Executive Committee
Rodrigo Soria
Executive Director
Rodrigo earned his degree in Biology from the Universidad Mayor de San Simón in Cochabamba, Bolivia. In 2003, he moved to Santa Cruz to join Armonía, where he worked until 2005 leading teams of biologists in identifying Bolivia’s Key Biodiversity Areas and Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas. He also developed the Blue-throated Piping-guan Conservation and Research Program, becoming the first biologist to document the population of this endangered species in the TIPNIS. In 2005, he began his Ph.D. studies at the University of Goettingen (Germany), earning his degree in 2009. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship until 2011, when he returned to Armonía as Conservation Programs Director. Since 2016, he has served as Executive Director. Rodrigo has also been a member of the Executive Committee of BirdLife International’s Americas Regional Council since 2018 and, since 2022, has served on BirdLife’s Global Council.
Tjalle Boorsma
Director of Conservation Programs
Tjalle is a Dutch ecologist who has lived in Bolivia for 10 years. He holds a Master of Science in Forest and Nature Conservation, with a specialization in Terrestrial Ecology, from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. In 2015, he joined the Armonía team as Coordinator of the Barba Azul Nature Reserve Conservation Program. Since 2016, he has overseen work focused on shorebirds, and in 2018 he assumed the position of Director of Conservation Projects, leading various initiatives to conserve Bolivia’s most threatened bird species and their habitats.
Bennett Hennessey
Development Director
Bennett was born in Quebec City, Canada, and studied Biology at the University of Toronto. After spending a year working in Congo, he moved to Bolivia, where he dedicated himself exclusively to bird conservation. From 2003 to 2015, he served as Executive Director of Asociación Civil Armonía. Throughout his career, his work has been diverse, serving as a field researcher, conservation program coordinator, and project supervisor. In recent years, his main focus has been fundraising and grant management. He has developed thousands of successful proposals for Armonía’s conservation programs. In addition, Bennett is a polyglot and speaks English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Iván Perez Hurtado
Administrative Director
Iván holds a degree in Business Administration from the Universidad San Simón in Cochabamba, Bolivia. His undergraduate research and first job focused on the “Learning by Doing” methodology, working with youth from producer associations in the tropics of Cochabamba to improve agricultural product prices. He later served as Technical Director of the Chaco Program at Fundación Natura, where he provided support as an advisor in institutional and administrative strengthening. Iván also worked as an advisor and administrator at the Simón I. Patiño Center for Applied Ecology. He is currently the Administrative Director at Armonía. Beyond his administrative career, Iván is a passionate musician and music producer, and he owns a recording studio in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
Rocio Alanoca
Protection and Tourism Manager at the Barba Azul Nature Reserve
Bachelor’s degree in Tourism with a focus on project planning. She has 10 years of experience in the commercial sector, alternative energies (solar stoves and efficient wood-burning stoves), as well as in the administrative area of various projects. Her passion for nature has been a constant throughout her life and professional career, leading her to work on environmental and animal rescue projects and volunteer initiatives. Now, at BANR, she has the opportunity to apply her knowledge and experience to contribute to the protection of the Blue-throated Macaw’s habitat.
Jesús Eduardo Arauz Alvarado
Park Ranger responsible for maintenance of the Barba Azul Nature Reserve
Jesús is in charge of maintaining firebreaks at the Barba Azul Reserve, actively supporting forest and wildlife conservation.
Luis Enrique Arauz Flores
Cowboy – Barba Azul Nature Reserve
Sustainable Cattle Ranching Program
He has extensive experience in managing cattle ranches under a native pasture rotation system and in the rational training of horses.
Raul Arispe Flores
Nursery Assistant – Priority Andean Forests Program
Coming from a family of flower growers, he developed a deep interest in seedling production from a young age, which led him to work for four years as a nursery technician at the Cochabamba Departmental Government. He also actively participated in forest management and wildfire control activities in Tunari National Park, standing out for his commitment to environmental conservation and the protection of natural resources.
