CATIE Graduate Shares Experience and Proposals for Natural Resource Management

• His trajectory has led him to engage in decision-making in his home country, Uruguay, applying the knowledge acquired at CATIE to address environmental and sustainable development challenges.

Gustavo Sención, a researcher and graduate of the institution, gave a scientific talk titled "Assessment of Ecosystem Services from Experiences in Guatemala and Uruguay and a Proposal for 'Tokenizing' Ecosystem Services in El Petén, Guatemala" at the Graduate School on Thursday, April 18th.

The Honduras room served as the venue where Sención, a distinguished professional in the field of natural resource management, shared his reflections and proposals based on his extensive experience with a audience composed of students and academics.

Sención is an economist and currently serves as an advisor to the Office of Planning and Budget of the Presidency of the Republic of Uruguay in the area of Territorial Policies, where he is guiding the use of ecosystem services valuation for decision-making.

Roger Villalobos, a researcher from the Climate Action Unit, emphasized the importance of this talk in the context of the education provided by CATIE. For Villalobos, CATIE plays a crucial role in preparing young professionals, providing them not only with scientific and technical knowledge, but also with analytical and critical skills essential for evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation. Therefore, sharing knowledge from experienced individuals is fundamental to their professional growth.

"CATIE has the particularity of receiving young professionals who are trained at the master's level in various approaches to natural resource management and typically move on to work in positions of great influence, with a significant political, economic, and social impact. Graduates end up holding positions of leadership in NGOs, occasionally in companies, in institutions, and often hold positions as deputy ministers, ministers, or executive directors of institutions," he mentioned.

Sención, who completed his master's degree at CATIE with an emphasis on forest management, is a living example of the positive influence the institution has in the region. His postgraduate trajectory has led him to engage in decision-making in his home country of Uruguay, applying the knowledge acquired at CATIE to address environmental and sustainable development challenges.

"I always come back to CATIE when I come to Costa Rica."

During his presentation, Sención provided a historical overview of the work done by CATIE over the years, highlighting the projects and policies implemented in the 1990s. Additionally, he shared details about his current research, which focuses on the valuation of ecosystem services and innovative proposals for conservation in El Petén, Guatemala.

In this regard, Sención expressed his gratitude to CATIE for the education received, emphasizing the lasting impact it has had on his professional career. "I always come back to CATIE when I come to Costa Rica," he mentioned, highlighting the emotional and academic bond that ties him to the institution.

Gustavo Sención's talk represents a valuable contribution to the academic and scientific dialogue on natural resource management in Latin America, underscoring the relevance of the comprehensive education provided by CATIE in shaping environmental leaders and professionals committed to sustainable development.

His visit and enriching presentation demonstrate the positive impact the institution has had on the lives and careers of its graduates.