Meet Our Team | Combat Wildlife Trafficking

Cristián José Bonilla MercadoForest Ranger

Nicaragua

Paso Pacífico has helped our local community by reforesting different areas that were previously threatened. In addition, Paso Pacífico has given training to many of us and gotten us involved in different activities that have to do with the conservation of the environment. My favorite project is the yellow-naped parrot conservation project, since it has allowed me to learn and come to know new methodologies and technologies to monitor and understand the behavior of this species.

Liessi Lisseth Calero JimenezTurtle Ranger

Nicaragua

Paso Pacífico has helped my community by supporting cleanup days, environmental education, fisher women and men training, and health for the children. Of the species that Paso Pacífico works with, butterflies are my favorite because of their diversity of colors. They are a harmless species and they adorn the fields and gardens. My favorite part of the job, however, is taking care of and freeing the tortuguillos (baby turtles).

Marcos Antonio Calero PerezField Technician

Medical and veterinary surgeon at UNIAG

Nicaragua

Working at Paso Pacífico has been a unique experience, which has allowed me to discover the biodiversity of the Paso del Istmo.

Melvin Chavarría OrtizTurtle Ranger

Nicaragua

Paso Pacífico has changed my life: first, by giving me knowledge about the environment and how to protect it, and second, by improving my family’s economic situation and helping my children continue their studies. Paso Pacífico has supported important projects in my community, including reforestation, technological development, and environmental education of children through the Junior Rangers and health care programs. I especially like our work with the sea turtle. I also like that Paso Pacífico is diligent in their efforts to protect the environment, has an orderly way of working, provides all materials used in the field, and supports unity and fellowship while caring for their employees.

Tomás Chevez GuzmanTurtle Ranger

Nicaragua

I have experienced firsthand Paso Pacífico’s positive ability to collaborate with my community to balance environmental conservation with economic support for our families. Some of Paso Pacífico’s projects in my community have included educating children, strengthening our library and health center, and cleaning trash from the beach. I love the whole process of working with sea turtles: checking the mothers’ measurements, watching them nest, and working to ensure that their babies are kept safe until they hatch and go into the ocean.

Julio Cesar Collado VanegasCommunity Coordinator

Engineering Design & Construction, Universidad Popular de Nicaragua; Intercultural Research, URACCAN

Nicaragua

My favorite part of working at Paso Pacífico is sharing the work with the beach and forest rangers, and sharing the practical experiences with species like turtles, monkeys, birds, and big cats. My favorite species, though, is the yellow-naped parrot, because it is intelligent and its song is very pretty in the mornings and afternoons. I appreciate knowing more about the forests and plants, as well as working with the communities, as it has allowed me to have a link with the majority of the rural population. I work to create greater awareness about the need to care for and use natural resources in a sustainable and responsible way.

Fernando Collado SanchezTurtle Ranger

Nicaragua

Paso Pacífico has benefited my community by collaborating in waste management, providing environmental education for children, conserving forests and animals, and promoting ecological awareness. Now that I’m working with Paso Pacífico, I see that there is much to learn and much to give regarding our sea turtles. They are defenseless animals needing our care, and many of them are in danger of extinction. In my job, I especially like working with turtles on the beach, because that is where we can show we have properly done our work and learn how to improve it for the next time.

Jairo Luis Coronado AlemánSea Turtle Program Coordinator

Nicaragua

Working for Paso Pacífico has allowed me to acquire more knowledge about the turtles and to have a greater degree of awareness about the different areas of conservation. The leatherback sea turtle is my favorite species because it can grow to a massive size and has a significant presence. My favorite part of the job is the scientific research work and satellite tracking of turtles.

Darling Idalia Delgado JimenezTurtle Ranger

Nicaragua

Paso Pacífico supports my community by organizing cleanup days, improving environmental education, as well as dental health education with the children. I enjoy all of the projects, both the conservation ones and the social ones in which the community members participate. Of the different species Paso Pacífico works with, the orange-fronted parakeet is my favorite because of its beautiful colors and high intelligence.

Jazmina de Fátima Flores Treminio

Nicaragua

Paso Pacífico has taught me the importance of protecting and caring for our environment. The fact that they help with conservation without expecting anything in return is very encouraging. My favorite project of Paso Pacífico's is the sea turtle nursery.

Jarinton Javier Garcia PazEnvironmental Education Coordinator

AAS in Natural Resources Technology from Mt. Hood Community College (through USAID's SEED program)

Nicaragua

Paso Pacífico has helped my community by providing many people with work opportunities, educating children on the importance of the environment, and donating educational materials to schools. Of the different species Paso Pacífico works with, my favorite is the black-handed spider monkey. I like it because it is a very intelligent mammal with beautiful shiny fur, it makes a pleasant sound, it uses its tail like a third hand, and it is very playful.

Karen Lacayo SantanaTurtle Ranger

Nicaragua

Paso Pacífico has changed my life in a positive way. Today I am a capable woman able to share the love of our resources, the importance of conserving them and valuing the beauties we have, but above all, the fact that we women know how important we are and how much we are able to contribute to society. My favorite part of my job is when I see the smiles of the children releasing turtles, hearing them identify a bird and get excited about it, teaching them and learning from them every day something new, to see that we are doing our work well and that we are bearing fruit.

José Gabriel Martínez-FonsecaConservation Scientist

PhD in Biology, Northern Arizona University

Arizona and California

Early in my career as a biologist, Paso Pacífico provided some of my first opportunities to engage with wildlife research. Today, I am proud to be part of the team to continue promoting research and work on novel ecological topics and with unique species. My work focuses on the effects of habitat fragmentation on bats and other wildlife. My collaborators and I work to find the landscape structures and composition that can conserve the greatest biodiversity. I am also a passionate wildlife photographer and I use my images to promote conservation and environmental education through publications for scientists and the general public alike.

