Staff Leadership
Carlos Manuel Rodríguez brings more than 30 years of experience in environmental policy, public service, and international conservation finance. Throughout his career, he has been driven by a clear conviction: protecting nature requires meaningful connections with people, communities, and the territories they call home.
A conservationist by vocation, Carlos Manuel served as Costa Rica’s Minister of Environment and Energy on three occasions, where he led transformations that are now cornerstones of the country’s environmental model. These include the development of payment for ecosystem services programs, forest recovery initiatives, a clean and renewable electricity matrix, and the strengthening of a nationally and internationally recognized system of national parks.
From 2020 to 2025, Carlos Manuel served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the world’s largest multilateral fund dedicated to biodiversity, climate, and environmental protection, where he led the mobilization of billions of dollars in support of conservation and sustainable development worldwide.
Melissa Aubert, Costa Rica Director, has assumed the role of Interim Executive Director while a formal search process is conducted to recruit a new ED. Melissa has been a member of Osa Conservation's leadership team for six years, and brings deep institutional knowledge, operational expertise, and a long-standing commitment to Osa Conservation's mission.
She has an administrative and economics background with a strong professional career in operations and administration. In addition to her ambitious, practical approach to structure and administrative matters, she maintains a bold vision.
Her love for the natural world and commitment to conservation and her country's own biodiversity encourages her to be a passionate, full-time working mom. She leads by example with integrity, honesty and positivity to constantly empower and encourage OC´s team to give their very best.
She has an administrative and economics background with a strong professional career in operations and administration. In addition to her ambitious, practical approach to structure and administrative matters, she maintains a bold vision.
Her love for the natural world and commitment to conservation and her country's own biodiversity encourages her to be a passionate, full-time working mom. She leads by example with integrity, honesty and positivity to constantly empower and encourage OC´s team to give their very best.
Lucy Kleiner is a bilingual storyteller who has helped elevate our communications to reach 10x the annual audience, supported the fundraising of over 4 million dollars annually, and hosts our podcast "The Nature Dilemma" from the frontlines of conservation.
Lucy grew up in the temperate rainforest in the USA Pacific Northwest, where she found her roots in environmental sciences. Prior to moving to the Costa Rican rainforest, Lucy worked as a reporter on science and the environment for numerous news outlets in Oregon. Her work has been featured by National Geographic, The Seattle Times, US Daily, La Nacion, La Republica, and more.
Lucy grew up in the temperate rainforest in the USA Pacific Northwest, where she found her roots in environmental sciences. Prior to moving to the Costa Rican rainforest, Lucy worked as a reporter on science and the environment for numerous news outlets in Oregon. Her work has been featured by National Geographic, The Seattle Times, US Daily, La Nacion, La Republica, and more.
Gabriela is an Ecuadorian marine ecologist with a Masters degree from University of Aberdeen, Scotland. She has more than 12 years of experience in conservation, primarily in Ecuador. Before joining Osa Conservation, she managed a field station in the lowland Ecuadorian Amazon for five years.
Her role is to ensure the Conservation Campus continues to be a top facility for researchers, student groups, and volunteers, while offering stellar experiences to visitors. Gabriela is passionate about maintaining and protecting over 7000 acres of land supported by an incredible local team.
Gabriela has a particular interest in invertebrates, especially caterpillars and corals. She is also an amateur photographer and certified diver.
Her role is to ensure the Conservation Campus continues to be a top facility for researchers, student groups, and volunteers, while offering stellar experiences to visitors. Gabriela is passionate about maintaining and protecting over 7000 acres of land supported by an incredible local team.
Gabriela has a particular interest in invertebrates, especially caterpillars and corals. She is also an amateur photographer and certified diver.
Marco Hidalgo is a Tropical Biologist specializing in natural resource and wildlife management, with an extensive understanding of the human dimension of conservation. He has worked in conservation biology within rural communities for 25 years and has an extensive background in different conservation organizations in Costa Rica and Central America.
