Silvia Purata

Silvia Purata "is a tropical ecologist, who works supporting communities to manage their forest resources sustainably, in order to conserve Mexico’s rich cultural and biological diversity. She writes resource use manuals directed to peasants and forest technicians, and collaborates with NGO’s to organize training workshops. She has also been involved in certification of good forest management under Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards. Dr. Purata has worked in the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Veracruz, Guerrero, Quintana Roo and Campeche. In the past years she contributed to the development of a management plan to sustainably manage the wood used to carve the famous “alebrijes” from Oaxaca, and together with artisans from Arrazola, developed the Eco-alebrije brand. Her actual research in a forest community in Campeche is aimed at diversifying income from forests, by developing activities such as wood handicrafts, and native bee’s honey production."

• Steering Committee, People and Plants International