The IUCN PCHA Team

M.K.S. Pasha joined the Science and Strategy Group (SSG) at the IUCN Asia Regional Office as Asia Regional Coordinator – Protected, Conserved, and Heritage Areas, IUCN Asia Regional Office, Bangkok, Thailand. A conservation leader and changemaker in Asia, with over 30 years of experience in wildlife conservation, biodiversity governance, and sustainable natural resource management across Asia. He specializes in protected, conserved, and heritage areas (PCHAs), as well as landscape and seascape-level conservation, ecological connectivity, biodiversity mainstreaming, and the development and implementation of global conservation standards for species and area-based conservation to ensure long-term sustainability and measurable conservation outcomes.

In his current role at IUCN, Pasha coordinates large-scale landscape and seascape initiatives, engaging governments, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities to advance ecological integrity, sustainability, and equitable governance. He has been instrumental in promoting the IUCN Green List, Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs), and World Heritage processes in Asia, helping to set standards for effective, sustainable, and high-quality conservation. His work supports regional and national efforts to achieve the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) targets.

Pasha serves as Coordinator of the Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP) and the CBD Subregional South Asia TSC Centre. He is an active member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), the IUCN Asia OECM Specialist Group, and the WCPA Task Force on Integrating Human–Wildlife Co-existence into PCA Standards. He also advises the 30x30 Thailand Coalition, contributing to strategic conservation policies and initiatives across Asia.

Expertise & Focus Areas:

• Area-based, landscape, and seascape conservation
• Biodiversity and flagship species conservation
• Sustainable natural resource management
• Protected area governance, standards, and measurable sustainability
• Policy development, capacity building, and multilateral collaboration

Publications & Contributions:
Pasha has authored several peer-reviewed publications on biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, and PCA governance, and is widely recognized in Asia for advancing innovative, sustainable, and standards-based conservation practices.

I am the Conservation programme officer for IUCN (Regional office for Eastern Europe, North and Central Asia), based in Belgrade and have been with IUCN for 5 years now. Prior to that I worked for Birdlife Serbia and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fond (Mediterranean Hotspot). I hold a MSc degree in Zoology and hence am most passionate about species conservation. But in my role as programme lead in our regional team I have been dealing with variety of topics, including conservation policy, area-based conservation, species conservation, restoration etc. 

Currently working as Conservation Action Project Officer in the Conservation Action Team of IUCN ECARO focusing on projects in Central Asia. Prior to joining IUCN, I have been managing national, regional and international conservation projects in the St. Petersburg-based NGO Baltic Fund for Nature for the last 9 years. The work was related to the development of regional systems of PAs, conservation of transboundary ecosystems, biodiversity assessments, environmental awareness, and promotion of sustainable fisheries. I have graduated from the St. Petersburg State University where obtained Master’s degree specializing in Biodiversity and Nature Management. I used to work in cooperation with the WWF Baltic Ecoregion Programme (MPAs, integrated ocean management, sustainable fishery), Secretariat of the Bern Convention (development of the Emerald Network in Russia), WWF Russia (organisation of trainings for MPAs staff) and many other governmental, scientific, CSOs and private sector organizations.

Jovana Dragic May is a Conservation Action Project Officer at IUCN ECARO, where she contributes to advancing the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and the implementation of the IUCN Green List in Albania. Currently, she supports efforts in establishing management structures for Vjosa Wild River National Park, Europe’s first wild-river national park. Previously, she served at WWF Adria as one of the coordinators of regional projects to enhance protected area governance, sustainability, and environmental education. She holds an MSc in Ecology and Environmental Protection from the University of Belgrade and has completed additional training in environmental education at Cornell University. Passionate about nature conservation, Jovana collaborates with governments, protected areas, and local stakeholders to strengthen management practices and support long-term sustainability of natural resources.

Christine has a background in Zoology and a Masters Degree in African Mammalogy from the University of Pretoria. After a detour into the corporate sector, she began her conservation career in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in 2003, working with the Frankfurt Zoological Society, then worked as a lecturer in Wildlife Management as well as running a multinational research project on carnivore diseases. Christine joined the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) in South Africa in 2007, working across the ESA region developing new conservation initiatives, as well as supporting the implementation of projects within existing programmes. In 2012, Christine joined IUCN for five years to manage the first phase of BIOPAMA, followed by a 3-year stint with IUCN Member Frankfurt Zoological Society from 2017 - 2020, based in Germany, as a Grant Manager, focussing on programme and proposal development as well as supporting reporting and donor liaison. Christine Mentzel (re)joined IUCN in August 2020 in the South Africa Country Office in Pretoria, to manage the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) Programme for the Eastern and Southern African (ESA) region. 