Daniela Aguirre Torres
Coordinator of the Priority Andean Forests Program
Daniela is a biologist, anthropologist, and visual artist—fields she has combined through a Master’s degree in Social Sciences with a focus on Energy Governance from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) in Ecuador, and a specialization in Anthropology of Art from the Center for Research and Higher Studies in Social Anthropology (CIESAS) in Mexico. With over 17 years of research experience, she has worked in Bolivia and Ecuador on topics related to conservation, climate change, gender and identities, interculturality, local capacity building, and environmental education. Daniela has also merged research with art through various consultancies and collective art projects exhibited in Ecuador, Mexico, Brazil, and Uruguay. Between 2006 and 2010, she worked on Armonía’s Cranioleuca henricae Conservation Project, and since 2018, she has supported other institutional projects through different consultancies.
Barboza Sanguino Germán
Cowboy – Laney Rickman Reserve
Sustainable Cattle Ranching Program
Barboza worked in cattle management on native grasslands, carrying out roundups and using the lasso for handling livestock.
Marlene Barral Quintana
Coordinator of Sustainable Cattle Ranching in the Llanos de Moxos
Forestry Engineer with a Master’s degree in Climate Change and Environmental Valuation, specializing in agricultural projects and sustainable forest management. Since 2001, she has promoted the integration of cattle production with environmental conservation through the World Bank’s National Biomass Program. Beginning in 2011, with German Cooperation – GIZ, she led the redesign of the Forest and Water Management Model for Sustainable Cattle Ranching in the Chaco, incorporating climate change adaptation, gender, and interculturality.
Teodoro Camacho Reyes
Researcher
Teodoro is originally from the municipality of Aiquile, in the Campero Province (Cochabamba). He studied Biology at the Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS). With more than a decade of experience in conservation-related research projects, Teodoro has led important initiatives within various institutions. At Asociación Armonía, he has been a key part of conservation projects such as the Palkachupa Cotinga and Tangara Inti. He also participated in the National Census of the Red-fronted Macaw and collaborated on nest box monitoring at the Laney Rickman Reserve. He coordinated shorebird censuses in several regions of Bolivia, gaining extensive knowledge in the use of camera traps. His skill in wildlife photography is remarkable. Teodoro currently coordinates the Pauxi unicornis Program
Yanet Cruz
Assistant to the Coordinator – Barba Azul Program
Yanet holds a degree in Environmental Sciences, with a Diploma in Environmental Impact from the Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno and a Certificate in Accounting from the Domingo Savio Technical Institute in Santa Cruz. She initially worked in tourism planning and logistics. She has experience as a Park Ranger in the Amboró Protected Area and was also part of the Park Ranger team in the Lomas de Arena Protected Area. Since 2022, she has been part of Armonía as Assistant for the Blue-throated Macaw Conservation Program, providing monitoring and logistical support for the Barba Azul and Laney Rickman Reserves.
César Flores Aguilera
Park Ranger at the Laney Rickman Nature Reserve – Barba Azul Program
He was born and lives in Loreto, in the Department of Beni. He has worked with Armonía since 2009, starting with the artificial nest project in the Loreto area and collaborating in the early stages of establishing the Barba Azul Nature Reserve. Since 2018, he has served as a park ranger at the Laney Rickman Reserve. He is responsible for patrolling the reserve, monitoring nest boxes, and maintaining the facilities. He is a passionate defender of the macaws and a firm believer in the importance of nest boxes for their conservation.
César Flores Ohara
Park Ranger at the Laney Rickman Nature Reserve – Barba Azul Program
He was born and lives in Loreto, in the Department of Beni. He has worked with Armonía since 2009, starting with the artificial nest project in the Loreto area and collaborating in the early stages of establishing the Barba Azul Nature Reserve. Since 2018, he has served as a park ranger at the Laney Rickman Reserve. He is responsible for patrolling the reserve, monitoring nest boxes, and maintaining the facilities. He is a passionate defender of the macaws and a strong believer in the importance of nest boxes for their conservation.
Remmy Rolando Huanca Chambi
Social Assistant. Palkachupa Program
Born and residing in Apolo, in the northern part of the La Paz department, he is an agronomist by profession and has been part of Armonía’s technical team in the Palkachupa Cotinga Program since 2024. With nine years of experience in productive development, he has worked in various municipalities in northern La Paz, including Apolo, Ixiamas, and Mapiri, where he has contributed to strengthening local productive activities.
