September 12

Moderator:

Diego Fernando Mejía is a Professor at Universidad Nacional de Colombia, as well as Coordinator of the Environmental Management Office at the Palmira campus. He is also President of the National Biotechnology Board, and member of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He holds advanced degrees in biochemistry and biotechnology, as well as a doctorate degree in biomedical sciences, focusing in gene and protein redesign, using bioinformatics and molecular evolution tools.

Panelists:

Jonathan Pelegrin is a Professor and Leader of the Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation Research Group at Universidad Santiago de Cali. He holds a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology and Paleontology, and focuses on evolutionary patterns of biodiversity through the fossil record.

Carolina Ángel Botero is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology and a law degree, focusing on the intersection of nature and legal discourse, particularly in the context of the rights of nature.

Oscar Chacón is an Extensionist and Researcher at the Center for Environmental Education at Universidad Estatal a Distancia. He has over 20 years of experience in evaluating and conserving ecosystems and biodiversity in Costa Rica and Central America, with a focus on the impacts of climate change.

Camilo José Flórez is an ecologist and population geneticist with extensive experience in both Colombia and Canada. Over the past 15 years, he has been a consultant in Canada, directing biodiversity studies and assessments in North America’s Great Plains and Boreal Belt.

September 19

Moderator:

Emilio Latorre Estrada is an engineer with a PhD in Regional and Urban Planning and has been a professor at various universities in Colombia. He contributed to Colombia’s 1993 Environmental Law and helped establish Cali’s environmental authority. Currently, he coordinates ISCN’s Latin American (ISCN-LATAM) Chapter  and has been a member of RUCAS since 2019.

Panelists:

Kristina Lyons is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and Legal Representative of the Ríos y Reconciliación Collective. With 20 years of experience in participatory action research in Putumayo, Colombia, she focuses on socioecological conflicts, nature rights, and environmental justice.

Jesús Orlando Rangel is a Professor at the Institute of Natural Sciences, Biodiversity and Conservation Group, at Universidad Nacional de Colombia. His academic work focuses on biodiversity, palynology, paleoecology, and the natural history of Colombia’s environment and vegetation.

Natalia Torres Condia is a Climate and Forest Advisor at the Norwegian Embassy in Bogotá. She holds a Master’s in Geography and a degree in Environmental Engineering from Universidad de los Andes, with six years of experience researching environmental issues and their social dynamics in Colombia, including land restitution, mining impacts, agriculture, and climate change.

Natalia Aguirre Acosta is a biologist with a PhD and Postdoctorate from the University of Córdoba, Argentina, in partnership with Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She is the director and professor of the Master’s program in Ecological Restoration at the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences at Universidad Javeriana de Cali.

September 26

Moderator:

Melissa Felipe Cadillo is the Coordinator of the Biodiversity and Society Program in the Department of Biology at the University of Oxford. She specializes in nature conservation and social development, focusing on sustainable agriculture, forest conservation, and rural livelihoods in the Amazon. She is interested in the intersection of biodiversity conservation, policy management, and poverty reduction, emphasizing knowledge co-production with indigenous and local communities.

Panelists:

Isabella Tello Gomez is an Environmental Management Professional at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, overseeing the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Sustainable Campus Management. She holds a degree in Engineering and a Master’s in Climate Change, with experience in environmental impact assessment and sustainability projects.

Thalita Dos Santos Dalbelo is the Sustainability Coordinator at Universidade Estadual de Campinas. As an architect with a focus on sustainability, she has conducted research on industrial building sustainability and urban autopoiesis. She currently works with the Fluxus Laboratory and CEUCI and CPTEn, and coordinated the university’s Territorial Master Plan. She also serves as a board member for Instituto 17, advocating for the SDGs and circular economy solutions.

Claudia Álvarez Aquino is an Academic Researcher at the Institute of Forest Research at Universidad Veracruzana. With 20 years of experience, she has worked on various restoration projects in cloud forests and tropical dry forests, currently focusing on studying native species for inclusion in ecological restoration programs.

Citlalli López Binnqüist is the Coordinator at the Tropical Research Center at Universidad Veracruzana. As an anthropologist with a Ph.D. in Rural Development, she has led participatory research projects on agroforestry systems in mountainous areas and is currently involved in the university’s green area management, focusing on biocultural conservation and the Agrobosque Universitario Kana.

Mauricio Vega-Araya is a Researcher and Lecturer at the Institute of Forest Research and Services at Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica. He has worked on the QualEnv-Cambiando el Clima project, focusing on integrating environmental management with sustainability strategies in higher education and aims to enhance and expand academic offerings related to sustainability.

Gustavo Hernández is a Researcher at the Institute of Forest Research and Services at Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica. He specializes in forest ecosystem monitoring, including the establishment and measurement of permanent sampling plots, and his research focuses on molecular ecology, ecosystem fragmentation, and pollen flow in forest species.

