keynote Speaker: osvel hinojosa-huerta

Osvel Hinojosa-Huerta joined the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in 2018 to direct the Coastal Solutions Fellows Program, with the main goal of building capacity to protect critical shorebird habitats along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Chile. He obtained his BSc in Biochemical Engineering and Marine Sciences at Tec de Monterrey Campus Guaymas, and his MSc and Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Arizona. He has been working in conservation and research projects in coastal and riparian areas since 1997.  His activities include the evaluation and recovery of protected species, the design and implementation of policy and market mechanisms for conservation, and the creation of partnerships with governments and stakeholders for the protection of nature. For 18 years, Osvel worked with Pronatura Noroeste as the Director of the Water and Wetlands Program, with emphasis on restoring the Colorado River delta, including the recovery of river flows and the facilitation of binational negotiations between Mexico and the US for the sustainability of the Colorado River Basin.

Presenter: Jorge Enrique Parra Bastos

Jorge Enrique Parra Bastos is Deputy Director of Biodiversity at WCS-Colombia, bringing 15+ years of experience in behavioral ecology, conservation biology, and community-based biodiversity strategies. He earned his BSc and MSc at Los Andes University (studying bird behavior in the Andes, Orinoco, and Amazon) and completed a PhD at the University of Bath on Charadrius shorebird reproductive strategies in Madagascar.In his Coastal Solutions Fellowship, Jorge is establishing and strengthening management of two Pacific-coast Marine Protected Areas (the San Juan River Delta Ramsar site and Ají Island), fostering governance partnerships with regional authorities, Afro-Colombian, and Indigenous communities. He also runs a participatory shorebird monitoring program to guide conservation actions. Concurrently, he works with landowners and Colombia’s national park system in Arauca to conserve Orinoco savannah habitats critical for migratory and resident shorebirds.

Presenter: Julia Salazar Perla

Julia Salazar Perla was born and raised in southern Honduras. Growing up on her family’s salt farm gave her a unique perspective on how productive systems can support shorebird conservation. After earning her BSc in Tourism, she launched the Salt for Conservation project, promoting environmental education tours at her family farm. She welcomed students to learn about salt production and mangrove ecosystems. For her master’s thesis, Julia focused on the ecosystem value of mangroves in salt production in Honduras, expanding her understanding of both salt production and conservation needs. In April 2020, Julia joined the WHSRN Executive Office/Manomet Conservation Sciences as the salt and shorebird conservation specialist. She developed a shorebird conservation-focused salt production assessment, established best practices for shorebird-friendly salt production, and identified threats and benefits to shorebirds. She works to implement better practices and develop alternative products, aiming to create a new, conservation-oriented salt production model. As part of the 2023 Coastal Solutions Fellows cohort, Julia’s project Honduras: Integrating Salt Production and Shorebird Conservation in the Gulf of Fonseca aims to conserve shorebird habitat by educating salt producers about the environmental impacts of their operations. The project promotes environmental licensing, offers alternatives to prevent salt farms from expanding into natural areas, and shifts perceptions of salt production toward conservation. It also seeks to generate pride in local communities for their cultural activities and unique natural surroundings, making San Lorenzo a key eco-tourism destination.

Presenter: Jonathan Vargas

Jonathan is a Mexican ornithologist, bird guide, and photographer from San Blas, Nayarit, now based in Morelia, Michoacán. He leads birding tours, research, and conservation projects across Mexico. He studied biology, researching migratory shorebirds in the U.S., and holds a Master’s in Marine and Coastal Sciences, plus certifications in nature interpretation and ecotourism. Jonathan has contributed to major bird festivals in Mexico and the U.S., and since 2019, has led shorebird conservation in Todos Santos Bay through the Cornell Lab’s Coastal Solutions Fellows Program. He launched the Urban Bird Program in Ensenada (2018), expanded it to Lake Cuitzeo (2024), and established a Christmas Bird Count there. He’s active in multiple conservation networks and an eBird reviewer for Baja California and Michoacán. He founded Pajareando y Conservando and San Blas Jay-Birding Tours (sanblasjaybirdingtours.com), and is developing a bird conservation project in Cuatro Cienegas while seeking support for work at Lago de Cuitzeo (WHSRN site).

