My name is Lesego Thekiso, a Conservation GISc Coordinator at the Wildland Conservation Trust (WILDTRUST). I am based in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. I am an environmental science and GIS professional with a background in geography, ecology and spatial analysis, supported by practical experience in the conservation sector.
By the end of this bootcamp, I want to understand restoration implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and stakeholder coordination. I also want to enhance my skills in using GIS for ecosystem restoration projects.
Hello everyone, My name is Tatiana Boza, from Peru. I am doing some restoration projects realted to high Andena wetlands in Junín and Lima. I want to address the degradation caused by overgrazing and climate change.
My name is Junior Dante Sucasaca Sarmiento, I am from Peru, and I currently work for the National Service of Protected Natural Areas of the State (SERNANP), an institution dedicated to the conservation and sustainable management of protected natural areas.
Through this bootcamp, one of the main results I hope to achieve is to strengthen and deepen my knowledge in high-mountain ecosystem restoration, a key area for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainability of natural resources in the Andean context.
Likewise, I aim to improve my technical and methodological skills to analyze, prioritize, and implement ecological restoration actions more effectively, linking theory with practice in the territories where I work. With this, I aspire to contribute more robustly to the implementation of ecosystem recovery strategies within protected natural areas.
Hi! My name is Rafaela Pereira Naves, from Brazil. I hold a PhD in Forest Resources and have been working in forest monitoring for the past 15 years. Currently, I am a Data Science Specialist at WRI Brazil. I serve as the focal point for the Data and Monitoring Team for “Restaura Biomas,” a GEF8 project. I hope to learn and enhance my knowledge in forest monitoring and restoration.
I hope that through this bootcamp you gain more tools for your work with the Restaura Biomas project and that you get to know peers who do similar or complementary work as you in other ERIP countries.
My name is Oumar Abderrahmane Diallo. I am from Mauritania and I am completing my degree in Hydraulic Engineering and Sanitation at Iba Der Thiam University of Thiès.
I currently work as a Hydrology Consultant.
My main areas of interest include water resource management, surface and groundwater hydrology, sanitation, rural infrastructure, and hydrological modeling.
Through this intensive Bootcamp, I aim to strengthen my skills in developing restoration action plans by integrating hydrological data, geospatial tools, and climate resilience approaches.
My main challenge is to translate hydrological diagnostics into concrete, sustainable solutions tailored to on-the-ground realities, with strong involvement from local communities.
I am very happy to join this community. I look forward to exchanging ideas with you, learning from your experiences, and sharing Mauritania’s perspective on water and sanitation.
Looking forward to collaborating with you throughout this Bootcamp!
Hello everyone, I’m João Figeuiredo, and I’m part of the team for Project Gef 8 – Restoration of ecosystems in the extended central plateau of Angola.
The biggest challenge in restoration is transforming restoration priorities into action plans and overcoming the various institutional barriers that exist and are difficult to bridge.
Sectoral integration also poses a handicap; harmony among all segments of society is necessary, especially among communities in restoration areas.
The use of tools and improved coordination is urgent to ensure sustainable ecosystem restoration.
I’m eager to learn more about ecosystem restoration and become useful to communities.
My name is Javier Coasaca Céspedes, and I am a Marine Ecology Specialist, from Peru Ministry of Environment, with experience in the conservation and management of marine and coastal biodiversity in Peru. My work focuses on developing technical and policy instruments that support ecosystem conservation while promoting the integration of scientific knowledge into environmental decision-making.
I decided to take this course because I believe ecosystem restoration is one of the most important strategies for addressing biodiversity loss and strengthening resilience to climate change. As a marine ecologist, my main motivation is to apply the knowledge and principles of ecosystem restoration to marine and coastal environments, contributing to the recovery of ecosystems such as mangroves, coastal wetlands, coral reefs, and other degraded marine habitats.
I hope the knowledge gained through this course will strengthen my professional work and help me promote science-based restoration initiatives that integrate local communities and contribute to national and global biodiversity and sustainable development goals.
My name is Alexandra Mendoza, and I am from Peru. I am an Environmental Engineer and Master’s student in Gender, Climate Change and Disasters. I work as a Technical Associate at UNDP, where I provide technical and operational support for the management of a portfolio within the Environment and Energy Programme.
I am very excited to exchange experiences from different backgrounds and to deepen my knowledge of ecosystem restoration. I am particularly interested in approaches that integrate scientific data, geospatial technologies, climate resilience, and community participation to achieve sustainable and impactful restoration outcomes.
We’re thrilled to have you in the Bootcamp. Your experience with marine ecosystems will be incredibly valuable as you go through the modules and workshops of this program.
We have a strong delegation from Peru, and we’re delighted to see more people signing up and participating.
Thank you for your intervention. We hope that the materials and peer groups of this bootcamp can support Angola and the country GEF 8 project in overcoming the barriers you are mentioning. The way we have designed the program provides you with the knowledge and practical tools to precisely translate restoration priorities into feasible plans.
We look forward to hearing from you as the program unfolds.
Do not hesitate to post here in the forum or contact me if you have any comments or questions.
I am Pachuco Jean-Baptiste from Haiti. I am working at UNEP as a stakeholder engagement specialist. I am an agronomist with a specialization in environment management. I am very interested in ecosystems restoration because this topic remains a huge challenge in my country. I would like to learn from the experiences of other countries facing the same socioeconomic realities as Haiti.
Hi Pachuco, welcome to the Restoration Action Planning Bootcamp. I hope you can explore all the materials we are offering in this bootcamp. If you are starting this training, I would recommend you to explore the Resources Hub where all important links and resources are gathered in one place:
