Carol Burga is a Peruvian geographer with extensive experience in forest governance and climate finance. As Director of IPLC and Stakeholder Engagement at Emergent, she shaped the LEAF Coalition’s global approach to IPLC engagement and led stakeholder processes in countries participating in jurisdictional REDD+ programs. Carol has dedicated her career to supporting partnerships between Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) and governments, advocating for equitable benefit-sharing models, and addressing the complexities of REDD+ implementation at the community level. Her work is grounded in field experience in Indigenous territories and informed by years of collaboration with local leaders, national authorities, and international partners to strengthen IPLC participation in climate and forest governance. Her background reflects a deep commitment to elevating IPLC voices and enhancing their role in climate action. Carol is also a doctoral student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she earned a Master of Arts in Geography and Geographic Information Systems.
