LoraKim Joyner
Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner is an avian wildlife veterinarian, conservation leader, Unitarian Universalist minister, Certified Trainer in Nonviolent Communication, and internationally recognized advocate for community-centered conservation. For nearly four decades, she has worked at the intersection of conservation, social justice, and human well-being, helping communities protect both biodiversity and the people who depend on healthy ecosystems.
As co-founder and Executive Director of One Earth Conservation, Dr. Joyner has helped develop innovative conservation programs that empower local people to become leaders in protecting parrots and their habitats. Through initiatives such as the Nurture Nature Program, the Parrot Conservation Corps, and numerous community-based conservation projects, she has worked alongside partners throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, including Brazil, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Suriname.
A pioneer of the concepts of Transformative Conservation and Unconditional Solidarity, Dr. Joyner advocates for approaches that integrate scientific rigor with compassion, relationship-building, and community empowerment. Her work emphasizes that lasting conservation success depends not only on protecting wildlife, but also on supporting the resilience, dignity, and leadership of local communities.
An engaging and sought-after speaker, Dr. Joyner leads workshops, trainings, and webinars worldwide on Compassionate Communication, Transformative Conservation, conflict resolution, and nature connection. She is the author of four books—Prion, Conservation in Time of War, Nurturing Discussions and Practices, and Birding for Life—and continues to inspire conservation practitioners around the world to build stronger connections among people, birds, and the natural world.
Title: Solidarity and Solid Science in Parrot Conservation
There is much we can do in parrot conservation that is based on solid science that informs our methodologies and improves our outcomes. Due to the increasing pressures on our parrot populations and the ongoing parrot crisis, more than science is needed. Come on a tour of Central and South America as Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner gives an overview of parrot conservation methodologies and outcomes, and the application of Transformative Conservation and Unconditional Solidarity concepts and practices that pertain to conservation projects in a variety of contexts.