He began his first contributions to conservation in the 1990s when he volunteered with sea turtle projects at Santa Rosa National Park. He later consolidated his experience to focus on ecosystem relationships between terrestrial and marine human activities.
In 2022, Marco received the Disney Conservation Fund Award, an honor given to individuals profoundly committed to biodiversity preservation.
He began his first contributions to conservation in the 1990s when he volunteered with sea turtle projects at Santa Rosa National Park. He later consolidated his experience to focus on ecosystem relationships between terrestrial and marine human activities.
In 2022, Marco received the Disney Conservation Fund Award, an honor given to individuals profoundly committed to biodiversity preservation.
Ana cuenta con una sólida trayectoria en gestión de operaciones, ecoturismo, conservación y coordinación de equipos en entornos naturales y remotos. Su experiencia combina liderazgo, organización y una fuerte capacidad para trabajar con personas de distintos contextos culturales y profesionales. Ha coordinado expediciones internacionales, campamentos de investigación, presupuestos, protocolos de seguridad y equipos multidisciplinarios, siempre procurando que las operaciones se desarrollen de manera segura, eficiente y humana. También ha trabajado directamente con comunidades locales, instituciones gubernamentales, organizaciones aliadas y visitantes, fortaleciendo relaciones y facilitando una comunicación cercana y efectiva. Su paso por reservas naturales y proyectos de ecoturismo refleja un compromiso genuino con la conservación, la educación ambiental y la mejora de la experiencia de quienes participan en estos espacios. Además, su formación en Ecoturismo y conservación de espacios naturales complementa una experiencia práctica orientada al servicio, la colaboración y el cuidado de las personas y del entorno natural protegido.
Rodrigo is a Venezuelan agronomist who graduated from the Central University of Venezuela. He earned his MSc in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California, Davis, and his MA in Environment, Development and Peace from the UN Mandated University for Peace in San Jose, Costa Rica. For over 15 years, he has worked in the design, execution and monitoring of landscaping projects, soil stabilization, erosion prevention, reforestation and forest restoration in Venezuela and Costa Rica.
He now dedicates his efforts to community outreach and forest restoration projects in several sites of the Coto Brus Region of southern Costa Rica. Under this project, Rodrigo will lead agricultural sustainability, tree restoration and connectivity between existing forest patches and agricultural landscapes.
He now dedicates his efforts to community outreach and forest restoration projects in several sites of the Coto Brus Region of southern Costa Rica. Under this project, Rodrigo will lead agricultural sustainability, tree restoration and connectivity between existing forest patches and agricultural landscapes.
Guido Saborío-R is a Costa Rican biologist with more than 15 years of experience in conservation, both in non-governmental organizations and in the Government of Costa Rica. With a Master's Degree in Biology from the University of Costa Rica, and a Master's Degree in Protected Area Management and Ecoregional Development from the University of International Cooperation, Guido has accumulated experience in various fields, including wildlife monitoring, participatory management of protected areas, strategic planning for conservation and negotiation of international treaties.
Over the years, Guido has created alliances with national and international researchers and universities, which has allowed him to be part of multidisciplinary research projects, as well as share his experience with students of different academic levels.
Over the years, Guido has created alliances with national and international researchers and universities, which has allowed him to be part of multidisciplinary research projects, as well as share his experience with students of different academic levels.
Angela M Mendoza-Henao
Wildlife Manager
Board of Directors
A non-profit development specialist, Lebbin has ten years of fundraising, programmatic, and management leadership experience in Latin American wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. She worked for eight years in development at American Bird Conservancy, and is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Global Forest Generation.
Cynthia Barzuna is the Global Deputy Director of the Ocean Program at the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Director of the Ocean Action 2030 coalition.
In her role as Deputy Director, she provides strategic leadership on WRI’s global ocean initiatives, including spearheading the 100% Alliance and overseeing the Ocean Finance workstream. As Director of Ocean Action 2030, Cynthia leads a voluntary coalition of expert institutions dedicated to supporting countries in developing and implementing Sustainable Ocean Plans (SOPs).
