Presiding board
The board is composed of two coordinators, two secretaries and members representing different Latin American countries, ensuring a diverse and balanced regional perspective.
Country representatives:
Argentina: Francisco Carabelli y María Isabel Delgado.
Brazil: Magali Ribeiro da Silva.
Colombia: Sandra Milena Díaz López, Andrés Avella Muñoz y Ricardo Andrés Oviedo Celis.
Mexico: Concepción Luján Álvarez y Sandra Rodríguez Piñeros.
Panama: Sandra Sharry.
Paraguay: Enrique Asterio Benítez León.
Peru: Berenice del Milagro Fernández Heaton y Ethel Rubin de Celis Llanos.
World Resources Institute (WRI) representative: René Zamora-Cristales.
The Network is organised into five working areas, each coordinated by designated representatives from different countries, who are responsible for promoting concrete actions and strengthening collaboration within each area:
Communication Area: María Isabel Delgado and Francisco Carabelli.
Institutional Relations Area: Concepción Luján Alvarez, René Zamora.
Technical Area: Ricardo Oviedo, Enrique Benítez León.
Events Management Area: Berenice Fernández Heaton, René Zamora, Sandra Díaz López.
Financing Management Area: Sandra Sharry.
Colombia
Ricardo Andrés Oviedo Celís
Forestry Engineer graduated from the Universidad Industrial de Santander Colombia, Specialist in Preservation and Conservation of Natural Resources, Master in Sustainable Development and Environment, and currently PhD student in Biodiversity and Environmental Management.
Active member of the Colombian Society of Soil Science (SCCS) and the Latin American Network of Forestry Education (RELAFOR). University professor at the Institute of Regional Projection and Distance Education IPRED - UIS based in Malaga. His areas of academic and research experience are soil quality, silviculture of commercial plantations and productive rural systems, which he carried out in the province of García Rovira in the north-east of the Department of Santander, Colombia.
He participated in the formulation, direction and development of research work articulated with teaching activities, oriented to the generation of new knowledge on soil quality indicators in high Andean and dry tropical areas, in the different productive uses that are implemented to the soil, processes carried out from the recognition and social integration of rural communities and under a participatory pedagogical approach.
E-mail:
raovicel@correo.uis.edu.co y ricardoandres.oviedoc@um.es
Sandra Milena Díaz López
Master's Degree in Forest Management, use and conservation and Forest Engineer graduated from the Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas and Specialist in Geographic Information Systems from the Universidad Antonio Nariño.
Currently, professor and researcher at the Industrial University of Santander - UIS in the Institute of Projection and Distance Education -IPRED, in the Regional headquarters of Malaga (Santander, Colombia) in the academic program of Forestry Engineering in the areas of geomatics, geographic information systems, forestry and restoration of natural forests.
Professional, academic and research experience including urban forestry, forest soils, geographic information systems and ecophysiological evaluation of native and exotic species.
Research focused on the spectral response of vegetation, through the analysis of multispectral satellite and UAV-acquired images for land cover studies that are incorporated into ecosystem services mapping, phenology studies, disease detection, land cover change analysis and landscape ecology.
Direction of graduate work focused on the analysis of spatio-temporal changes in Andean vegetation cover, analysis of fragmentation and connectivity of forests in the region of García Rovira and Cundinamarca in Colombia, work that has been integrated into research projects and scientific publications.
Active member of the Latin American Network of Forestry Education (RELAFOR) and the Research Group in Agricultural Sciences and Ecology (GICAE).
E-mail: smdiazl@correo.uis.edu.co y smdiazl09@gmail.com
Brazil
Magali Ribeiro da Silva
She has a degree in Forestry Engineering from the State University Júlio de Mesquita Filho Paulista (1993), a Master in Forestry Engineering from the Federal University of Paraná (1998) and a PhD in Agronomy (Irrigation and Drainage) from the State University Júlio de Mesquita Filho Paulista (2003).