Jhulian Machuca Medina
Park Ranger – Barba Azul Reserve
Jhulian is a Forest Engineer and holds a technical degree in accounting. He is also a volunteer with the K9 Search and Wildlife Rescue Unit, where he holds the rank of Officer. He was born in the municipality of Saipina, in the Manuel María Caballero Province of Santa Cruz. At the Barba Azul Reserve, he is responsible for monitoring, ground and aerial patrols (using drones), tourist assistance, camera trap monitoring, general maintenance, and emergency response to forest fires.
Dennis Mollinedo
Deputy Coordinator – Priority Andean Forests Program
He was born in Catavi, in the northern part of the Potosí department, and comes from a family of miners. He holds a degree in Forest Engineering from the Universidad Mayor de San Simón. His deep interest in environmental conservation led him to expand his knowledge through several diplomas in areas such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Natural Forest Management, and Forest Plantation Management. Throughout his career, he has held various roles in institutions such as the Forest and Land Supervisory and Social Control Authority, INIAF, Ende, and La Chonta, among others. In 2023, he joined the Asociación Armonía team, where he currently serves as Deputy Coordinator of the Tunari Project, working on the protection and sustainable management of natural resources in the region.
Edwin Nogales Aguilar
Production Officer – Priority Andean Forests Program
Edwin holds a Technical Degree in Community Productive Municipal Management and has over 13 years of experience as a production officer in forest nurseries. He has received several awards for his active participation in wildfire prevention and control efforts in Tunari National Park. Edwin joined the Armonía team in March 2021.
Imke Oetting
Program Coordinator – Conserva Aves Project – Asociación Armonía
Imke is a geographer and sociologist with a Ph.D. in Political Science from the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Germany. She has lived and worked in Bolivia since 1994, initially as a researcher in the Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve and Indigenous Territory. Imke has extensive experience in protected areas, as well as in the design, implementation, and oversight of projects, fundraising, and developing sub-grant portfolios for social organizations, academic institutions, national and subnational NGOs, and other key conservation and development stakeholders in Bolivia and the Tropical Andes. She joined Armonía’s team in 2023 to coordinate the Conserva Aves Project.
Omar Gonzalo Oporto Daza
Program Coordinator – Andean Forests Program
Omar was born in Micani, Charcas Province, Potosí. He is a Forest Engineer and, since 2010, has worked in various institutions focusing on the control, management, and oversight of natural resources and the environment. Before joining the Armonía team, he was responsible for afforestation, reforestation, and comprehensive forest management projects in the department of Cochabamba, where he implemented improvements in nurseries, seedling production, forest management, reforestation campaigns, and plantation monitoring. He currently serves as Coordinator of the Tunari Park Project.
Sandra Paredes Salinas
Program Coordinator – Palkachupa Program
Sandra is an Agricultural Engineer with a specialization in project management, geographic information systems, and strategic planning. Her experience includes rural development, environmental conservation, and land management across various ecosystems in Bolivia, including Andean forests, valleys of Santa Cruz, the Yungas, and lowlands.
Simón Pedraza
Park Ranger – Red-fronted Macaw Community Natural Reserve
Simón Pedrazas is a committed guardian of the red-fronted macaw at the Red-fronted Macaw Community Natural Reserve in Omereque, Cochabamba. Once a witness to the negative effects of hunting, he is now a defender of the species, dedicating his time to nest monitoring and habitat protection. He also shares his knowledge of the area as a guide in the reserve, welcoming tourists from Bolivia and around the world who are interested in the region’s biodiversity. His work is key to the conservation of this critically endangered bird and the development of sustainable tourism in his community.
Vidal Ramirez Choque
Nursery Assistant – Andean Priority Forests Program
He was born in Cochabamba, with parents originally from Oruro, and comes from a family with a rich tradition of raising camelid livestock. In 2010, he began his career in the Parks and Gardens Department of the Cochabamba Municipality, where his passion for plants blossomed. Later, he transitioned to the forestry sector within the Cochabamba Departmental Government, while also training as a Basic Forestry Technician. His dedication earned him the responsibility of managing one of the production nurseries. In addition, he conducted multiple training sessions on nursery management and production for municipal technicians in the Cochabamba Department.
José Luis Ramos
Nursery Assistant – Andean Priority Forests Program
He was born in the community of Tirani, within the Tunari National Park in Cochabamba. He is a Basic Forestry Technician, graduated from the Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS). Raised in a family of farmers and flower growers, he became involved with forestry from an early age, which shaped his career path. For nine years, he played a key role in the production of forest seedlings at the Cochabamba Departmental Government, and also served as a forest firefighter in Tunari National Park. His dedication to environmental protection led him to become an instructor in wildfire prevention and control, standing out for his commitment to conserving natural resources.