Prior to joining WRI, Cynthia served as the Deputy Minister of Water and Ocean Affairs in Costa Rica, where she led the historic expansion of the Cocos Island National Park and its marine protected area—helping the country reach its goal of protecting 31% of its exclusive economic zone by 2021. She also served as Director of Costa Rica’s Environmental Impact Assessment Agency and led several sustainable urban development programs.
Cynthia holds a law degree and a master’s in International Law and Trade from Carlos III University of Madrid, as well as a diploma in Globalization, Economic Liberalization, and Administrative Intervention.
Product Director for Android at Google, Troper joined Google in 2003 and has worked on several product areas including building consumer, advertising and enterprise products with multidisciplinary teams. Prior to Google, Troper held positions at Oracle, Concur Technologies, and Deloitte Consulting. Troper grew up in Costa Rica and also serves on the board of Amigos de Costa Rica. He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and an MS in Applied Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He lives in Los Altos, California with his wife and five children.
Costa Rican Conservation Scientist, president and director of Costa Rica Wildlife Foundation, and lecturer at the University of Costa Rica, Brenes-Mora has experience working on wildlife research and conservation in Central America, South-East Asia and Europe. He works with local communities to develop conservation solutions and productive activities that allow people to coexist with wildlife.
A lifelong animal and nature lover, Jean Andre Garnier is the founder and CEO of the eponymous GARNIER ARQUITECTOS. He joined Osa Conservation in 2024 and has worked on sustainable residential and commercial architecture that integrates biophilic elements, connecting natural and interior spaces.
Jean Andre grew up in Costa Rica and holds a degree in Architecture and Urbanism from Universidad Iberoamericana en Mexico. He lives in San Jose, Costa Rica, with his wife and three children, alongside many beloved animal companions.
Bill Abraham is the founder and CEO of Central America-based recycling oil company, Metalub. Prior to founding Metalub, Bill was the GM of Intel Costa Rica, logging a tenure of 25 years at Intel. He is additionally a Stanford electrical engineering graduate.
President of Riverside Advisors, Nesbitt has 30 years of principal investing, corporate development, and advisory experience across a wide range of industries. Since 2007, he has served as a senior executive, investor, board member, and advisor within the renewable energy and environmental opportunities sector. He is also a pole vault coach at the Hudson Valley Flying Circus and a Master level competitor.
Born and raised in Costa Rica, Mejia-Gund has over 12 years of experience sustainable and regenerative architecture and design. She is an advisor to non-profits in Costa Rica and the U.S. including the G.Frederick Gund Foundation and Electric Planet. Along with architectural training in Costa Rica and Copenhagen, she is a certified ashtanga yoga instructor who lives with her husband and daughter in California.
A partner at Caoba Legal, Castro specializes in environmental law and public-private partnerships. Castro earned his MBA from Imperial College in London, where he developed his expertise in carbon forestry and climate change mitigation mechanisms. Throughout his life he has been involved in conservation endeavors in the Osa Peninsula; nowadays he is part of a family-owned organization that protects over 2500 acres of primary forest in the area through private preserves.
