About me
I am a Forestry Engineer and Anthropologist with an interdisciplinary Master's in Geospatial Modeling, specializing in GIS and social aspects of nature-based solutions. My expertise includes the identification and assessment of indicators for enviromantal and social safeguard conformance in projects, assestment of benefit-sharing mechanisms, safeguard information systems, and stakeholder engagement strategies, including Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). I have a strong analytical skillset focused on using GIS tools and workflow charts to optimize implementation of social and economical aspects. My understanding covers safeguards for Gold Standard (GS), REDD+ and Jurisdictional safeguards, and community approach for stand-alone projects. All my work is focused on looking horizontal structures and well designed mitigation measures, ensure high-quality consultations, and build capacity-building in field. I speak Spanish, Portuguese and English.I like to apply my skills and knowledge to meet these demands and contribute to the success of projects. I also like to jump into more technical aspects of the carbon methodologies (see: My technical carbon skills).
graph LR B(Qualifications) --> F[Forestry Engineer and Anthropologist] B --> G[Master in Analysis and Modeling of Environmental Systems]
graph LR D(Skills) --> K[Problem-solving pro] D --> L[GIS and technical carbon issues] D --> M[GIS modeling and social and impact assessment] D --> N[Languages: Spanish, English, Portuguese]
graph LR E(Experience) --> O[Six years of experience in the voluntary carbon market] E --> P[Current position: Carbon Compliance Expert at Earthshot Lab] E --> Q[Previous position: Regional Lead for Nature-Based Solutions at South Pole]
Carbon Development & Operations Download CV/resume
Social Safeguards & Community Specialist
2- Qualifications
Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Analysis and Modeling of Environmental Systems
- Federal University of Minas Gerais, Institute of Geosciences (IGC / UFMG)
- Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Mar 2015 - May 2017
Topics: Improved Forest Management Finance Analysis Forest Management Deforestation Degradation
graph LR subgraph Technical A[Analysis & Modeling]:::skillbox B[Statistical Methods]:::skillbox C[Computational Techniques]:::skillbox end subgraph Practical D[Fieldwork Experience]:::practical E[Environmental Data Collection]:::practical F[Data Management]:::practical end subgraph Communication G[Research ]:::communication H[Academic Writing]:::communication I[Audience Engagement]:::communication end A --> B & C D --> E --> F G --> H & I B -.-> E C -.-> F F -.-> G
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Anthropology
- University of Antioquia, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
- MedellÃn, Colombia
- Dec 2005 - Dec 2013
Topics: Human Rights-based Approach FPIC Land Use Tenure Deforestation
graph LR subgraph Research_Methods D[Ethnography]:::methods E[Qualitative Analysis]:::methods F[Participatory Methods]:::methods end subgraph Focus_Areas G[Human Rights]:::focus H[Indigenous Communities]:::focus I[Social Change]:::focus end subgraph Applied_Skills J[Land Use Mapping]:::applied K[FPIC Implementation]:::applied L[Theory of Change]:::applied end %% Main connections D --> J & K E --> J & L F --> K %% Focus area connections G --> K H --> J & K I --> L & F %% Cross-area relationships J -.-> H K -.-> G & H L -.-> I & F
Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) in Forestry
- National University of Colombia, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences
- MedellÃn, Colombia
- Jan 2005 - Jun 2012
Topics: Forest Inventory LiDAR & Remote Sensing Sustainable Forest Management Forest Economics Forest Mapping
graph LR subgraph Core_Knowledge A[Sustainable Forest Management]:::core B[Forest Science]:::core end subgraph Technical_Skills C[Forest Inventory]:::tech D[LiDAR & Remote-Sensing]:::tech E[Economic Outcomes]:::tech end subgraph Practical_Applications F[Forest Mapping]:::practical G[Harvesting Plan]:::practical H[Resource Assessment]:::practical end subgraph Management_Approach J[Sustainability Analysis]:::management K[Environmental Impact Assessment]:::management end %% Main Connections A & B --> C C --> F & H D & E --> F %% Integration Lines F --> G H --> K & J B --> K %% Cross-domain Relationships C -.-> H F -.-> H K -.-> G %% Technology Integration D -.-> H E -.-> F
3- Interests
My work focuses on the intersection of social equity, environmental safeguards, and community empowerment within nature-based solutions and climate projects. I leverage analytical tools, particularly GIS and participatory methods, to ensure projects are designed and implemented effectively and ethically.
