Who We Are

María del Carmen Vizcaíno-Barba

Founding Member, President and Executive Director

Biologist with a Master's degree in Socio-environmental Studies and another in Education, specialized in the organization and management of educational projects. Experienced in conservation through environmental education and community work. Leads the working group for in situ regional conservation of Atelopus within the Atelopus Survival Initiative (ASI) and is a member of the Atelopus Working Group of the Amphibian Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission.

mcvizcaino@alianzajambato.org

Mónica Páez-Vacas

Co-founder, Vice President, Member of the Technical Council representing Academia

Biologist. PhD in Ecology. Specialized in Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genetics. Associate researcher at the Jambatu Center for Amphibian Research and Conservation. She has led several research projects focused on uncovering eco-evolutionary processes in the tropical Andean herpetofauna and how this information can be applied to conservation.

mpaez@alianzajambato.org

David Parra-Puente

Co-founder, Secretary

Biologist with a Master's degree in Development Economics and a diploma in Environmental Education for Sustainable Development. He has over ten years of experience in conservation, environmental education, and ecology. Conservation Director at Fundación Jocotoco. He is dedicated to developing tools to reconcile human needs with conservation, as well as studying their effectiveness.

Andrés Mármol-Guijarro

Supporting Member, Research Coordinator

Biologist, biomechanics, physiology, and adaptation in vertebrates. 3D modeler

María Belén Hernández

Environmental Education and Community Engagement Coordinator

Ecotourism specialist in interculturality projects, tourism, conservation, and management models with communities

Daniela Pareja-Mejía

Supporting Member, Communications Coordinator

Biologist. Researcher in the field of behavior and spatial ecology of Neotropical herpetofauna

Nicole Chicaisa

Communication, Environmental Education, and Community Engagement Assistant

Bachelor's degree in Ecotourism. National tourism guide. Has worked in tourism destination management, guiding, and creating new routes. Experienced in social media management and promotion.

William Millingalli

Co-founder
Parabiologist and Local Research Assistant

Local research assistant for jambato monitoring, leader of the Indigenous community of Quilaló in Angamarca, where the Jambato Sanctuary is located.

Camila Micaela Freire Torres

Supporting Member
Collaborator

Biotechnology Engineer. Experience in toxicology research, community work, and environmental education.

Gabriela Doménica Cevallos-Chicaiza

Intern in Research, Conservation, and Fundraising

Environmental Engineer dedicated to the study of ecology and spatial analysis of high Andean ecosystems. Experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), environmental modeling, and database management.

Nayerli Cañizares Barragán

Local Volunteer from Angamarca

Economics student with a strong interest in biodiversity conservation.

Amanda Belén Quezada Riera

Supporting Member

Biologist and nature photographer. Scientific collections and field researcher

María José Navarrete Méndez

Supporting Member

Biologist. PhD candidate in Integrative Biology. Experienced in evolution, ecology, and herpetology. Independent researcher.

Gustavo Pazmiño-Otamendi

Supporting Member

Biologist specialized in ecology and conservation; nature and wildlife photographer and videographer

Micaela Stacey-Solís

Supporting Member

Biologist specialized in ecology and conservation; nature and wildlife photographer and videographer

Andrea Varela-Jaramillo

Supporting Member

PhD candidate in Biology. Herpetology and conservation

Isabel Becdach-Mesia

Supporting Member

Environmental Systems Specialist. Experience in environmental education, sustainability, and inclusive approaches to conservation. University of Bologna, Italy.

Mateo Alejandro Noboa Sánchez

Supporting Member

Volunteer in Environmental Education and Community Engagement. Educator in Experimental Sciences (Chemistry and Biology) specialized in environmental education and community-based conservation projects.

Laura Gómez-Mesa

Supporting Member

Biologist with experience in the study of Neotropical herpetofauna and microbiota.

Sarah W. Fitzpatrick

Supporting Member

Biologist. PhD in Biology. Expert in evolutionary ecology and conservation genetics. Michigan State University, USA.

Rebecca D. Tarvin

Supporting Member

Biologist. PhD in Biological Sciences. Experience in evolution, ecology, molecular biology, toxins, genetics, and genomics. University of California, Berkeley, USA.

Blanca Rios-Touma

Supporting Member

Biologist. PhD in Advanced Studies in Ecology. Experience in aquatic ecology, biodiversity studies, functionality, quality, restoration, and conservation of rivers and their species. Universidad San Francisco de Quito.

Andrea Terán-Valdez

Collaborator
Member of the Technical Council of Alianza Jambato representing national NGOs

Biologist. Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management. Experience in amphibian conservation. Jambatu Center for Amphibian Research and Conservation.

Luis F. Marin Fonte

Collaborator
Member of the Technical Council of the Alianza Jambato representing international NGOs

Amphibian Conservation Biologist. PhD in Biogeography. Coordinator of the Atelopus Survival Initiative (ASI).

Lina M. Valencia

Collaborator

Conservation biologist. PhD in Biological Anthropology. Coordinator for Andean Countries at Re:wild.

David Salazar-Valenzuela

Collaborator

Biologist. PhD in Evolution and Ecology. Experienced in ecology and evolution of herpetofauna. Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE).

Luis A. Coloma

Collaborator

Biologist. PhD in Systematics and Ecology. Experienced in amphibian research and conservation. Jambatu Center for Amphibian Research and Conservation.

Mateo A. Vega-Yánez

Collaborator

Geographic Engineer in Environmental Management. Experienced in biogeography and landscape ecology. San Francisco de Quito University (USFQ).

Stefan Lötters

Collaborator

Biogeographer. Herpetologist. Specialist in studies on the ecology and evolution of Atelopus. University of Trier, Germany.

Amadeus Plewnia

Collaborator

Biologist. Herpetologist. Specialist in studies on the ecology and evolution of Atelopus. University of Trier, Germany.