Conservation Programs Team
Enzo Basso Quinche
Quantitative Ecologist
Diego Sancha
Communications Manager
Allan Brenes
Rewilding Field Biologist
Paulina Rodriguez
Lead Field Biologist
Jose David Rojas
Lowlands Restoration Coordinator
Keitly Rodríguez Vindas
Community Processes Coordinator
Yuliana Sibaja Rivera
Environmental Education Program Assistant
Raquel Calderon Rodriguez
Environmental Education Coordinator
Karla Ramírez
Mangrove Restoration Coordinator
Christian Peralta
Mangrove Restoration Coordinator
Socorro Avila
Citizen Science Coordinator
Julia Grootaers
Wildlife Biologist
Isela Cambronero
Campus Coordinator
Andrés Méndez
See Turtle Program Coordinator
Kenneth Barrantes
Field Biologist Rewalding
Mairon "Titi" Ibarra
Tree Nursery Manager
Johan Ortiz
Field Technician
Christofer Vega
Lowlands Restoration Field Crew
Hafet Rosales Umaña
Restoration Field Crew
Fraidany Rodriguez Duran
Field Technician
Adriana Quirós Umaña
Conservation Campus Experience Coordinator
José Francisco Beita
Restoration Field Crew
Oldemar Espinoza
Lowlands Restoration Field Crew
Arnoldo Sibaja Madriagal
Restoration Field Crew
Alcides Rodríguez
Restoration Field Crew
Steven Villalobos
Restoration Field Crew
Ronald Montero
Restoration Field Crew
Miguel Calero
Restoration Field Crew
Olger Duarte
Restoration Field Crew
Kevin Carballo Gonzalez
Restoration Field Crew
Juan Carlos Torres Zuñiga
Restoration Field Crew
Luis Florentino Valencia
Restoration Field Crew
Saúl Rodríguez
Restoration Field Crew
Greivin Ulate Ulate
Farm Assistant
Roberth Salas
Restoration Field Crew
Andrey Mora
Restoration Field Crew
José Manuel Valencia
Restoration Field Crew
William Vargas
Restoration Field Crew
Carlos Vargas
Restoration Field Crew
Santos Valencia
Restoration Field Crew
Mayner Vargas
Restoration Field Crew
Juan Godinez
Restoration Field Crew
Ronald Baltodano
Conservation Campus Maintenance
Mauricio Vega
Conservation Campus Maintenance
Isidro Bogantes
Conservation Campus Maintenance
Mariela Prendas
Head of Kitchen Team
Huberth "Chonga" Almengor Mora
Farm Coordinator
Christian Dagoberto Hidalgo
Sierpe Field Site Operations
Gilberto Cerdas
La Gamba Field Site Operations
Luigui Vasquez Leal
Conservation Campus Maintenance
Mariano Bogantes
Conservation Campus Maintenance
Kenneth Baltodano
Conservation Campus Maintenance
Roger Atencio Badilla
Highlands Campus Project Manager
Yetty Fernandez Chaves
Housekeeping
Luis Gutierrez
Conservation Campus Maintenance
Luis Andrés Cordero
Chef
Karina Valencia
Restoration Field Crew
Ulises Rancaño
Content Creator
Alvis Aragón Hernández
Restoration Field Crew
Jonathan Carpio Elizondo
Restoration Field Crew
Lilliana Chacón
Restoration Field Assitance
Luis Andrés Cordero
Chef
Karina Valencia
Restoration Field Crew
Alvis Aragón Hernández
Restoration Field Crew
Jonathan Carpio Elizondo
Restoration Field Crew
Administrative & Finance
Jose Luis Orlich
Finance Manager
Fernelli Araya Brenes
Accountant Manager
Johanna López Morales
Purchasing & Operations
Jorge Agüero
Administrator Manager & Heath and Security
Vicky Zamora cuenta con más de 10 años de experiencia en gestión de Recursos Humanos, adquisición de talento y desarrollo organizacional, con trayectoria en sectores de tecnología, marketing, organizaciones de impacto social y entornos corporativos dinámicos. Ha liderado procesos de reclutamiento especializado para perfiles técnicos y tecnológicos en Costa Rica y Estados Unidos, así como procesos de selección de talento para proyectos de impacto social. Su experiencia incluye la gestión integral del ciclo de vida del colaborador, administración de nómina, cumplimiento laboral, capacitación, evaluación de desempeño, onboarding y fortalecimiento del clima y la cultura organizacional. También ha participado en el diseño de manuales de puesto, modelos de competencias, estructuras organizacionales y procesos internos de Recursos Humanos. Se caracteriza por su capacidad para estructurar y optimizar procesos, acompañar equipos en contextos de crecimiento y cambio, y fortalecer la experiencia del colaborador mediante una gestión organizada, práctica y orientada a resultados.
