Lecture #2 – Dr. Cristian Bonacic

Lecture #2: Biodiversity and protected areas of Latin America: challenges and future opportunities after Covid-19
August 14, 5:00-6:00pm, Vancouver Time (August 15, 8:00-9:00am, Beijing Time)
RSVP for more details: info.afrc@ubc.ca

Keynote speaker: Prof. Cristian Bonacic (Department of Ecosystems & the Environment, School of Agriculture & Forestry Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile)

Dr. Cristian Bonacic graduated from the University of Oxford, UK and has worked at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile for 30 years, as Department Head in 2010 and 2016. He has received national and international prizes like the Lama Medicine Award from South American Camelids specialists by the American Veterinarians association, and also, an Award for his contribution to Science (2017) by the Chilean DVM Board and the Whitley Commendation Award by HRH Princess Anne in The United Kingdom (2007). He’s a visiting professor at the Nelson Institute of The University of Wisconsin, funded by a Tinker Fellowship in 2015. His research interests and collaborations have included wildlife management inside protected areas, wildlife conservation, sustainable use of wildlife and local communities.

His current research also includes the role of protected areas in Latin America to conserve jaguars (Panthera onca) and Mountain lion (Puma concolor). This project seeks to provide recommendations to combine sustainable livestock production (Sustainable Development Goals 2) and biodiversity conservation (SDG 15), funded by Latin American Observatory of The UN Sustainable Development Goals.