As Latino Conservation Week comes to an end, we want to reflect on the many different ways in which Latinos are playing a role in conservation. From organizing events for groups to spend time in nature like Latino Outdoors’, to working in land management, parks departments, and leading research across various topics concerning conservation - the work doesn’t end here! We hope you’ll stay connected with this initiative led by the Hispanic Access Foundation.

To wrap things up we spoke to Sisimac Duchicela, a biogeographer and conservation ecologist. Her research interests involve the ecology, plant taxonomy and conservation of high mountain ecosystems, specifically of Andean forests, páramos, and punas. Additionally, she is interested in understanding the effects of climate change on high mountain vegetation.

Tell us a little about yourself and your relationship to the outdoors - What has been important for you in cultivating your relationship?

Growing up in Latin America, I traveled a lot. My dad is from Ecuador and I was born in Panama. I lived in Honduras between the years of 3 and 5 and was raised out in the country doing things like climbing trees and making nests for lizards. This helped me establish a very close relationship with nature. Being little and not fearing nature was important.

I completed my undergrad in biological sciences in Ecuador. It was very formative. It was intense in field work. Every holiday was a field day in areas in the Galapagos, the Amazon, and the Highlands. I got to know a lot of ecosystems. It was important for me to continue doing field work. 

Then I went to complete my masters in Ecology at the University of Michigan. I wanted an experience with an NGO or to pursue project based work.

Finally, I did my PHD at UT in Geography. It helped me connect the social part with the ecological part of my research.

What drew you to further pursue research conservation?

Throughout my educational career, I realized more and more what needed to be done. The more you know the less you know. I learned you have to Incorporate multidisciplinary skills to answer big ecological questions. It requires working with local communities – with the people actually living in the area. 

I studied alongside Alpaca Pastoralists who were concerned with the weight loss of the alpacas. I researched how a restoration project could improve feed for the alpacas. This helped me learn about the economic aspects of rangeland management – things like how the alpacas need to be at a certain weight to be healthy enough to provide fibers. Treading the unknown was important.

What have you learned about yourself through the study of plant communities in the Andean highlands?

I learned to appreciate biodiversity for its inherent value in serving environments. Looking at plants and how they interact puts into perspective that the concept that time is ticking and we need to value every little thing. It’s necessary to value smaller species and reframe the language we use to describe them, such as “subordinate species.”

Do you think there are enough pathways for Latinos to pursue conservation?

No - It’s really difficult for anybody, first of all, to even pursue international research in the US. I applied to work in several different places after undergrad and was getting 0 job offers. Perhaps because my undergrad was from Ecuador and that was a hard translation - even after my internships with organizations like the Rainforest Alliance and the Amazon Conservation Association.

Even after a masters in Ecology, it was really difficult. Right now, I’m still not sure how it’s gonna go. My post doc fellowship has kept me safe within the world of academia but I’m not sure how it's gonna go after this. It’s terrifying not to know. It is a call to action - Latinos need to bring more experience into it. Not forgetting to build as we go.

Visit Sisimac’s website to learn more about her work!