She is an assistant professor at the Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, working in the area of Silviculture and Forest Nurseries since July 2003. She was tutor of the Tutorial Education Programme - PET/Forestry Engineering from February 2004 to September 2010. She completed a post-doctorate at the University of the Republic, Uruguay (Udelar) in 2012.
She worked as coordinator of the Postgraduate Programme in Forestry Sciences at Unesp from June 2017 to May 2021 and as head of the Department of Forestry, Soil and Environmental Sciences from January 2022 to January 2025. She is currently working as Technical Advisor to the Vice-Rector's Office for Undergraduate Studies at Unesp.
E-mail: magali.ribeiro@unesp.br
Paraguay
Enrique Asterio Benítez León
Degree in Forestry Engineering from the National University of Asunción (2004). Master (2010) and PhD (2014) in Forestry Engineering from the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil. He is a specialist in University Didactics by the FCA-UNA, has a degree in Professional and Technological Education with emphasis in the area of Natural Resources, by the Federal University of Santa Maria (2012).
Researcher Level I of the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), he participates in national and international research groups (Brazil and Argentina), developing work on micropropagation and study of genetic variability of forest species. He has presented several scientific papers in international events, publications in international journals in the area of Agricultural Sciences.
He is one of the main promoters of the BAAPA Forest Seed Conservation Centre, which has been operating at the FCA-UNA since 2017. Coordinator of research projects funded by CONACYT-Paraguay (2016 - 2018 and 2019 - 2021), developing different works dealing with the management and conservation of forest genetic resources that are in different threat categories (MADES, IUCN).
Advisor of graduation and master thesis on issues related to management and conservation of forest genetic resources, executing works related to seed characterization of forest species, selection of seed trees based on juvenile characteristics of plants, study of the phenology of forest species from different ecosystems, among others.
From 2015 to June 2022 he was a Full Time Research Professor at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences - National University of Asuncion (FCA-UNA). Reviewer of scientific articles in national and international journals. Since 2015, until the present, he is Editor-in-Chief of the Revista Investigación Agraria, published by the FCA-UNA.
He currently serves as Director of the Forestry Engineering Degree at FCA-UNA.
E-mail: ebenitezleon@agr.una.py
World Resources Institute
René Zamora
René is a Forest Economist and Senior Restoration Policy Manager for the Global Restoration Initiative of WRI's Food, Forests, Water and Oceans Programme. He works directly with the 20x20 Initiative and AFR100 under the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration to advance restoration policies and public incentives for their implementation. He is the lead author of the World Resources Reports, Healing the Wounded Earth: The Role of Public Economic Incentives in Scaling Up Restoration Efforts in Six Latin American Countries, and the Sustainability Index for Landscape Restoration. He is also co-author of The Road to Restoration Guide, the AURORA web application and the report Roots to Prosperity: The Economics and Finance of Land Restoration.
René's previous work included the development of economic optimisation models and investment analysis for private companies in strategic, tactical and operational forest planning. This included the design and implementation of several landscape management plans with multiple ecological and economic objectives in Guatemala, Mozambique, Chile and the United States. He also worked as a principal investigator for the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance to assess the economics and sustainability of aviation biofuel production from forest crop residues in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. He has worked as a researcher and professor at the Rafael Landívar University of Guatemala (Department of Forest Management) and at the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (Department of Forest Engineering). He is currently an assistant professor at Oregon State University (Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management).
René is a Forest Engineer from Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Master of Science in Forest Resources with emphasis in Forest Economics and Wood Products from Universidad Austral de Chile and PhD in Forest Engineering from Oregon State University (USA), with emphasis in Operations Research and Economics. In 2019, the Board of Directors of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) awarded him the World Outstanding Doctoral Research Award in recognition of his outstanding individual scientific achievements and to encourage his work in the field of forestry research. He is a member of the IUFRO Forestry Education Working Group and coordinator of the Sustainable Forest Operations Unit for Landscape Restoration.
