The mission of the Southern Cone Conservation Leadership Initiative is to train conservation leaders and build capacity of local organizations to conserve biodiversity, manage natural resources sustainably, and maintain ecological services that promote human well-being in southern South America.

To accomplish this mission, the Southern Cone Conservation Leadership Initiative:

• Facilitates graduate and professional training in conservation and natural resource management at the University of Florida for individuals with leadership ability from the Southern Cone.
• Aids Southern Cone universities in developing their own capacity to train conservation leaders.
• Collaborates with universities and other institutions in the Southern Cone to advance problem-focused research and conservation planning in support of policy and management of biodiversity, wildlands, and sustainable resource use.