What do you explore in your PhD-project? 

I explore the role that Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) plays in the regulation of Wildlife consumption in the Colombian Amazon. This is quite interesting, and a key topic as there are around 65 indigenous ethnic groups living in the Colombian Amazon forest. Working, and learning with them, about sustainable use of this ecosystem, is without a doubt a primary necessity for local and world interest in sustainability.

What excites you most with your research?

What excites me the most is the possibility to interact with indigenous communities that live and maintain an immense, complex and practical knowledge around local ecology. This knowledge has survived until now, and has a lot to teach our current society and sustainability science.

What did you do before doing a PhD at LUCSUS? 

I worked for two years at the Colombian Caribbean Region on participatory restauration of Colombia’s tropical dry forest. Between 2012-2015 I lived for one year in a multi-ethnic indigenous community in the Colombian Amazon region. I have also acted as a scientific field expert in five nature documentaries, from 2014 to 2022.

What do you hope your research can contribute with to society?

I aim to collaborate with local communities in strengthening their livelihoods, and when doing so, expanding the general knowledge of them to Colombian and worldwide society. I also want to highlight how they can help in the protection of tropical rain forest ecosystems.

What is your experience of doing a PhD at LUCSUS (and in Sweden)?

So far, I have met many interesting, vital and critical colleagues in a wonderful working environment. I am having a great time while promoting and advancing my research - uniting diverse communities and challenges in a collective work setting.