Researchers

Lourdes Martinez-Estevez is a Mexican conservation scientist. She has a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of California Santa Cruz, USA and a master’s in Ecology from UNAM, Mexico. Her research is focused on applied Ecology, Conservation Biology, and spatial conservation strategies, with strong emphasis in threatened species. For instance, she evaluated the ecosystem services provided by prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in the grasslands of northern Mexico and demonstrated a severe loss of services associated with the absence of the species and suggested that contrary to negative perceptions, prairie dogs are essential for the maintenance of the ecosystem and local communities. Also, her work on the interaction between the ecology of hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), small-scale fisheries, and spatial conservation strategies contributed to the update of the Action Program for the Conservation of the Species (PACE), which is considered the main national strategy for the conservation of hawksbill sea turtles in Mexico.