Legacies of colonialism have left tropical nations with extractive economies, high levels of poverty, and income disparity, all of which complicate conservation efforts. Conservationists must not only acknowledge these realities, but also work with local communities to find and implement economically viable solutions, or risk perpetuating a new age “green colonialism.” In this talk Aaron recounts his experience working with birds, farmers, biologists, and the Sustainable Cattle Ranching Project in Colombia, one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Aaron’s present-day passion for biodiversity, conservation, and sustainable development took root on service-learning trips to Central America as a teen. He found Latin culture fascinating and beautiful but was deeply troubled by the unfair hardships poverty, racism, and politically corrupt systems posed on ordinary people. He also fell in love with the natural world and saw firsthand the imminent threats to biodiversity and the communities this biodiversity supports. Aaron is currently doing a PhD in the zoology department at the University of British Columbia in the WoRCS lab, and ultimately hopes to work at the nexus of science, policy, and community activism. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.