Bree Johnson
US Administrative Associate
Associate Researchers & Advisors
Local Field Guides
The Osa Peninsula is home to an incredible array of biodiversity, and our team works closely with local guides to encourage immersive experiences in nature. Contact us ahead of your visit to reserve these excellent guides. Because their schedules fill quickly, we recommend reserving a guided session during your initial booking, or as soon as possible.
Dionisio was born and raised in the community of San Vito in southern Pacific Costa Rica, the fifth son in a family of eleven children. He is better known by his nickname, Nito (pronounced “Neetoh“). He received his degree as Tourism Guide (specializing in Nature) from the Colegio Universitario de Alajuela.
In 2003, he worked for a Stanford University avian research study which took place in his home town, San Vito. The study sparked a new interest and passion in him: birds. Since then, he has worked as a Nature Guide with an emphasis on bird watching in the Osa Peninsula.
Whenever possible, he's traveled to other countries in order to increase his knowledge of flora and fauna.
He is a birding specialist and an environmental educator.
Since he was born and raised in this area of Costa Rica, he is also very knowledgeable about all the nature that surrounds the Osa Peninsula, including plants, insects, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. He can identify a great majority of what we see in our tours, and he can tell you about their behavior and life cycle. Please never hesitate to ask questions, as it is one of his biggest pleasures to share knowledge and learn even more.
In 2003, he worked for a Stanford University avian research study which took place in his home town, San Vito. The study sparked a new interest and passion in him: birds. Since then, he has worked as a Nature Guide with an emphasis on bird watching in the Osa Peninsula.
Whenever possible, he's traveled to other countries in order to increase his knowledge of flora and fauna.
He is a birding specialist and an environmental educator.
Since he was born and raised in this area of Costa Rica, he is also very knowledgeable about all the nature that surrounds the Osa Peninsula, including plants, insects, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. He can identify a great majority of what we see in our tours, and he can tell you about their behavior and life cycle. Please never hesitate to ask questions, as it is one of his biggest pleasures to share knowledge and learn even more.
Frank Chaves was born in Puerto Jiménez in the late 1960s. He grew up in an area with no bridges and no highway connecting the Peninsula to the rest of the country when the area was like a small island. He spent part of his childhood mining for gold from local rivers, including in what is now part of Corcovado National Park. He was also a farmer, which gave him essential knowledge about plants. Little by little, the transformation took place in his mind, from being a predator of natural resources to becoming a protector.
He is a naturalist guide at the Lapa Rios Lodge Hotel and has a general guide license. He has knowledge about flora and fauna of the Osa Peninsula, as well as its history and culture. He does bird tours, nature walks, night walks, and some cultural tours. He is in the process of specializing in birds and herpetology. He is also specializing in photography and video to run photo tours. In his free time, he works as a freelance guide.
He is currently an active member of the Osa Forest Protectors group, and he is also an AD Honorem Park Ranger. His favorite tours are bird watching and night walks.
He is a naturalist guide at the Lapa Rios Lodge Hotel and has a general guide license. He has knowledge about flora and fauna of the Osa Peninsula, as well as its history and culture. He does bird tours, nature walks, night walks, and some cultural tours. He is in the process of specializing in birds and herpetology. He is also specializing in photography and video to run photo tours. In his free time, he works as a freelance guide.
He is currently an active member of the Osa Forest Protectors group, and he is also an AD Honorem Park Ranger. His favorite tours are bird watching and night walks.
Tomás Ridings Muñoz grew up in Dos Brazos de Río Tigre, very close to the Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula.
He forged his roots by hunting and artisanal gold mining. He grew up in the forest with his grandfather, who taught him everything he knows today. He turned his life around in 2011 by working as an independent tour guide.
