Event Description
This talk explores the intersections of biodiversity and cultural diversity in Colombia, highlighting how spatial relationships shape conservation efforts and sustainable development. Drawing from studies on biocultural diversity patterns, the untapped potential of biocultural ecotourism, and the cultural importance of plant species used in artisan crafts, Alejandra Echeverri Ochoa shows how integrating cultural and biological indicators can transform conservation priorities. Together, these projects reveal both the synergies and tensions between safeguarding nature and culture, while pointing to new pathways for biocultural conservation.
This event is part of the CLACS series Novedades/Lançamentos: New Scholarship @ Berkeley. This series highlights new work from Berkeley scholars about Latin America and the Caribbean by inviting a faculty member to discuss their recent work with colleagues. Ochoa will speak in conversation with Sheherazade and Isabela Tapia Jaramillo.
Speakers
Alejandra Echeverri Ochoa is an Assistant Professor of Conservation Science at the University of California, Berkeley in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM). Her research bridges ecology, social science, and psychology to understand how people connect with biodiversity and how these connections shape conservation outcomes. She works across Latin America and beyond on themes of biocultural diversity, biodiversity governance, and conservation psychology.
Sheherazade is a conservation scientist and Ph.D. student at ESPM whose work focuses on the relationships between biodiversity, culture, and local communities, particularly in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Her research explores how cultural practices and ecological systems intertwine, with an emphasis on tropical regions and Indigenous knowledge. She is particularly interested in integrating social and ecological dimensions into conservation planning and policy.
Isabela Tapia Jaramillo is a conservation biologist and Ph.D. student in ESPM at UC Berkeley. She specializes in GIS, data analysis, and participatory approaches to conservation in her native Galapagos Islands, with experience in human–wildlife conflict, endangered species monitoring, and biocultural conservation. Her work bridges data science and local knowledge to inform sustainable environmental decision-making.