Dr. Cecilia Barriga is a Peruvian biologist passionate about environmental conservation. She began her career studying seabirds and their relationship with anchovy fisheries in Peru. Her subsequent research looked at the geomorphometry and distribution of rodents in Ecuador. She has also worked extensively with the mastozoology collection at the Natural History Museum in Lima and assessed environmental impacts of development projects on mammals and birds in various places around Peru. These, along with her experience as a science coordinator at a biological station in the Peruvian Amazon have encouraged her fascination with the magnificent biodiversity of this important biome. Cecilia’s diverse professional background allowed her to witness firsthand the extent to which local people are crucial to achieving conservation goals. For this reason, Dr. Barriga devoted her doctoral studies to understanding the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem services within Indigenous communities in the Western Amazon, receiving a PhD in Environmental Science and Public Policy. Cecilia is dedicated to contributing her career to the conservation of the Peruvian Amazon while considering the needs and traditions of indigenous communities.