E-mail: rene.zamora@wri.org
Mexico
Concepción Luján Álvarez
PhD in Sustainable Development and Participatory Strategic Planning from New Mexico State University, USA, with a Master's degree in Sustainable Forestry Development from the Autonomous University of Chihuahua, a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Forestry Engineering from the Michoacán University of San Nicolás de Hidalgo and a Forestry Technician from the National Forestry School of Mexico. He is currently a Full-Time Professor-Researcher at the Autonomous University of Chihuahua, specialising in forestry and sustainable development at the undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels. He speaks Spanish and English.
He has received distinctions such as Doctor Honoris Causa in Peru, the National Forestry Merit Award, and the State Award for Science, Technology and Innovation in Chihuahua, among others. He has almost four decades of experience in research, teaching and innovation in social sciences and forestry, having authored and co-authored scientific articles, books and chapters. He also participates in national and international forestry research networks and is an evaluator of accreditation and certification processes, as well as scientific publications.
He is a member of several organisations such as the International Organisation for Inclusive and Quality Education (OIICE), the International Forestry Research Network (IUFRO), the National Academy of Forestry Sciences Mexico, and other associations related to forestry.
E-mail: clujan12@hotmail.com
Panama
Sandra Sharry
She is a leading Argentinean professional in biology, biotechnology and university teaching, with more than three decades of experience in research, teaching and academic management. She holds a degree in Biology with a specialisation in Botany and a PhD in Natural Sciences from the National University of La Plata (UNLP), where she has also been Dean and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences. Her career includes the direction of doctoral and master's theses, as well as the training of human resources in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in biotechnology, bioethics and environmental sciences.
She has led innovative projects in applied biotechnology, conservation of genetic resources and regional bioeconomy, most notably the development of the first genetically modified tree in Argentina. Her experience includes the propagation, conservation and improvement of native, ornamental, medicinal and food species through advanced biotechnologies. She has worked as a consultant for international companies and organisations, contributing to the development of phytopharmaceutical products and biotechnology projects in MERCOSUR.
Recognised for her career, she has received awards from the REDBIO International Foundation and ASDIN, and has participated in scientific networks such as REDBIO and REDFOR.ar, as well as in global initiatives such as the International Bioeconomy Forum. Her scientific production includes books, chapters and articles in indexed journals, as well as papers at international conferences. With a solid academic background and international training, she is a reference in sustainable development and scientific innovation in Latin America.
Senior consultant and project evaluator, she is currently director of the AIP National Research System of Panama and professor-director of the PhD in Exact and Natural Sciences at the National University of Río Negro-Argentina.
E-mail: ssharry@gmail.com
Peru
Berenice del Milagro Fernández Heaton
She has a background in Forestry Engineering and more than three years of work experience as an environmental specialist.
She has coordinated and participated in the preparation of environmental management documents, sectoral authorisations and field trips for the preparation of environmental baselines. She also has experience in the elaboration of files for forest clearance authorisations. The projects in which she has participated are mainly in the agricultural, energy and mining sectors.
E-mail: berenicefernandezheaton@gmail.com
Ethel Rubin de Celis Llanos
She is a Forestry Engineer and holds a degree in Education. She also holds a Master of Science in Higher Education and a PhD in Forestry Engineering from the Federal University of Paraná - Brazil.
She has more than 20 years of experience in the interpretation of satellite images with emphasis on deforestation, land use and land use change, as well as in the analysis of threats and modelling of future scenarios.
She has experience in university teaching, quality and accreditation in higher education. She is a senior lecturer in the Department of Forest Management at the Faculty of Forestry Sciences of the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (FCF-UNALM). She serves as Director of the Professional School of the Forestry Engineering Programme and member of the Quality and Accreditation Committee of the Forestry Engineering Programme at UNALM.
From 2017 to 2018 she was the National Technical Coordinator of the Peru Observation Room for the Monitoring of Deforestation, Forest Harvesting and Land Use Change in the Pan-Amazonian Forests Project of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO). She is currently Coordinator of the Peru Observation Room of the FCF-UNALM.
E-mail: erubin@lamolina.edu.pe
Vocals
RELAFOR
Latin American Forestry Education Network
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