Andean Bear Expert Team Co-chair

Robert Márquez has served as the Manager of the Andean Bear Conservation Alliance (ABCA) since 2019. He holds a degree in Biology from the Universidad de Los Andes (Venezuela), a Master’s degree from the Universidad de Chile, and a PhD from Cornell University. With over 25 years of experience, Robert leads conservation efforts throughout the Andean bear’s entire range: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. His work focuses on the monitoring and management of populations and their threats. He promotes coexistence between bears and local communities by providing technical support to both governmental and non-governmental organizations. Robert firmly believes that the success of Andean bear conservation depends largely on enhancing governmental capacity and establishing a strong link where improving people's quality of life is directly connected to the protection of this species and its habitat.