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Christian Díaz Sánchez
Especialista de tecnologías
Christian has a B.Sc. in Marine Biology and more than eleven years of experience working on the enforcement and compliance of natural resource use and conservation policies. With more than twenty publications, his main interests are the ecological transition and the integration of technological tools for communicating about wildlife in the Anthropocene. He joined WCS in 2021 as a marine consultant. From 2024, he is staff member of the Sustainable Landscapes team of WCS Colombia.
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Christian Díaz Sánchez
Especialista de tecnologías
Christian has a B.Sc. in Marine Biology and more than eleven years of experience working on the enforcement and compliance of natural resource use and conservation policies. With more than twenty publications, his main interests are the ecological transition and the integration of technological tools for communicating about wildlife in the Anthropocene. He joined WCS in 2021 as a marine consultant. From 2024, he is staff member of the Sustainable Landscapes team of WCS Colombia.
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Diego Córdoba Rojas
Líder marino
Biologist, Master of Science - Biology and PhD in Marine Sciences from the Universidad del Valle. For more than 10 years he has been conducting research in both marine and inland aquatic ecosystems, specializing in fish and fisheries, he has also developed research with other types of organisms including invertebrates of interest in monitoring water quality or for use as food and commercial resources. In WCS since 2024 he supports projects that are developed in marine and coastal environments that include the protection of species of biological diversity and accompaniment to local communities so that they can make a sustainable use of their resources with proper management and protection of their ecosystems.
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Diego Córdoba Rojas
Líder marino
Biologist, Master of Science - Biology and PhD in Marine Sciences from the Universidad del Valle. For more than 10 years he has been conducting research in both marine and inland aquatic ecosystems, specializing in fish and fisheries, he has also developed research with other types of organisms including invertebrates of interest in monitoring water quality or for use as food and commercial resources. In WCS since 2024 he supports projects that are developed in marine and coastal environments that include the protection of species of biological diversity and accompaniment to local communities so that they can make a sustainable use of their resources with proper management and protection of their ecosystems.
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Fanny Lorena González Zapata
Especialista en áreas de conservación
Biologist from Universidad del Valle and Master in Biological Sciences from Universidad de los Andes. Since 2009, she joined WCS as a consultant as part of the team for the Avian Influenza surveillance of wild birds in Colombia. She also participated in monitoring and biological characterization for different WCS’s projects. She is currently a conservation specialist assisting in the Saldaña River project, a Basin of Life and the implementation of the declaration route for new protected areas and the assessment and updating of management plans.
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Fanny Lorena González Zapata
Especialista en áreas de conservación
Biologist from Universidad del Valle and Master in Biological Sciences from Universidad de los Andes. Since 2009, she joined WCS as a consultant as part of the team for the Avian Influenza surveillance of wild birds in Colombia. She also participated in monitoring and biological characterization for different WCS’s projects. She is currently a conservation specialist assisting in the Saldaña River project, a Basin of Life and the implementation of the declaration route for new protected areas and the assessment and updating of management plans.
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Felber Jair Arroyave
Analista de datos
Felber is a Biologist and Master in Environment and Development for the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Before joining WCS, he got his PhD degree at University of California. Felber has taken a data-driven approach to address ecological and sustainability issues such as the trophic ecology of anurans, the dynamics of illegal reptile trade in Colombia, knowledge building blocks around national parks’ systems, techno-scientific capabilities for addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), among other.
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Felber Jair Arroyave
Analista de datos
Felber is a Biologist and Master in Environment and Development for the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Before joining WCS, he got his PhD degree at University of California. Felber has taken a data-driven approach to address ecological and sustainability issues such as the trophic ecology of anurans, the dynamics of illegal reptile trade in Colombia, knowledge building blocks around national parks’ systems, techno-scientific capabilities for addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), among other.
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Germán Forero-Medina
Science And Conservation Director
Germán graduated in Biology from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, where he studied the population ecology and natural history of the white-throated mud turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides albogulare), reptile living in the island of San Andrés, Colombia. He obtained an MSc in Ecology from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, studying small marsupials from the Atlantic Forest and the functional connectivity in the landscapes where they live. He received his PhD in Ecology and Conservation from Duke University, in North Carolina, United States. His main research interests are tropical ecology, conservation biology, natural history of tropical vertebrates, landscape ecology, climate change effects on tropical ecosystems and environmental education.
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Germán Forero-Medina
Science And Conservation Director
Germán graduated in Biology from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, where he studied the population ecology and natural history of the white-throated mud turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides albogulare), reptile living in the island of San Andrés, Colombia. He obtained an MSc in Ecology from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, studying small marsupials from the Atlantic Forest and the functional connectivity in the landscapes where they live. He received his PhD in Ecology and Conservation from Duke University, in North Carolina, United States. His main research interests are tropical ecology, conservation biology, natural history of tropical vertebrates, landscape ecology, climate change effects on tropical ecosystems and environmental education.