He is Guide certified by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute and has guided throughout the country, especially in Corcovado. He volunteered at the Sirena Biological Station in different research projects with biologists and various university collaborations. In 2018, he participated in the Osa Conservation Healthy Rivers project that works to improve ecosystem health in degraded watersheds and increase local watershed conservation leadership through advancing education, monitoring, and restoration.
He is passionate about tracking animals and has extensive knowledge of mammals, birds, reptiles, and plants, especially in the Osa Peninsula. He especially enjoys touring with families as well as night hikes.
Jeisson Figueroa Sandi is from San Vito. He speaks both English and Spanish. Since 1999, he's worked as a research assistant, contributing to prestigious universities such as Stanford and Cornell. In 2011, he began work on a research project in Borneo in conjunction with Colorado State University. He also worked as a tour guide in Corcovado National Park from 2008 to 2014. From 2014 to 2016, he collaborated with a research project using camera traps in the Las Tablas protective zone in Coto Brus and Punta Banco Pavones. He spent the next seven years as a naturalist guide in Las Cruces. He has 25 years of experience in bird watching, skillfully identifying birds by sight and sound, and he can imitate some bird songs. He has Basic knowledge of plant and tree identification and is knowledgeable about amphibian and reptile identification.
Henry Jose Sandí Amador is originally from the mountains in San Vito, close to the Panama border. His interest in nature began as a child when he visited a biological station close to his house, the Organization for Tropical Studies. He started going to the station as a volunteer and later worked for the organization for several years with researchers worldwide. Here, he learned the vital role each organism plays in natural ecosystems.
He is currently a freelance guide in Corcovado National Park and surrounding areas. He specializes in ornithology and herpetology.
He is currently a freelance guide in Corcovado National Park and surrounding areas. He specializes in ornithology and herpetology.
In Memoriam
These late conservation heroes were formative to Osa Conservation and our far stretching impact. We remain eternally emboldened by their leadership and contribution to us and the natural world. To this day, they inspire us to look, touch, learn, and care for nature.
The late Álvaro Ugalde, co-founder of the National Park Service in Costa Rica, was a pioneer in the field of land conservation and an inspiration to all who knew him. As a biologist and world-renowned conservationist, Álvaro’s work helped transform Costa Rica. His vision and passion for the Osa Peninsula were contagious and he continued to fight for the Osa and Corcovado National Park until his last day.
His tenure on the board of Osa Conservation made us a better organization and we are forever grateful for his leadership and his contribution to us and to the world. Osa Conservation has created the Ugalde-Forsyth Fellowship program to honor the memory of Alvaro and to continue his life’s work. The fellowship provides grants to early-career researchers and conservationists to be immersed in the wilderness of the Osa Peninsula. Click the hands below to donate to the fund today.
Marvin Lopez was raised on the Osa Peninsula and was a long-time member of the Osa Conservation family. Marvin developed an incredible knowledge of the local flora, and is remembered as among the most dedicated botanists in the region. For years, he worked as a field botanist for some of the most prominent international science teams from around the world before going on establish Osa Conservation's Rare and Threatened Trees program that would not only plant 10’s of thousands of trees to restore rainforest throughout the region, but that also gave focus to the rarest and most threatened species. Some are so rare that they are fast facing the risk of extinction. It was these that Marvin treasured and cared for the most.
To read more about Marvin and his incredible dedication to the natural work, click the link below.
To read more about Marvin and his incredible dedication to the natural work, click the link below.
The Osa Conservation team remains permanently grateful to Dennis, whose skills as an administrator helped lay the foundation so Osa Conservation could grow into the thriving nonprofit it is today. Dennis leaves behind a legacy of responsibility, teamwork, commitment to this team that he helped build and dedication to the protection of his home country.
Santiago was raised in the Osa peninsula and along with his family, he was a steward of its forest. Santiago was part of the Osa Conservation family for almost a decade. His incredible knowledge of hardwood trees made him a great member of the land crew team. He took care of the forest, maintained our facilities and he always did it with a smile on his face.
Santiago will be always remembered as a team player with a great commitment, dedication and willingness to take care of the place he called home.