Kevin Rivero Mole
Cowboy – Barba Azul Nature Reserve, Sustainable Cattle Ranching Program
He was born in Santa Ana de Yacuma. He is an expert in handling cowboy horses and cattle herding, with in-depth knowledge of both traditional and modern techniques used in livestock management.
Richar Romero López
Park Ranger – Barba Azul Nature Reserve
Richard Romero is an Environmental Engineer with technical training in agriculture and ecological beekeeping. He has worked in conservation at the Tariquía National Flora and Fauna Reserve, providing logistical and technical support for environmental projects. His experience includes the use of tools such as GPS and ArcGIS, as well as training in wildlife monitoring and wildfire prevention. Passionate about nature, he brings strong leadership and teamwork skills, making him a valuable member of the Armonía team.
Romeo Rojas Estrada
Assistant to the Director of Conservation Programs
This biologist from Cochabamba began his career working on microfauna research projects in the Polylepis forests of Tunari National Park. In 2016, he earned a Master’s degree in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (Geographic Information Systems) at CLAS. In recent years, he has focused on the research and conservation of critically endangered mammal and amphibian species. He has also led efforts to secure funding for research projects aimed at conserving threatened wildlife in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve in Uyuni. Since 2022, he has been part of the Blue-throated Macaw Conservation Program team.
Guido Saldaña Covarrubias
Coordinator of the Red-fronted Macaw Program
He was born in Saipina into a family of farmers and developed a deep passion for wild birds and rural life from an early age. After finishing high school, he left his hometown with nostalgia in search of academic opportunities and graduated in Biology from UAGRM. Convinced that rural communities are key allies in conservation, he always seeks to build a harmonious connection between people and the biodiversity around them. He currently leads the challenging mission of preserving the Red-fronted Macaw (Ara rubrogenys), a species listed as Critically Endangered.
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Luis Alberto Suárez Reynaldo
Sustainable Cattle Ranching Coordination Assistant – Barba Azul Nature Reserve and Laney Rickman Reserve
He was born in the area where the Laney Rickman Reserve is located and holds a Higher Technician degree in Agronomy from the Public University of Beni. He worked at the Directorate of Environment and Protected Areas of the Loreto municipal government, where he gained experience in the sustainable management of the Moxos forest. In addition, he has worked in the cattle ranching sector, supporting a family business dedicated to the fattening of young bulls and cull cows for slaughter.
Limber Torrico
Manager of the Community Nursery of Subcentral 13 de Agosto – Andean Priority Forests Program
He currently serves as the manager of the community nursery in Subcentral 13 de Agosto, part of the municipality of Tiquipaya, located within Tunari National Park. His roots trace back to the community of Thola Pujro, where his fascination with agriculture began at an early age. Driven by an insatiable curiosity, he ventured into the captivating fields of floriculture and beekeeping.
Abdon Vargas Flores
Cowboy – Laney Rickman Reserve, Sustainable Cattle Ranching Program
Abdón has spent his life working in the countryside, serving as a caretaker for country houses, farms, and cattle ranches in the departments of Santa Cruz and Beni. He has extensive experience in cattle care, including breeding, milking, and producing dairy products such as cheese, butter, and caramel spread. In addition, he is highly skilled in handling ranch horses and training them for cart-pulling. He speaks the Movima language, having spent his childhood and youth in the Yacuma Province of Beni.
Mariana Villegas Bilbao La Vieja
Science Coordinator
Mariana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology (UMSA La Paz – 2006), a Master’s degree in Biology (University of Missouri–St. Louis, USA – 2011), and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Wildlife Conservation (University of Florida, USA – 2016). She also worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. She has extensive research experience on various aspects of ecology and evolution in Neotropical birds—primarily in Bolivia, but also in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.
Carolina Zambrana Rojas
Tourism Manager
A tourism professional with 15 years of experience driving business development, sales, and public relations in organizations within the sector. She holds a Master’s in Business Administration and has a solid track record managing inbound and operational tourism, with a focus on customer experience, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement. She has designed and implemented educational projects in Environment and Tourism, integrating sustainability criteria through her Diploma in Sustainable Development Projects. She also provides consulting in the design of tourism projects and works directly with Indigenous communities, promoting responsible, inclusive, and high-value tourism models for destinations.