Estefania Isabel Muñoz SalasScientific Coordinator

MS in Marine Ecology, Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education at Ensenada, Mexico

Mexico

Originally from Mexico, she studied Marine Biology at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur and obtained her Master's degree in Marine Ecology at the Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education at Ensenada. Since her professional training, she has worked with shorebirds and participated in research, conservation, and citizen science projects. Her main focus is data analysis for bird conservation, focusing on population trends, migration patterns, and reproductive biology, among others.

Sarah OtterstromExecutive Director

PhD in Ecology, University of California, Davis, emphasis in Human Ecology

California

Sarah is an intrepid conservation scientist with over 20 years of experience in Central America. After learning firsthand of the unique beauty of tropical dry forests and Pacific coast habitats, she decided to dedicate her life to protecting them. In 2005, she founded Paso Pacífico and has been our executive director since then. Sarah's scientific research has focused on the ecological impacts of fires in tropical forests and the cultural practices that influence tropical fire regimes. As a conservation scientist, she serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Biotrópica. She has also served in the Association for Fire Ecology and the Sociedad Mesoamericana para la Biología y Conservación. She is an Ashoka Fellow and the recipient of honors such as the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award.

Nicole SalazarFinancial Director

BS in Sociology, Brigham Young University

California

"Since the first time I saw a sea turtle swimming in the ocean on vacation, I have been drawn to this animal. I was impressed with the grace and beauty with which they swam through the water and have been enjoying getting to learn more about them in my time at Paso Pacífico. I enjoy being a part of something greater than my individual contribution where I can make a difference in conservation."

J. Winel Ruiz MoralesGraphic Designer

Nicaragua

It could be said that my favorite part of working for Paso Pacífico is knowing that my designs will reach people and at the same time help raise awareness about the care and conservation of our flora and fauna. My favorite project is the sea turtle project, as I think sea turtles are one of the most defenseless species and are the one that needs more attention and care on our part.

Oswaldo Saballos holds a male painted bunting. Photo by Vincent Romera.

Oswaldo Adan Saballos ValleField Technician

Nicaragua

Full profile coming soon

Marlon Sotelo ReyesBiodiversity Coordinator

MS in Tropical Forest Management and Conservation and Biodiversity at CATIE

Nicaragua

The yellow-naped parrot conservation project which I have been coordinating for the last three years is my favorite Paso Pacífico project. This program has allowed me to apply previously acquired knowledge as well as learn new things related to the ecology of this species. The yellow-naped parrot is also my favorite species, since it is an emblematic species and is in a vulnerable state. During the last three years I have been doing studies of these birds using techniques of radio telemetry which have allowed us to know more about its ecology and to make management decisions that contribute to its conservation.

Elena Yajaira Vargas MartinezTurtle Ranger

Nicaragua

Paso Pacífico has changed my life very much. It has taught me to love our nature here, and to take seriously the importance of fiercely fighting as one united front. It has taught me the importance of sharing experiences and resource conservation ideas with my community, so that we can stand together with one voice to resolve problems. It has taught me to have an attitude of social change, and to protect with much peace and determination. My favorite species to work with is the sea turtle because they have taught me how to fight. Even if we have to drag ourselves, we always have to reach the goal, although there are many challenges to also pass through. They are always in the back of my mind because they are a symbol of inspiration.

Nohemí VelásquezAdministrator

MBA, Universidad Iberoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología

Nicaragua

Through Paso Pacífico, I have come to know communities and their daily work, people that every day contribute in one way or another to conserve the habitat of species while, at the same time, improve their quality of life by contributing with their work in a harmonious way. My favorite project is the ELLAS Project, which empowers women micro-entrepreneurs. Being able to interact with the rest of the staff from the administrative side, learning about them and what they do in their daily work, is one of my favorite parts of my job.

Alejandro De Jesus Velásquez AguileraField Technician

Nicaragua

Alejandro has liked to watch birds ever since he was small, and so is thrilled to participate in our bird work. He loves working with migratory birds as well as with cyanoptera macaws and yellow-naped amazon parrots. In addition, he loves teaching about their importance and encouraging other people in his community to protect and conserve birds.

Kim Williams-GuillénConservation Scientist

Ph.D. in Physical & Biological Anthropology, New York University

Michigan

Kim is a conservation scientist whose main interests involve the role of agricultural and human-managed lands in tropical mammal conservation. She has been at the forefront of wildlife research in Bosawás Biosphere Reserve and in ecosystems ranging from cloud forest to tropical dry forest. For years, Kim has coordinated Paso Pacífico’s long-term biodiversity monitoring programs and the application of conservation science to target species such as migratory birds, sea turtles, and spider monkeys. She also invented the award-winning InvestEGGator technology. In addition to working with Paso Pacífico, Kim is an adjunct professor at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Her web site is found here.

Eliza WoolleyConservation Data Manager

BA in English, Editing and Digital Humanities minors, Brigham Young University

California

"Paso Pacífico and I have a lot in common: we both have a wide range of projects and subjects we want to learn about, we are both interested in people, and we both work to improve our surroundings. My current favorite is the reforestation project; its scale is incredible (1 million trees and counting!), and I have a soft spot for trees."

More Team MembersUnder Construction

Central America

We are honored to have even more brilliant people on our team! Profiles coming soon. Support their work here.