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Food, Water and Biodiversity Nexus - Community Led Adaptation, From the Ground Up

Tracks
Food, Water and Biodiversity Nexus
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM

Speaker

Luis Davalos
The Nature Conservancy

The nexus of food, water, climate, and community: freshwater fishing adaptation strategies

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Biography

Luis Davalos has a professional Degree in Anthropology, graduated in Psychoanalysis and Post-graduate in Social Science, and over 28 years of work experience in the Andean Amazon concerning indigenous peoples, sustainable natural resources management, and environmental and social impacts. He currently works at TNC as IP&LC Program Coordinator in Peru.
Elizabeth Nyboer
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)

The nexus of food, water, climate, and community: freshwater fishing adaptation strategies

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Biography

Elizabeth (Beth) Nyboer is a freshwater ecologist studying how anthropogenic stressors impact freshwater ecosystems, fisheries, and fishing communities. She integrates community perspectives with social, ecological, and environmental data to assess system vulnerabilities and develop equitable solutions. Her work focuses on climate adaptation in Lake Victoria’s inland fisheries in East Africa.
Mary Pleasant
The Nature Conservancy

The nexus of food, water, climate, and community: freshwater fishing adaptation strategies

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Biography

Mary is the Global Freshwater Fisheries Strategy Manager at The Nature Conservancy. She coordinates with local teams in Latin America and Africa to advance freshwater fishery conservation efforts for both human well-being and biodiversity outcomes. Mary holds an M.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Management from the University of Hawaii.
João Paulo S. de Cortes
Federal University of Western Pará

The nexus of food, water, climate, and community: freshwater fishing adaptation strategies

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Biography

João Paulo S. de Cortes, with a Geosciences and Environment master's and doctorate, is a professor at the Federal University of Western Pará. Works on Geomorphology, Environmental Planning, Geoprocessing, Spatial Analysis and Environmental Risks. Institutional representative of the Global Water Partnership (GWP) and Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
Fernanda Silva
The Nature Conservancy

The nexus of food, water, climate, and community: freshwater fishing adaptation strategies

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Biography

Fernanda is the Amazon Freshwater Fisheries Conservation Scientist in the Global Freshwater Fisheries Strategy/The Nature Conservancy, supporting Latin American and regional teams who work on freshwater fisheries and fish conservation. She is a Biologist with masters and PhD in Ecology.
Dr Sintayehu Alemayehu
Scientist
The International Center for Tropical Agriculture / CIAT

Developing drought intensity duration frequency curves for early warning and action in Ethiopia’s pastoral region

1:45 PM - 2:00 PM

Biography

Dr. Sintayehu Alemayehu is a multi-disciplined climate resilience and adaptation scientist specializing in dryland and pastoral systems, agri-food system, and climate-smart agriculture. He advances climate solutions through digital innovation, climate finance, policy engagement, and strategic partnerships to enhance food security, environmental sustainability, and resilient livelihoods in Africa
Dr Zina Bird
Research Fellow
University of the South Pacific

Assessing the impacts of climate change on domestic crop production: Experience and perception of local farmers in North Malaita, Solomon Islands

2:00 PM - 2:15 PM

Biography

Dr. Zina Bird is a current Research Fellow at the University of the South Pacific recently been awarded her Doctorate in Climate Change based on a research thesis where her research focused on the impact of climate change on local domestic crops: implications on household food and nutritional security in Malaita, Solomon Islands. Dr. Bird has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals as both lead and co-author. Her research has contributed and aimed at policy recommendations for food and nutritional security, adaptations, and improving local farmers wellbeing’s. In addition to her work, she is also supervising Master Research students.
Dr Uche Okpara
Senior Lecturer
University of Greenwich

Natural resources and food security pathway towards peace-centred adaptation

2:15 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Uche Okpara is Director of the Prosperity and Peace Pathways Project and Senior Lecturer in Climate Change, State Fragility and Conflict. He is equally a UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellow and a leading expert in climate security and sustainable development.
Ms Mary Pleasant
Freshwater Fisheries Strategy Manager
The Nature Conservancy

The nexus of food, water, climate, and community: freshwater fishing adaptation strategies

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Biography

Mary Pleasant is the Global Freshwater Fisheries Strategy Manager at The Nature Conservancy. She coordinates with local teams in Latin America and Africa to advance freshwater fishery conservation efforts for human well-being and biodiversity outcomes. Mary holds an M.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Management from the University of Hawaii. Fernanda Silva is the Amazon Freshwater Fisheries Conservation Scientist in the Global Freshwater Fisheries Strategy/The Nature Conservancy, supporting Latin American and regional teams who work on freshwater fisheries and fish conservation. She is a Biologist with masters and PhD in Ecology.  Elizabeth (Beth) Nyboer is a freshwater ecologist studying how anthropogenic stressors impact freshwater ecosystems, fisheries, and fishing communities. She integrates community perspectives with social, ecological, and environmental data to assess system vulnerabilities and develop equitable solutions. Her work focuses on climate adaptation in Lake Victoria’s inland fisheries in East Africa. Luis Davalos has a professional Degree in Anthropology, graduated in Psychoanalysis and Post-graduate in Social Science, and over 28 years of work experience in the Andean Amazon concerning indigenous peoples, sustainable natural resources management, and environmental and social impacts. He currently works at TNC as IP&LC Program Coordinator in Peru. João Paulo S. de Cortes, with a Geosciences and Environment master's and doctorate, is a professor at the Federal University of Western Pará. Works on Geomorphology, Environmental Planning, Geoprocessing, Spatial Analysis and Environmental Risks. Institutional representative of the Global Water Partnership (GWP) and Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
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