October 3

Moderator:

Laura Latorre is a biologist with Master’s degree from Université Libre de Bruxelles, specializing in tropical biodiversity and ecosystems. Her research explores the impact of feeders on hummingbird glucose levels and the effects of oil palm landscape configuration on avian taxonomic and functional diversity.

Panelists:

Serguei Saavedra is an Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT. He is a theoretical ecologist specializing in ecosystem dynamics and interactions.

Sergio Andrés Cardona is a Professor and Head of the Service and Environmental Management Section at Universidad del Valle. He is also a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Sciences with specialization in bioengeneering.

David Montenegro Lapola is a Research Scientist and Associate Coordinator at the Center for Meteorological and Climatic Research Applied to Agriculture (CEPAGRI) at Universidade Estadual de Campinas. With a background in ecology, meteorology, and Earth system modeling, his research focuses on climate change effects on the Amazon forest and its impacts on ecosystem services and human populations.

Fernando Viviescas is a Professor in the Master’s program in Urban Governance at the Instituto de Estudios Urbanos, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. As an urban planner, he has directed key urban projects, including the Campus Regularization Plan for Universidad Nacional, and has coordinated significant urban proposals like the Special Management and Protection Plan for the Campus.

October 10

Moderator:

Jorge Eduardo Solano Sandoval is a Forest Engineer at Universidad del Valle, specializing in Environmental Management. His professional focus is on biodiversity, particularly in silviculture, and the management, protection, and conservation of biotic components.

Panelists:

Daniel Barragán is a researcher and consultant in natural resource management and environmental governance. He served as Director of the International Center for Environmental and Territorial Research (CIIA) at Universidad Hemisferios, where he led research efforts in the university’s biodiversity reserve in the northern Amazon, developing baseline studies to inform conservation and education strategies.

María-Paz Martín Esteban, is the Director of the Real Jardín Botánico at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). With a PhD in Mycology, she has pioneered the integration of molecular techniques in fungal taxonomy in Spain. Her research focuses on fungal biodiversity, genetic variability, and phylogenetics, and has published over 250 scientific works and is involved in promoting STEM vocations among young women.

León Morales Soto is a Professor of Forestry at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and holds a Master’s in Entomology. He is the creator of the Arboretum and Palmetum at the Medellín campus and a consultant in dendrology and urban forestry, authoring several books and articles on these topics.

Sofía Miranda is an Agricultural Engineer and the Management Coordinator at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile’s Sustainability Office. She has experience in agriculture and research on biological control in climate change scenarios, and now leads projects that enhance campus biodiversity through reforestation, environmental enrichment, and urban farming initiatives.

October 17

Moderator:

Leonel Muñoz Azcárate is an independent consultant with a background in environmental and natural resource management, holding a master’s degree in business administration. He has extensive experience as a project director focused on biodiversity conservation, particularly in aquatic ecosystems.

Panelists:

Fernanda Jiménez Ramón is a visiting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Latin American Studies. She holds a law degree from the University of Costa Rica and an LL.M. in Environmental Law and Public Policy from Stanford University. Specializing in environmental and international law, she has worked with organizations like the IUCN and UPEACE on biodiversity and natural resource management projects.

Carlos Jaramillo is the Coordinator of the Yotoco Forest Reserve and an Associate Professor at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Since 1997, he has been part of the Department of Animal Science within the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. He is also the Director of the ICTIAP research group focused on aquaculture and fisheries. His expertise includes public policy development, agricultural research, environmental projects, and biodiversity management.

Valentín Hidalgo Llantén is the Forest Reserve Administrator at the Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. With over 32 years of experience, he has led the conservation and management of the Yotoco Forest Reserve, overseeing environmental education programs and supporting local communities while safeguarding the region’s biodiversity and cultural heritage.

Wendy Johana Vidal Hernández is the Coordinator of the Environmental Management System at the Sección de Servicios Varios y Gestión Ambiental, Universidad del Valle. A biologist with a Master’s in Biological Sciences from UNAM, she has developed the Colibrí Andino-Huerto Jardín initiative, integrating ornithology, agroecology, entomology, and nursery practices to create bird-friendly environments. Currently, she enhances biodiversity efforts at Universidad del Valle, focusing on pollinator conservation, wildlife care, and sustainable campus management.

Nina Lys de Abreu Nunes is a researcher at the Environmental Management Superintendency of the University of São Paulo. She is a biologist with a Master’s in Botany and a PhD in Strategic Public Policy and Development. She is expert in applied botany, political ecology, and ecological economics, and is also part of the Environmental Epistemology Research Group in the Department of Biology at the University of São Paulo.

