelerating the transition towards regeneration for individuals, institutions, and public policy.

  • Education with a nature-based relational approach
  • Sustainable and regenerative tourism
  • Transition to regenerative cultures
  • Planetary boundaries (climate change, biodiversity and ecosystems, soils and nutrients, water)

OpEPA has worked with around 100,000 students,[1] strengthened more than 5,000 educators in environmental and nature-based education, and supported environmental leadership and ecotourism processes at different scales throughout the country.

Internationally, OpEPA is a co-leader in the Regenerative Communities Network,[6] The Weaving Lab and represents the PUP Consortium in Colombia. Co-founder Luis Alberto Camargo is also a Governing Council Member and Latin America Co-chair for Catalyst 2030,[7] (later Catalyst Now).[8]

OpEPA has been recognized for its work by Ashoka, HundrED, and the World Economic Forum (WEF).

OpEPA has promoted the Children and Nature Movement focusing on breaking the cycle that produces Nature Deficit Disorder.

Mission

OpEPA's mission is to reconnect people with the Earth to accelerate the transition toward sustainable and regenerative cultures.

Through this reconnection, children, and youth become agents in reducing environmental degradation and promoting a generation of decision makers more oriented towards sustainable regeneration.

References

  1. ^ a b "OpEPA". Global Education Innovation Initiative at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  2. ^ "Luis Alberto Camargo". Ashoka. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  3. ^ Espectador, El (March 17, 2020). "De la cima del Everest al Foro Económico Mundial". EL ESPECTADOR (in Spanish). Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  4. ^ "People- Salzburg Global". Salzburg Global Fellows. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  5. ^ [1], LinkedIn, September 17, 2014
  6. ^ "CEC Regional Vice Chair for South America models conservation actions that build communities - Story | IUCN". iucn.org. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  7. ^ "SIH – Davos 2025 | Social Innovation House" (in Spanish). Retrieved January 27, 2026.
  8. ^ "Catalyst Now MENA". Micromentor. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
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