ACI-LAC highlights the commitment of airports and young professionals to biodiversity and digital security

The Airports Council International for Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC) celebrated this Monday afternoon (6), during the ACI-LAC 2025 Annual Assembly, Conference and Exhibition, in Trinidad and Tobago, the commitment of the region's airports to the development and implementation of innovative projects in two key areas for the airport industry: decarbonization and the use of technology to improve the passenger experience.

Young Professional Award highlights the importance of cybersecurity in the airport environment

In 2025, the Young Professional Award selected Rafael Cotelo, an internal auditor and cybersecurity specialist at Aeropuertos Uruguay, as the best idea for promoting a culture of cybersecurity at airports.

The project analyzes the impact of cyberthreats on the airport ecosystem, both globally and regionally, highlighting the need to strengthen prevention and response capabilities. Through real-life cases that demonstrate various vulnerabilities and risks, along with a description of the measures implemented at the airports in the Aeropuertos Uruguay network, Cotelo addresses the current challenges of the digital environment with responses tailored to the realities of the region and proposes forward-looking collaborative strategies, with the goal of consolidating a culture of cybersecurity throughout the sector.

The Young Professional Award was created to encourage young talents working at ACI-LAC member airports to share projects that drive innovation in the airport industry. In recent months, applicants submitted detailed studies of their ideas, highlighting technological solutions to improve the passenger experience at the airport. The projects were evaluated by a jury composed of senior executives from the aeronautical industry. The award is supported by SITA, a leading provider of technological solutions for the airport market.

The Green Airport Recognition program highlights 15 initiatives focused on biodiversity preservation.

Green Airport Recognition seeks to promote airport initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean in various areas of airport environmental management, such as waste management, energy efficiency, carbon emissions management, climate change adaptation, ecosystem restoration, and carbon capture mechanisms, among others. The initiative is coordinated by the ACI-LAC Environment and Sustainability Committee.

In 2025, 15 projects dedicated to biodiversity preservation and the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) that met the criteria established by ACI-LAC were recognized by the Green Airport Recognition and will be included in a best practices document. One of them received special recognition. Discover all the projects that received the Green Airport Recognition 2025.

Special Recognition:

Motiva Aeroportos: Biodiversify

Biodiversifica is a pioneering initiative that integrates biodiversity into airport sustainability strategies and involves Motiva Airports in wildlife conservation projects, restoration of degraded areas, and mitigation of wildlife risks.

With initiatives such as the Iguazu Jaguar Project (IGU), the restoration of springs in Goiânia (GYN), and the cleanup of beaches and rivers in São Luís (SLZ), Navegantes (NVT), Uruguaiana (URG), Pelotas (PNZ), Palmas (PMW), and Petrolina (PET), Biodiversifica combines science, institutional partnerships, and community participation to reduce environmental impact and promote awareness on a large scale. The program has already identified more than 120 species through genetic monitoring and promotes the protection of endangered species and the valorization of cultural resources.

Additional Projects Recognized for Impact:

AERODOM: Sea Turtle Conservation in the Dominican Republic
ASUR: Biodiversity Conservation Tourism in Indigenous Communities of Yucatán, Mexico
Belo Horizonte Airport: Wildlife Passage at the Airport
OPAIN: Biodiversity Conservation in El Dorado
São Paulo Catarina Airport: Puma Conservation Project
ECOGAL: Baltra Biodiversa
AEROSTAR: SJU Bee Conservation and Management Program
AENA Brasil: Focus on Wildlife – Innovation in Sound Systems for Aviation Safety
Quiport Corporation: UIO Natural Laboratory: Integrating Biodiversity and Natural Solutions into Airport Operations
Querétaro International Airport: Green Air Footprint
Florianopolis International Airport: Sustainable Bee Management
Martinique Airport: EcoBypass: Innovative Stormwater Management and Biodiversity Preservation in Martinique Aimé Césaire
Airport Vitória: Safe Skies – Protection of Quero-Quero Birds
AERIS Costa Rica: Comprehensive Bee Management and Conservation Program at AIJS
Rafael Echevarne, Director General of ACI-LAC, highlighted the importance of initiatives that promote sustainability and a culture of innovation in the airport industry.

"Initiatives such as the Green Airport Recognition and the Young Professional Award reinforce the commitment of the region's airports to reducing their environmental impact, while fostering a culture of creativity and renewal. Decarbonization, biodiversity preservation, and cybersecurity are strategic issues that require collaborative and visionary solutions. Recognizing innovative projects also encourages the flourishing of new ideas, preparing our airports to respond efficiently and responsibly to global challenges. By promoting these initiatives, we consolidate a network of resilient and sustainable airports, increasingly connected to the demands of society and passengers."

Source: ACI-LAC