Introduction to Biodiversity

Moderator:

Diego Fernando Mejía is a Professor and Director of the Environmental Management Office in the Faculty of Engineering and Administration at Universidad Nacional de Colombia. He holds advanced degrees in biochemistry, biotechnology, and biomedical sciences, focusing on bioinformatics and protein redesign.

Panelists:

Jonathan Pelegrin is a Professor and Leader of the Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation Research Group at Universidad Santiago de Cali. He holds a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology and Paleontology, and focuses on evolutionary patterns of biodiversity through the fossil record.

Carolina Ángel Botero is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology and a law degree, focusing on the intersection of nature and legal discourse, particularly in the context of the rights of nature.

Oscar Chacón is an Extensionist and Researcher at the Center for Environmental Education at Universidad Estatal a Distancia. He has over 20 years of experience in evaluating and conserving ecosystems and biodiversity in Costa Rica and Central America, with a focus on the impacts of climate change.

Camilo José Flórez is an ecologist and population geneticist with extensive experience in both Colombia and Canada. Over the past 15 years, he has been a consultant in Canada, directing biodiversity studies and assessments in North America’s Great Plains and Boreal Belt.

Problems and Threats to Biodiversity

Moderator:

Emilio Latorre Estrada is an engineer with a PhD in Regional and Urban Planning and has been a professor at various universities in Colombia. He contributed to Colombia’s 1993 Environmental Law and helped establish Cali’s environmental authority. Currently, he coordinates ISCN’s Latin American (ISCN-LATAM) Chapter  and has been a member of RUCAS since 2019.

Panelists:

Kristina Lyons is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and Legal Representative of the Ríos y Reconciliación Collective. With 20 years of experience in participatory action research in Putumayo, Colombia, she focuses on socioecological conflicts, nature rights, and environmental justice.

Jesús Orlando Rangel is a Professor at the Institute of Natural Sciences, Biodiversity and Conservation Group, at Universidad Nacional de Colombia. His academic work focuses on biodiversity, palynology, paleoecology, and the natural history of Colombia’s environment and vegetation.

Natalia Torres Condia is a Climate and Forest Advisor at the Norwegian Embassy in Bogotá. She holds a Master’s in Geography and a degree in Environmental Engineering from Universidad de los Andes, with six years of experience researching environmental issues and their social dynamics in Colombia, including land restitution, mining impacts, agriculture, and climate change.

Natalia Aguirre Acosta is a biologist with a PhD and Postdoctorate from the University of Córdoba, Argentina, in partnership with Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She is the director and professor of the Master’s program in Ecological Restoration at the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences at Universidad Javeriana de Cali.

How to Develop a Biodiversity Management Plan on a University Campus?

Moderator:

Melissa Felipe Cadillo is the Coordinator of the Biodiversity and Society Program in the Department of Biology at the University of Oxford. She specializes in nature conservation and social development, focusing on sustainable agriculture, forest conservation, and rural livelihoods in the Amazon. She is interested in the intersection of biodiversity conservation, policy management, and poverty reduction, emphasizing knowledge co-production with indigenous and local communities.

Panelists:

Isabella Tello Gomez is an Environmental Management Professional at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, overseeing the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Sustainable Campus Management. She holds a degree in Engineering and a Master’s in Climate Change, with experience in environmental impact assessment and sustainability projects.

Thalita Dos Santos Dalbelo is the Sustainability Coordinator at Universidade Estadual de Campinas. As an architect with a focus on sustainability, she has conducted research on industrial building sustainability and urban autopoiesis. She currently works with the Fluxus Laboratory and CEUCI and CPTEn, and coordinated the university’s Territorial Master Plan. She also serves as a board member for Instituto 17, advocating for the SDGs and circular economy solutions.

Claudia Álvarez Aquino is an Academic Researcher at the Institute of Forest Research at Universidad Veracruzana. With 20 years of experience, she has worked on various restoration projects in cloud forests and tropical dry forests, currently focusing on studying native species for inclusion in ecological restoration programs.

Citlalli López Binnqüist is the Coordinator at the Tropical Research Center at Universidad Veracruzana. As an anthropologist with a Ph.D. in Rural Development, she has led participatory research projects on agroforestry systems in mountainous areas and is currently involved in the university’s green area management, focusing on biocultural conservation and the Agrobosque Universitario Kana.

Mauricio Vega-Araya is a Researcher and Lecturer at the Institute of Forest Research and Services at Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica. He has worked on the QualEnv-Cambiando el Clima project, focusing on integrating environmental management with sustainability strategies in higher education and aims to enhance and expand academic offerings related to sustainability.

Gustavo Hernández is a Researcher at the Institute of Forest Research and Services at Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica. He specializes in forest ecosystem monitoring, including the establishment and measurement of permanent sampling plots, and his research focuses on molecular ecology, ecosystem fragmentation, and pollen flow in forest species.