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Germán Sepúlveda Nogales
Especialista Gestión de Proyectos
Business Administrator with a Master's in Project Management and over 10 years of experience in project management and monitoring. Currently working as a Project Manager at WCS Colombia since September 2024. I have experience managing public sector funds, international cooperation resources, and strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors, ensuring efficient management aligned with organizational goals
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Germán Sepúlveda Nogales
Especialista Gestión de Proyectos
Business Administrator with a Master's in Project Management and over 10 years of experience in project management and monitoring. Currently working as a Project Manager at WCS Colombia since September 2024. I have experience managing public sector funds, international cooperation resources, and strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors, ensuring efficient management aligned with organizational goals
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Gustavo A GonzálezDurán
Especialista anfibios
Gustavo graduated in Biology from the Universidad de Caldas, where he studied the diversity of amphibians in an altitudinal gradient. He received an MSc in Biological Sciences from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, where he studied the systematics and evolution of morphology in a group of the genus Pristimantis. His current professional interest is related with the taxonomy, systematics, natural history and conservation of amphibians and reptiles in the Colombian Andes. He presently supports the strategy for amphibian conservation in Colombia’s Natural National Parks.
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Gustavo A GonzálezDurán
Especialista anfibios
Gustavo graduated in Biology from the Universidad de Caldas, where he studied the diversity of amphibians in an altitudinal gradient. He received an MSc in Biological Sciences from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, where he studied the systematics and evolution of morphology in a group of the genus Pristimantis. His current professional interest is related with the taxonomy, systematics, natural history and conservation of amphibians and reptiles in the Colombian Andes. He presently supports the strategy for amphibian conservation in Colombia’s Natural National Parks.
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Héctor Fabio Ortiz Cortázar
Contador
Accountant from the Libre University of Cali, he joined the WCS organization since April 2023. Extensive experience leading accounting, tax and administrative areas, knowledge of the agricultural sector, foundations and the services sector. Always promoting the human and professional development of his work group.
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Héctor Fabio Ortiz Cortázar
Contador
Accountant from the Libre University of Cali, he joined the WCS organization since April 2023. Extensive experience leading accounting, tax and administrative areas, knowledge of the agricultural sector, foundations and the services sector. Always promoting the human and professional development of his work group.
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Isabel Estrada
Project Management Specialist
Isabel is an Environmental Administrator from Universisdad Tecnológica de Pereira. For the past eleven years she has been working to WCS Colombia. Among other positions, he has served as a financial manager (she did so for about six years). At the begining she participated in the GAINS strategy. Also, she was part of the teams to new protected areas, species and strengthening of the WCS program in general. More recently, she manages several projects related to species (mainly amphibians and turtles), biodiversity monitoring and the Proyecto Vida Silvestre –PVS-; with emphasis on technical and financial monitoring of projects with public and private resources. Her academic interests are relate to linking the social context within conservation actions. Also practice diving and hiking.
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Isabel Estrada
Project Management Specialist
Isabel is an Environmental Administrator from Universisdad Tecnológica de Pereira. For the past eleven years she has been working to WCS Colombia. Among other positions, he has served as a financial manager (she did so for about six years). At the begining she participated in the GAINS strategy. Also, she was part of the teams to new protected areas, species and strengthening of the WCS program in general. More recently, she manages several projects related to species (mainly amphibians and turtles), biodiversity monitoring and the Proyecto Vida Silvestre –PVS-; with emphasis on technical and financial monitoring of projects with public and private resources. Her academic interests are relate to linking the social context within conservation actions. Also practice diving and hiking.
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Itma Selene Torres Rodríguez
Líder Restauración
She is a biologist from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, with a master's degree in Environmental Management from the Universidad de los Andes. She works in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of restoration and conservation projects in different ecosystems in Colombia, such as paramos, tropical dry forests, savannas and Andean forests. She has also worked in the evaluation of management plans related to National Protected Forest Reserves and the formulation of their use regime. Currently, he leads the technical and operational aspects of all national projects related to WCS restoration.
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Itma Selene Torres Rodríguez
Líder Restauración
She is a biologist from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, with a master's degree in Environmental Management from the Universidad de los Andes. She works in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of restoration and conservation projects in different ecosystems in Colombia, such as paramos, tropical dry forests, savannas and Andean forests. She has also worked in the evaluation of management plans related to National Protected Forest Reserves and the formulation of their use regime. Currently, he leads the technical and operational aspects of all national projects related to WCS restoration.
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