Our Team

Director

María del Carmen Vizcaíno Barba

Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO) Ecuador

Biologist. Master of Research in Socio-environmental Studies; and in Education. Experience in environmental education, conservation, ethnobiology, and projects organization and management.

Conservation coordinator

David Santiago Parra Puente

Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco
Biologist. Master in Development Economics. Experience in research and conservation.
Research Coordinator

Sofía Carvajal Endara

Biologist. PhD in Biology. Expertise in Evolution and Ecological interactions.

Community coordinator

Romeo Vichicela

Decentralized Autonomous Parish Government (GAD) of Angamarca
President of the GAD Angamarca. Engineer in Management and Leadership. Experience in
agroecology and food security and sovereignty.
Local Research Assistant

William Millingalli

Local Research Assistant

Orlando Gancino

Local Research Assistant

David Jailaca

Researcher

Juan Manuel Guayasamín

Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)

Biologist. PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Experience in research and amphibian conservation.

Researcher

Amanda Belén Quezada Riera

Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)
Biology with mention in Ecology and Environmental Management and nature photographer. Experience in research of amphibians and reptiles in the field and dissemination of scientific knowledge for their conservation.
Researcher

Mateo A. Vega Yánez

Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)
Geographical Engineer in Environmental Management. Experience in biogeography and landscape ecology.
Researcher

Laura Gómez Mesa

Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)
Biologist. Master in Biosciences. Experience in herpetology, microbiology and the study of amphibians and their microbiota.
Researcher

David Salazar Valenzuela

Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica (UTI)
Biologist. PhD in Evolution and Ecology. Expertise in ecology and evolution of amphibians and reptiles.
Researcher

Blanca Rios Touma

Universidad de las Américas (UDLA):
Biologist. PhD in Advanced Ecology Studies.
Researcher

Justin Yeager

Universidad de las Américas (UDLA)
Evolutionary Biologist. PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology. Active in the fields of research and conservation.
Researcher

Luis A. Coloma

Centro Jambatu de Investigación y Conservación de Anfibios
Biologist. PhD in Systematics and Ecology. Experience in research and amphibian conservation.
Researcher

Andrea Terán Valdez

Centro Jambatu de Investigación y Conservación de Anfibios
Biologist. Master in Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Management.
Experience in amphibian conservation.
Researcher

Mónica Páez Vacas

Centro Jambatu de Investigación y Conservación de Anfibios

Biologist. PhD in Ecology. Expertise in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation of amphibians.

Researcher

María José Navarrete Méndez

Independent
Biologist. Ph.D candidate in the Integrative Biology department at UC Berkeley. Area of research: Evolution, Ecology, and Herpetology
Researcher

Johana Peña

Independent
Environmental Administrator. Master of Research in Socio-environmental Studies.
Experience in investigation of socio-environmental conflicts.
Researcher

Gabriela Maldonado Castro

Independent

Biologist. Master in Biodiversity and Climate Change. Expertise in Evolution, Conservation of amphibians, and scientific collections.

Researcher

Isabel Becdach

Independent

Environmental systems specialist.

Environmental Educator

Lisseth Carlosama

Local community outreach assistant

Environmental Engineer. Experience in paleoclimatic research and sustainable tourism consultancies.

Environmental Educator

Jimmy Velasteguí

Volunteer

Graduated from Ecosystems Engineering career. Experience in environmental education and species monitoring.

Environmental Educator

Mónica Gavilanes

Local Volunteer

Bachelor

Audiovisual Producer

Andrés Mármol Guijarro

3Diversity
Biologist. PhD in Biomechanics, Physiology and Adaptation in Vertebrates. 3D modeler.
Communicator & Broadcaster

Sofía López

Experience in storytelling, audiovisual production and network management focused on ecological and social issues.

Audiovisual Producer

Gustavo Pazmiño Otamendi

3Diversity
Biologist. Nature and wildlife photographer and videographer. Experience in ecology and
conservation.
Audiovisual Producer

Micaela Stacey Solís

3Diversity
Biologist. Master in Biodiversity and Climate Change. Photographer and videographer
nature and wildlife. Experience in ecology and conservation.
Audiovisual Producer

Andrea Varela Jaramillo

3Diversity
Biologist. PhD candidate in Biology. Experience in herpetology and conservation.
Collaborator

Amadeus Plewnia

University of Trier, Germany

Biologist, herpetologist, Atelopus specialist.

Collaborator

Stefan Lötters

University of Trier, Germany

Biogeographer, herpetologist, Atelopus expert.

Collaborator

Luis F. Marin Fonte

Amphibian Survival Alliance

Amphibian conservation biologist.

Collaborator

Sarah W. Fitzpatrick

Michigan University State, United States

Assistant Professor Michigan State University, Biologist, PhD in Biology, Expertise in evolutionary ecology and conservation genetics.

Collaborating institutions

Gobierno Autónomo Descentralizado Parroquial de Angamarca
Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco
Escuela Politécnica Nacional
Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
Sociedad Ecuatoriana de Etnobiología
Revista Ecuador Terra Incognita
Savia Fund
Zoológico de Quito
University of Trier
Michigan State University

Communication and fundraising partners

Atelopus Survival Initiative
Re:wild
UICN

Donors

Amphibian Survival Alliance
Stiftung Artenschutz
Auckland Zoo
Milkywire
Indianapolis Zoo
German Society for Herpetology