I focus my work on creating frameworks for change in the social and environmental sectors. A common thread in my work is engaging people to take action, from designing e-volunteering schemes for corporate employees to empowering landowners to restore nature in Scotland. I have placed thousands of volunteers, guided strategic interventions the world’s leading charities, and helped create world firsts for conservation, including the world’s first rainforest agency and Nature Impact Token.  

A performance driven and dynamic professional with a total of five years’ experience in conservation of forest and marine ecosystems, project management, livelihoods, biodiversity data publishing and sustainable community development projects. A proven leader with well-honed competencies in delivering the required tasks and forging productive synergies with colleagues from cross-cultural backgrounds. When I am not working, I like to be in touch with nature either by the beach or in the forest. I also enjoy cooking.

I am excited to have joined the Wild Hub platform as it provides a platform for me to engage with like-minded individuals who are passionate about environmental conservation. As a final year student at African Leadership University, majoring in Global Challenges with a focus on environmental conservation, I am committed to ensuring the protection of endangered plant species and the promotion of sustainable conservation practices. My interest in environmental conservation has led me to work on various research projects, including assessing the impacts of exotic plant species on the ecology of one of the National Parks in Rwanda. Through this project, I was able to gain insights into the complexities involved in managing invasive species and the need for a sustainable approach to conservation. I also had the privilege of working on pre-impact assessments for the expansion of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. This experience allowed me to understand the importance of incorporating the perspectives of local communities in conservation initiatives. Recently, I worked on a project with the Capitals Coalition on sustainable and impact analysis, where I was involved in a case study. This experience enabled me to develop a deeper understanding of the need to integrate economic, social, and environmental considerations in conservation efforts. Additionally, I had the opportunity to work with the National Geographic Society and he Nature Conservancy on a freshwater and community conservation externship. This experience allowed me to gain valuable insights into the complexities of freshwater management and the importance of engaging with local communities in conservation efforts.

I'm an interdisciplinary environmental natural and social scientist and ecosystems and biodiversity conservation and restoration specialist with more than 20 years practical experience in Africa,  Europe, South America and Oceania. My academic background is BSc Hons Aquatic Sciences (Marine & Freshwater Fisheries Conservation and Management); MSc Agroforestry, Silviculture and Forest Management) and PhD in Environmental Sustainability (Wetlands Ecosystems Conservation and Restoration Policies and Sustainable Management). I've working knowledge in academia,  non governmental organisations and government departments in the UK and Africa. I've skills in partnership development,  funding management and stakeholders engagement. 

My name is João Luis Bittencourt Guimarães, I am a forest engineer with a master’s degree in nature conservation. I live in the south of Brazil, in Curitiba, with my wife and two children. I was born in France, where I lived until I was two years old, when my parents decided to return to their homeland, Brazil.   I have been working for over 20 years on the themes of biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and water resources. I have accumulated experience both in the private sector (in companies and as a consultant) and in the non-profit sector(environmental organizations). In recent years, I have worked extensively on the themes of Ecosystem Services (benefits of natural processes for society) and Nature-Based Solutions(NbS). Since 2016, I work as a senior consultant on the development of strategic studies on NbS, Payment for Ecosystem Services, Ecosystem Services assessment and modellingand providing training related to these themes.  I have worked in different work sectors, such as a consulting firm (Montgomey Watson, 2000-2001), within the environmental departament of a large mining company (Vale SA, 2001-2003), and three non-profit nature conservation organizations (Boticário Group Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and Fauna & Flora International, 2003-2016).  I really enjoy developing team solutions, I have a collaborative and adaptive spirit, I am open to the fruitful differences of  opinion, I seek to establish approaches that embrace different points of view. I am used to responding to multiple requests and managing correctly their turnaround time.  I am used to writing proposals and reports on the analyses I carry out, in technical and clear language. I have accumulated extensive professional experience in the modelling of ecosystem services (related to water, soil, carbon, agricultural production, etc.) via the InVEST tool (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (https ://naturalcapitalproject.stanford.edu/software/invest ). I have used the InVEST tool extensively in several strategic analyses, mainly aimed at quantifying and mapping the impact of hypothetical development or conservation scenarios on the supply of ecosystem services.

I work chiefly in the Caribbean, and chiefly on Hispaniola, on conservation planning and direct action to conserve forests and birds. In Haiti, I direct a forest conservation program that is protecting and restoring some of the last broadleaf forest in SE Department. I am especially interested in adaptive management, results-based conservation planning (e.g. Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation) and conservation leadership, to continually improve our conservation practice, participation, and impact.