Nature and Culture International Announces Appointment of Leading Conservationist, Jose Alvarez, in Peru
04/24/2017
April 24, 2017
Nature and Culture International (NCI) is delighted to announce the appointment of Jose Alvarez Alonso as the National Director of Strategy and Sustainability of NCI Peru.
Alvarez has spent most of his working life dedicated to the conservation of the Peruvian Amazon. He brings 20 years of experience working with government leaders, native communities, scientists and non-profit groups through the region to NCI.
Jose “Pepe” Alvarez is a biologist, researcher and prolific writer. He served from 2012 to 2017 as the General Director of Biodiversity at the Ministry of Environment. In this role, Mr. Alvarez was responsible for strategic planning, environmental policies and conducting national programs to conserve Peru’s most valuable biodiversity. He has held senior management positions with a broad range of responsibilities, including a position with the Institute of Investigation of the Peruvian Amazon (IIAP) working with indigenous and rural communities of the Amazon.
Alvarez has received national and international recognition for his contributions to biodiversity conservation and science. Accolades include the Parker-Gentry prize of the Field Museum of Chicago for his contribution to the science and conservation of the Peruvian Amazon as well as his nomination to a number of Advisory and Board positions of prestigious institutions in Peru.
Alvarez has also won awards for journalism and science. Several species have been named after him, including the Epidendron jose-alvarezzi orchid and Protium alvarezanum tree. He has also discovered several new bird species and has published numerous articles and papers about forest management models, emphasizing inclusive communal approaches through the integration of rural development aspects.
“We are honored that Pepe Alvarez, a founding father of NCI’s Amazon programs, will form part of our team in Peru. We’ve appreciated his deep knowledge of biodiversity and conservation, as well as his charisma and counsel to our senior staff.” said Byron Swift, President of Nature and Culture International. “We know Pepe Alvarez to be a strategic and proactive thinker and are confident that he will contribute significantly to the continued success of our conservation mission in Peru.”
As the National Director of Strategy and Sustainability for Nature and Culture International, Alvarez will be based in Lima. He will work closely with our regional directors and partners from local and national governments to advance lasting ecosystem conservation efforts in harmony with local peoples’ aspirations.
* Nature & Culture International is present in ten regions in Peru and has supported the conservation of over 6.2 million acres of invaluable ecosystems.
