Meet the Team - Conservation International

The mission of the Center for Applied Biodiversity Science (CABS) is to strengthen the ability of CI and other institutions to identify and respond to elements that threaten the earth’s biological diversity. CABS collaborates with universities, research centers, multilateral government and non-governmental organizations to address the urgent global-scale concerns of conservation science. CABS researchers are using state-of-the-art technology to collect data, consult with other experts around the world, and disseminate results. In this way, CABS research is an early warning system that identifies the most threatened regions before they are destroyed. In addition, CABS provides tools and resources to scientists and decisions-makers that help them make informed choices about how best to protect the hotspots.

Conservation International

Conservation International (CI) is an international, nonprofit organization based in Arlington, Virginia, USA. CI believes that the Earth’s natural heritage must be maintained if future generations are to thrive spiritually, culturally and economically. Our mission is to conserve the Earth’s living heritage, our global biodiversity, and to demonstrate that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature. Learn more about CI’s mission.

Conservation International – Guyana

Conservation International has been active in Guyana since 1990 and operates under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the Government of Guyana. CI–Guyana’s staff is comprised of 100 percent Guyanese, a group committed to assisting with the development of Guyana in an environmentally sustainable, culturally appropriate and economically sensitive manner. The vision of CI–Guyana is to establish Biodiversity Corridors in Guyana, incorporating the anchors of a National Protected Area System, while developing trans-boundary corridors across the Guayana Shield. CI–Guyana has been working with the Government of Guyana and resident indigenous communities to develop long-term and sustainable management for the establishment of protected areas, helping to develop protected area legislation in Guyana and actively working with the Government to endow and establish a protected areas trust fund to finance the management of Guyana’s protected areas in perpetuity. Learn more about CI’s regional offices.

Smithsonian Institute
Council of the Community of Masekenari

Participants and Authors

Eustace Alexander (coordination, editor)
Conservation Science Manager
Conservation International-Guyana
Georgetown, Guyana

Leeanne E. Alonso (reconnaissance, editor)
Rapid Assessment Program
Center for Applied Biodiversity Science
Conservation International
Arlington, VA USA

Vitus Antone (videography, coordination)
Field Program Assistant
Conservation International-Guyana
Lethem, Guyana

Curtis Bernard (coordination)
Biodiversity Analyst
Conservation International-Guyana
Georgetown, Guyana

Andrew DeMetro (indigenous relations, coordination)
Indigenous Relations Advisor
Conservation International-Guyana
Lethem, Guyana

Michelle Kalamandeen (field assistance)
Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity
Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences
University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, ECD
Guyana, South America

Carlos A. Lasso (fishes and crustaceans)
Fundación La Salle de Ciencia Naturales
Caracas, Venezuela

Celio Magalhaes (decapod crustaceans)
Instituto de Pesquisas do Amazonia
Amazonas, Brasil

Christopher Marshall (beetles)
Oregon State University
Department of Zoology, Cordley 4082
Corvallis, Oregon USA

Jennifer McCullough (editor)
Rapid Assessment Program
Center for Applied Biodiversity Science
Conservation International
Arlington, VA USA 22202

Lina Mesa (fishes)
Fundación La Salle de Ciencia Naturales
Museo de Historia Natural La Salle
Caracas, Venezuela

Julián Mora-Day (fishes and aquatic invertebrates)
Fundación La Salle de Ciencia Naturales
Museo de Historia Natural La Salle
Caracas, Venezuela

Piotr Naskrecki (katydids and grasshoppers, editor)
Invertebrate Diversity Initiative
Center for Applied Biodiversity Science
Conservation International
Arlington, VA USA

Brian J. O’Shea (birds)
Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science
Baton Rouge, LA USA

Gilson Rivas (reptiles and amphibians)
Museo de Historia Natural La Salle
Caracas, Venezuela

James G. Sanderson (large mammals)
Center for Applied Biodiversity Science
Conservation International
Arlington, VA USA

Ted R. Schultz (ants)
Department of Entomology
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, DC USA

Josefa Celsa Señaris (reptiles and amphibians)
Fundación La Salle de Ciencia Naturales
Caracas, Venezuela

Hector Samudio (fishes)
Fundación La Salle de Ciencia Naturales
Museo de Historia Natural La Salle
Caracas, Venezuela

Jeffrey Sosa-Calvo (ants)
Department of Entomology
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, DC USA

Maya Trotz (water quality)
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL USA

Heather E. Wright (coordination, editor)
Rapid Assessment Program
Center for Applied Biodiversity Science
Conservation International
Arlington, VA USA

Wai-Wai Parabiologists

Bemner Isaacs
Konashen Indigenous District
Guyana

Elisha Marawanaru
Konashen Indigenous District
Guyana

Anthony Shu-Shu
Konashen Indigenous District
Guyana

Romel Shoni
Konashen Indigenous District
Guyana

Reuben Yaynochi
Konashen Indigenous District
Guyana

Charakura Yukuma
Masakenari Village, Konashen Indigenous District
Guyana