Environmental science and conservation have always been a driving force for me throughout my professional and personal life. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), where I first developed an interest in how environmental challenges are deeply connected to social dynamics.

Since graduating, I was fortunate to participate in several projects that brought together environmental science and social science. I contributed to the planning of two workshops addressing Puerto Rico’s vulnerability to a wide array of coastal hazards. The underlying goal of these workshops was to gather cross-sector participants who make decisions during emergencies, identify their workflows, and any gaps in the flow of critical information. In Colombia, I had the opportunity to plan and implement sustainable tourism projects with local indigenous communities (Embera). This project fostered a symbiotic relationship between the tourists and the Embera community via the exchange of language and culture. In the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, I conducted scuba diving transects to collect data on juvenile fish populations, and assess coral reef health. These experiences have taught me the value of cultural understanding and the importance of local context when addressing environmental challenges. I intend to continue to utilize my motivation and passion, aiming to solve challenges at the intersection of social and environmental sciences.

 I am a forestry and wildlife science professional who holds a Bachelor of Science with Honors from the Forest College and Research Institute, Hyderabad. I am with a strong academic background in my course which is forestry and wildlife sciences and committed to advancing research and conservation to effect ecological sustainability and balance between human interests and nature.

My academic and field experiences have helped me to understand the dynamic relationship between wildlife and their ecosystems. In the FOWE, I undertook field studies including pugmark analysis, hoof impression testing, and habitat characterization, aimed at understanding the movement of species and their distribution. One of my most impacting experiences involved participation in the tiger observing initiatives, where I followed and recorded the behavior of a migrant tiger from Tippeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary into the surrounding rural landscapes. This project progressed my learning on species adaptation and landscape ecology but also introduced me to the issue of human-wildlife conflict. I have participated actively along with the forest officers in conducting community awareness programs wherein the local residents were informed and provided awareness about the ecological importance of the tigers and strategies to be implemented for coexistence with less conflicts.

Through these experiences, my passion towards conservation of wildlife has grown stronger, allowed me to pursue advanced studies in wildlife sciences and gain broad knowledge about wildlife sciences. My long-term aim is to contribute to research and policy to support protection of biodiversity, sustainable management of habitat, and the improvement of strategies for conservation and balancing environmental preservation with community well-being.

With over 15 years of experience in forest management, climate change, and sustainable rural development projects at both national and international levels, I am deeply committed to addressing the conservation and sustainability challenges of local communities, primarily in Mexico's forestry sector. During this time, I have led various activities in the government and private sectors, spanning from technical advice to local communities to participation in negotiations for international conventions, as well as expert support on specialized topics and public policy management at the federal level. My entire professional career has been guided by social and climate justice approaches.

I have collaborated with government institutions in the environmental and agricultural sectors, with civil society organizations, with different agencies of the United Nations system (UNFCCC, UNDP, FAO, UNEP), as well as with funding agencies and/or multilateral and bilateral funds (WB, GCF, USAID, IFAD, GEF). I am Mexican and I hold a bachelor’s degree in forest engineering from the Chapingo Autonomous University of Mexico and a specialization in "Forest, Agriculture, and Environment" from the Higher School of Agriculture of Purpan, Toulouse, France.