Inspired by her father’s wish for a legacy of environmental activism, Ana Elisa Peréz began her conservation work at an early age. Today she’s a Sierra Club campaign leader in the fight to protect Puerto Rico’s Northeast Ecological Corridor and the 2010 recipient of the Brower Youth Award. The Corridor -- over 3,000 acres of critical habitat for more than 900 species, including the world’s rarest sea turtle -- is highly sought after by the resort industry. In 2005, Ana Elisa’s efforts, supported by the Club, resulted in an executive order from the Governor to protect the Corridor from development. Unfortunately, the new Governor repealed the order and the Corridor is again at risk. But Ana Elisa and the Club aren’t waiting for the government to save this ecosystem. By implementing education programs and supporting research stations as well as local recreation, we are strengthening the connection of the community to the Corridor. As a result, citizens will come to value this area too much to allow it to be lost to development. (Photo: Ana Elisa Peréz, second from right, at the annual turtle festival in Luquillo.)