Welcome to Episode #7 of Planet People! In this episode, we continue our conversation from Ep. 6 with Amber Becerra, founder of Sol Sanctuary, Wildlife Protection Alliance, and former CEO of Marine Mammal Care Center. In this episode, we learn more about Amber’s eco-lodge and what it means to operate one through a sustainable approach to living among nature.

By defining an eco-lodge and coexisting amongst nature, you will understand how to differentiate between real and fake greenwashing tactics. Through this conversation, you will discover that greenwashing is rooted in colonialist methods that promote unsustainable development, which erases indigenous communities and local wildlife. By incorporating local knowledge in her best practices, Amber is an exemplary model of how one can learn to live the way the locals have for generations.

Beyond sustainable and communal living, Amber embodies the spirit of a planet person as she seeks to protect different Costa Rican wildlife, like Howler Monkeys, as she builds with the trees at Sol Sanctuary rather than clear-cutting them, thereby creating habitat connectivity. We get an inside look at how Amber works with local indigenous groups to protect these animals by building natural bridges for the Howler Monkeys to safely cross their tree canopy without being electrocuted by power lines. With so much clear-cutting happening regionally in Playa Grande, this conversation is more pressing than ever to understand solutions to best practices for protecting nature.

Amber is also the dedicated leader of the Wildlife Protection Alliance, with the slogan #RespectTheWildlife, which is at the heart of what we stand for at Planet People.

From best living practices at Sol Sanctuary to uncovering greenwashing tactics and protecting wildlife through her rehab center, Amber’s story is one you won’t want to miss! Her experience starting an eco-lodge and protecting Costa Rican wildlife is what this planet needs now more than ever.

Featured Guests:

Amber Becerra, founder of Wildlife Protection Alliance and former CEO of Marine Mammal Care Center

Organization Handles and Information:

To learn more about Wildlife Protection Alliance and Amber's retreat center, Sol Sanctuary, you can check out their websites & social media. Wildlife Protection Alliance (@respectthewildlife) at https://www.respectthewildlife.org/ and Sol Sanctuary (@sol_sanctuary) https://www.solsanctuary.org/

Amber’s book, Coastal California: The Wild Life. The organizations highlighted in this book are:

San Diego Humane Society-Project Wildlife @sdhumansociety

Marine Mammal Care Center @marinemammalcarecenter

Cougar Conservancy @couagarconservancy

Santa Monica Mountains Fund (SAMO @samofund)

International Bird Rescue @intbirdrescue

Point Blue @pointblue_conservationscience

Project Blue @go.projectblue

Shark Allies @sharkallies

Sea Otter Savvy @seaottersavvy

Thank you for tuning into Planet People!