Research and Innovation for Biodiversity from the University

Moderator:

Laura Latorre is a biologist with Master’s degree from Université Libre de Bruxelles, specializing in tropical biodiversity and ecosystems. Her research explores the impact of feeders on hummingbird glucose levels and the effects of oil palm landscape configuration on avian taxonomic and functional diversity.

Panelists:

Serguei Saavedra is an Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT. He is a theoretical ecologist specializing in ecosystem dynamics and interactions.

Sergio Andrés Cardona is a Professor and Head of the Service and Environmental Management Section at Universidad del Valle. He is also a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Sciences with specialization in bioengeneering.

David Montenegro Lapola is a Research Scientist and Associate Coordinator at the Center for Meteorological and Climatic Research Applied to Agriculture (CEPAGRI) at Universidade Estadual de Campinas. With a background in ecology, meteorology, and Earth system modeling, his research focuses on climate change effects on the Amazon forest and its impacts on ecosystem services and human populations.

Fernando Viviescas is a Professor in the Master’s program in Urban Governance at the Instituto de Estudios Urbanos, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. As an urban planner, he has directed key urban projects, including the Campus Regularization Plan for Universidad Nacional, and has coordinated significant urban proposals like the Special Management and Protection Plan for the Campus.

Support for Biodiversity Management at the University

Moderator:

Jorge Eduardo Solano Sandoval is a Forest Engineer at Universidad del Valle, specializing in Environmental Management. His professional focus is on biodiversity, particularly in silviculture, and the management, protection, and conservation of biotic components.

Panelists:

Daniel Barragán is a researcher and consultant in natural resource management and environmental governance. He served as Director of the International Center for Environmental and Territorial Research (CIIA) at Universidad Hemisferios, where he led research efforts in the university’s biodiversity reserve in the northern Amazon, developing baseline studies to inform conservation and education strategies.

María-Paz Martín Esteban, is the Director of the Real Jardín Botánico at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). With a PhD in Mycology, she has pioneered the integration of molecular techniques in fungal taxonomy in Spain. Her research focuses on fungal biodiversity, genetic variability, and phylogenetics, and has published over 250 scientific works and is involved in promoting STEM vocations among young women.

León Morales Soto is a Professor of Forestry at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and holds a Master’s in Entomology. He is the creator of the Arboretum and Palmetum at the Medellín campus and a consultant in dendrology and urban forestry, authoring several books and articles on these topics.

Sofía Miranda is an Agricultural Engineer and the Management Coordinator at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile’s Sustainability Office. She has experience in agriculture and research on biological control in climate change scenarios, and now leads projects that enhance campus biodiversity through reforestation, environmental enrichment, and urban farming initiatives.

University Action for Biodiversity in its Local and Regional Environments

Moderator:

Leonel Muñoz Azcárate is an independent consultant with a background in environmental and natural resource management, holding a master’s degree in business administration. He has extensive experience as a project director focused on biodiversity conservation, particularly in aquatic ecosystems.

Panelists:

Fernanda Jiménez Ramón is a visiting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Latin American Studies. She holds a law degree from the University of Costa Rica and an LL.M. in Environmental Law and Public Policy from Stanford University. Specializing in environmental and international law, she has worked with organizations like the IUCN and UPEACE on biodiversity and natural resource management projects.

Carlos Jaramillo is the Coordinator of the Yotoco Forest Reserve and an Associate Professor at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Since 1997, he has been part of the Department of Animal Science within the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. He is also the Director of the ICTIAP research group focused on aquaculture and fisheries. His expertise includes public policy development, agricultural research, environmental projects, and biodiversity management.

Valentín Hidalgo Llantén is the Forest Reserve Administrator at the Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. With over 32 years of experience, he has led the conservation and management of the Yotoco Forest Reserve, overseeing environmental education programs and supporting local communities while safeguarding the region’s biodiversity and cultural heritage.

Wendy Johana Vidal Hernández is the Coordinator of the Environmental Management System at the Sección de Servicios Varios y Gestión Ambiental, Universidad del Valle. A biologist with a Master’s in Biological Sciences from UNAM, she has developed the Colibrí Andino-Huerto Jardín initiative, integrating ornithology, agroecology, entomology, and nursery practices to create bird-friendly environments. Currently, she enhances biodiversity efforts at Universidad del Valle, focusing on pollinator conservation, wildlife care, and sustainable campus management.

Nina Lys de Abreu Nunes is a researcher at the Environmental Management Superintendency of the University of São Paulo. She is a biologist with a Master’s in Botany and a PhD in Strategic Public Policy and Development. She is expert in applied botany, political ecology, and ecological economics, and is also part of the Environmental Epistemology Research Group in the Department of Biology at the University of São Paulo.