Presenter: natalia martinez curci

Natalia Martínez Curci is an Argentine biologist with over 15 years of experience in shorebird ecology and conservation across the Americas. She holds a PhD in Biology and is a researcher at CONICET, focusing on migratory shorebirds in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Midcontinental Flyways. As a fellow in the Coastal Solutions Fellows Program, she developed practices to reduce the impact of seaweed farming on shorebirds in southern Chile, leading to agreements with Indigenous communities. Natalia leads research projects in Argentina and Chile, studying how environmental quality impacts shorebird habitat use and condition. She also explores the role of Indigenous communities in conservation strategies and combines various scientific methods for conservation planning. Natalia is dedicated to mentoring future conservation scientists and serves as Associate Editor of Wader Study and as a representative on the Executive Committee of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group. Her work has contributed to protecting key shorebird sites and connecting science with policy and local action in southern South America.

Presenter: Monica Iglecia

Monica Iglecia, U.S. Coordinator for Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture. Monica’s career and education have been dedicated to international bird and habitat conservation through applied science and collaborative partnerships from the site-level to the flyway scale. She believes we can do more when we work together and is committed to creating and supporting an environment where birds and people can thrive, in the Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture service area and beyond.”

Presenter: Jenell larsen tempel

Jenell Larsen Tempel, Ph.D., is a wildlife biologist based in Juneau, Alaska. Jenell’s background and Ph.D. research include fisheries and marine mammal work. It wasn’t until she joined the Threatened, Endangered and Diversity Program at the Alaska Department of Fish & Game in 2020, that she began working on shorebirds and launched a project studying Red Knots in Controller Bay. In her role as the Endangered Species Biologist, she serves on working groups and recovery teams for threatened and endangered species, coordinates state responses to federal Endangered Species Act listing decisions and conducts research on Species of Greatest Conservation Need across the state. After working on Red Knots for 4 years, Jenell has become captivated by shorebirds and has plans to continue shorebird research projects in Alaska.

presenter: Erin Cooper

Erin Cooper, a Wildlife Biologist for the Forest Service, has lived and worked in Cordova for 24 years. Her work has ranged from shorebirds and waterfowl to mountain goats and moose with a focus on ecosystems of the Copper River Delta. Since 2001 she has been a core member of the Copper River International Migratory Bird Initiative, promoting international conservation for migratory birds and their habitats throughout the Pacific Flyway.

presenter: Dotty Widmann

Dotty Widman has been teaching a variety of workshops in Cordova, Alaska through her craft store, The Net Loft, over the past 34 years of owning the shop.  She enjoys translating botanical and natural history into fiber art interpretations using wool and yarn, and loves teaching and sharing new techniques as a means to encourage creativity and community.

PRESENTER: RAVEN CUNNINGHAM

is a lifelong Cordovan and advocate for Indigenous stewardship and environmental justice in coastal Alaska. She sits as the Vice Chair of the Native Village of Eyak Tribal Council and Chair of its Natural Resource Advisory Council, where she leads efforts to protect subsistence rights, advance Tribal sovereignty, and uphold traditional stewardship practices.

She also serves as Director of the Tribal Fish and Wildlife Department at the Chugach Regional Resources Commission, promoting Indigenous leadership in sustainable resource management across the Chugach Region.

Raven holds a degree in Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development with a concentration in Natural Resource Management from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Her work is grounded in both academic knowledge and generations of place-based experience.

In addition to her leadership roles, Raven is an artist and founder of Made by Raven, creating jewelry and clothing rooted in cultural tradition and made with local, sustainable materials.