Area | Focus |
---|---|
Social & Safeguards: | Designing and implementing safeguard information systems, benefit-sharing mechanisms, stakeholder engagement (including FPIC), and ensuring conformance with GS, REDD+, and jurisdictional safeguard standards in projects. |
Community Projects: | Developing and supporting community-led initiatives within the framework of nature-based solutions, focusing on risk mitigation, high-quality consultations, and capacity building designed through horizontal structures. |
Geospatial & Analytical: | Utilizing GIS tools and workflow charts for the identification and assessment of safeguard indicators, risk analysis, social impact assessment, and supporting stakeholder engagement processes. |
Human Rights Approach: | Integrating human rights principles into all project phases, ensuring equitable benefit sharing, respecting community rights through FPIC, and designing grievance mechanisms. |
Data Analysis & Design: | Applying analytical skills to design horizontal project structures that effectively manage risk, foster collaboration, and support robust monitoring and evaluation systems for social and environmental outcomes. |
4- Short-experience
Position | Company | Period | Time (Years) | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
Carbon Compliance Expert, Carbon Development | Earthshot Lab | Oct 2023 - Sep 2024 | 1 | Private sector |
Regional Lead NBS, Climate Projects | Jan 2023 – Nov 2023 | 0.9 | Private sector | |
South Pole | ||||
Senior Project Coordinator, Forestry & Land Use Projects | Jun 2020 – Dec 2022 | 2.5 | Private sector | |
South Pole | ||||
GIS, Forestry & Land Use Projects | Jun 2017 – Dec 2020 | 3 | Private sector | |
South Pole | ||||
Specialist: Social and Forestry consultancy | May 2016 - Jul 2016 | 0.17 | Public sector | |
Universidad Nacional de Colombia | ||||
Environmental Analyst | May 2016 - Dec 2016 | 0.67 | Non-Profit Organization | |
WWF | ||||
Forestry and Anthropologist (Consultancy) | Sep 2013 - May 2014 | 0.67 | Private sector | |
Renovatio Group Ltda | ||||
Assistant professor | Jul 2015 - Dec 2015 | 0.5 | ||
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais | Public sector | |||
Land Tenure and Land Use Advisor | Jul 2013 - Feb 2015 | 1.67 | Non-Profit Organization | |
Indigenous Organization of Antioquia |
Experience by region
5- References
Academic references
I have had the opportunity to share closely with incredible people in the public, private and academic sectors.
I highlight the role in my bachelor carrer of a Antropologist Rober Dover who pass away. Robert teaches me soft skills to work with traditional communities. Who was he?,
I highlight the fact to had the possibility of having a classroom with ones of those teachers that think outside the black box and always are in the knowledge frontier:
Profesional references:
Throughout my journey, I’ve had the privilege of working with amazing colleagues who have guided me in improving my work skills, time management, communication, and the ability to raise important concerns. Here are a few of the remarkable individuals I’ve had the pleasure of working:
Abel Marcarini: Abel is a carbon project lead for Brazil at Earthshot Labs. He has more than 10 years working on Nature Based Solutions for the voluntary carbon market and academic background in forestry. Before Earthshot Lab, Abel worked for Verra for two years and for South Pole for seven years.
Beatriz Zapata: Beatriz Zapata is a forest engineer with vast experience in carbon forest project initiatives. She has deep technical knowledge of methodologies, tools, and guidelines of the main standards used in the AFOLU sector, such as VCS, CCBS and Gold Standard. Beatriz work for South Pole since seven years ago.
Milena Agudelo: Milena is a manager for Nature Climate Solutions at Verra, responsible for reviewing registration and verification requests ensuring quality and integrity of ALM and WRC projects. She helps develop updates to existing rules and procedures and provides technical input for the development of new methodologies. Milena holds a bachelor’s degree in Forest Engineering and a MSc in Forestry and Environmental Conservation. Previously, she supported Climate Friendly and South Pole for six years.
David Montoya González David hold eight years of extensive experience in Remote Sensing and GIS. He leads the Remote Sensing and GIS team in TerraGlobal, using innovative software and tools that meet carbon market and impact standards and support community-based geospatial community monitoring. David worked for The National Department of Statistics (DANE) and South Pole for two years.
6- Tools