Coordinators

Taggert Butterfield

Taggert received his B.S. and M.S. in Biology from Central Washington University. For his masters project, Taggert lived for one year in the Chamela Biological Station, Mexico, studying the ecology of the Mexican Spotted Wood Turtle (Rhinoclemmys rubida). A short time later, Taggert enter to the PhD program at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) to continue studying Mexican turtles. His PhD project brought him to different corners of Mexico and inspired him to start SCN, so that data on turtle populations continued to be collected when he couldn't be in the field, and to help communities that are living in extreme poverty.

Alejandra Monsiváis

Alejandra received her B.S. and M.B.S. from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Her professional interests are diverse. Her first research experience focused in water quality and environmental pollutants. More recently, she studied the physiological traits that allow trees from the tropical dry forest to survive the long season of drought. Alejandra has also worked as a science communicator and teacher for important institutions in Mexico. Her interest in expanding wildlife conservation efforts in Mexico and working with local communities for the common good led her to create SCN.

Local leaders

Félix García

Felix grew up working in the forest doing miscellaneous field jobs associated with agriculture, wood extraction, and hunting. Through these experiences, Felix became an expert in the local lands, flora, and fauna. When the Monte Mojino reserve was established, Felix became a park guard for the reserve where he worked for 8 years. As a park guard, Felix collaborated with national and international universities on different projects. Today, he is the leader of SCN in Sonora and spends 3-5 days a week radio-tracking and trapping turtles.

Mario Uc

Mario grew up sorrounded by the exuberant forest of the Puuc region, in the Yucatan Peninsula. He has worked in the Kaxil Kiuc Biocultural Reserve for eleven years, collaborating with national and international universities on different projects for the jaguar conservation, diversity of plants, birds, amphibians and reptiles, forest restoration and carbon storage, among others. Mario is the SCN leader in Yucatan.