Eneida Zurita
Coordination Assistant – Andean Priority Forests Program
Lizz Eneida Zurita Soto is a biologist and a land-use and environmental planner. She has experience advising local residents through the delivery of workshops in Quechua. She has worked on projects related to ecological studies and conducted forest management and conservation workshops with communities, serving as a translator and interpreter of the Quechua language. In addition, she contributed to information management and document verification, specifically with Quechua-speaking residents, for the urban cadastre project in the municipality of Sacaba. More recently, she worked with peach producers in the municipality of Arbieto on pest management and biological control, as well as improving irrigation systems.
Administración
Yuvitza Avendaño Caceres
Accounting Assistant
Yuvitza studied Public Accounting at the Universidad Mayor Real y Pontificia San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca. Throughout her development, she had the opportunity to engage with nonprofit organizations. Motivated by her desire to contribute to positive change in society and the environment, she decided to merge her profession with this cause, dedicating herself to working in nonprofit institutions with the purpose of generating social impact.
Denisse Luna
Administrative Management Assistant
Denisse is a professional in Financial Auditing, graduated from the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, with extensive experience in internal control, evaluation of financial, budgetary, administrative, and operational processes in the field of auditing. At Armonía, she has contributed to the areas of human resources and contract management, and she is currently engaged in financial and administrative management.
Ana Belén Patiño Cuellar
Accounting Assistant
She is a Certified Public Accountant and has developed her career in the accounting, financial, and administrative fields. With experience in NGOs, she has supervised and monitored budget reports and has been responsible for preparing financial reports for donors such as the European Union, Solidar, and others.
Jaime Yerco Pamuri Ponce
Accountant
Certified Public Accountant with a diploma in Auditing and Management Control. With more than 7 years of experience in tax and administrative management, he stands out for his ability to optimize accounting processes, which has earned him the trust of various companies as an independent external consultant. He is committed to continuous learning and professional development.
Yoselin Saavedra Umaña
Executive Secretary
Yoselin holds a degree in Environmental Sciences from the Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno. She is deeply passionate about conservation. Before joining Armonía, she worked at the Lomas de Arena Regional Park, where she was responsible for the interpretation center.
Claudia Soto Añez
Financial Assistant
She studied Business Engineering at the Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno. Throughout her professional career, she has worked in institutions dedicated to environmental conservation.
Leny Vargas Rocha
Accountant
She has extensive experience supporting the accounting teams of various conservation organizations. In addition, she held responsible roles in projects developed at the Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno.
Silvia Rojas Gonzales
General Services
Since 2010, Silvia Gonzales has been a key member of the Armonía team. With training in nursing and additional certification as a pharmacy assistant, Silvia stands out for her versatility and multifaceted skills. At the Santa Cruz office, she manages filing, supports technical tasks, and carries out cleaning duties. Previously, she worked for seven years in a bookstore and printing company, as well as in a party supplies shop, where she was responsible for preparing materials for events.
Comunicación
Marizol Huarachi
Social Media Manager
She holds a degree in Social Communication from Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS) and a diploma in Higher Education. With extensive experience in community communication, she worked in community radio stations promoting the participation of local stakeholders through the use of traditional and digital media. She has managed social media in her previous positions, focusing on creating content to showcase the work of communities. She has also trained high school and university students in podcast production and radio broadcasting. A Quechua speaker and nature lover, she enjoys capturing the essence of landscapes through photography and video. She currently leads social media management at Asociación Armonía.
Margarita Palacios
Communications Officer
She is a multimedia journalist with more than 10 years of experience in written and institutional press. She holds a degree in Social Communication and a master’s in Political Ecology and Alternatives to Development from Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar (Ecuador). She specializes in socio-environmental communication, focusing on raising visibility for causes and connecting audiences with initiatives that generate positive impact. She has worked in the public sector, in non-governmental organizations, and in purpose-driven private projects, leading communication strategies, information campaigns, and creative content for diverse formats. Since 2023, she has served as Communications Officer at Asociación Armonía, where she leads the design and implementation of communication strategies aligned with the organization’s conservation goals.