Christine brings over 20 years experience and a good understanding of conservation challenges and project implementation in particular in Africa, and also including some work in South America, South East Asia and Eastern Europe. She further brings excellent project and proposal development skills as well as grant management skills (including for EU, German Government and US Government grants), also guiding implementation staff in grant conditions and ensuring timely implementation and accurate reporting.

Daniel Marnewick is a conservation professional with over 27 years of experience leading strategic initiatives in biodiversity protection across Eastern and Southern Africa. He currently serves as the Regional Area-Based Conservation Coordinator for the IUCN's Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office, where he leads efforts to recognise and strengthen equitable and effective are-based conservation strategies aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework.

A recognised global expert, Daniel pioneered the first national Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) programme and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) dialogues in South Africa and co-developed the IUCN's global methodology for identifying Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs). Today he supports OECM national processes in seven countries in the region. Previously, he held multiple leadership roles at BirdLife South Africa, managing their highly successful Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA) programme. His groundbreaking work directly contributed to the creation of over 130,000 hectares of as protected areas.

Daniel holds post-graduate degrees in Wildlife Management and Environmental Sociology, and is an active member of several IUCN specialist groups. His extensive publication record and thought leadership in areas such as biodiversity stewardship, protected area management, OECM, and transboundary conservation have established him as a leading voice in shaping contemporary conservation policy and practice.

Regional Vice Chair for Eastern and Sothern Africa

Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy is a passionate advocate for small-scale fishers and has expertise in education, outreach and story-telling. She served as the National Coordinator of MIHARI - Madagascar’s Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMA) Network for 6 years and she was elected President of the board of the Network in November 2020. She won the Whitley Award in 2019 for her success in defending the rights of Madagascar’s small-scale fishers and to enable those communities to exchange experiences and strengthen their capacity to manage their resources. In 2021, Vatosoa was named in Top 100 young African Conservation Leaders. After successfully bringing stakeholders together to ensure the sustainable management of Madagascar's marine resources, Vatosoa put her coordination skills at the service of the Malagasy think-tank INDRI with the task of building on existing conservation knowledge to safeguard Madagascar's unique marine and terrestrial biodiversity. She led Alamino, which is a national movement to generate collective action and brain power to re-green Madagascar. She is now the founder and the CEO of BEOLOBE, Madagascar’s first platform that brings together the island’s community-led conservation initiatives: marine and terrestrial and aims to mobilize investments and resources to prioritize Indigenous and local communities’ well-being and their guardianship of natural resources.

Tommaso Demozzi works as Biodiversity Policy Officer for the IUCN European Regional office and for the IUCN Centre for Policy and Law. His expertise focuses on biodiversity, in particular linked to the protected areas, the implementation of the EU environmental laws, and key UN processes related to the environment. He leads the biodiversity policy engagement for IUCN in Europe and engages regularly with Member States representatives, EU institutions’ officials, and stakeholders. He represents IUCN externally at several EU fora and platforms, as well as at international events such as the UN Environment Assembly. He is an author of three IUCN publications on sustainable agriculture, biodiversity metrics, and circular economy. He is currently a member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (specialist group on 30x30 and strict protection) and of the IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy.

 15 years of progressively responsible experience in environmental conservation, project management, and international
collaboration, aligning closely with the responsibilities and objectives outlined in my current role as Regional Program Coordinator at the
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation. In this position, I lead the development and implementation of the IUCN Nature 2030
Programme at the Mediterranean level, ensuring alignment with strategic goals. My work involves overseeing budgets, work plans, and
project portfolios, providing technical and financial progress reports, and supporting the development of a long-term fundraising strategy. I
also foster collaboration across IUCN offices and partner organizations to ensure successful programme delivery. I represent IUCN at
international policy forums, developed partnerships to promote North-South and South-South collaboration, and coordinated capacity-building
initiatives for Mediterranean conservation challenges.

Jose Postigo is a passionate environmentalist with a strong background in biodiversity management and international conservation research. His expertise includes endangered and invasive alien species, protected area management, and biodiversity research, gained through experience in several European countries and overseas.

He holds a master’s degree in Biodiversity Management (Spain and France) and a PhD on invasive alien species, carried out between the University of Málaga and the Natural History Museum of Barcelona. Over the past 10 years, he has led conservation and research projects on tuna, cetaceans, bats, the lesser kestrel and monk parakeets in Spain ; European mink in Germany; black-tailed prairie dogs and fishers in Canada; as well as projects on protected areas and community-based conservation in Spain and Canada.

He is analytical, organized, and solutions-oriented, with strong multitasking abilities. His academic record includes peer-reviewed research papers, technical reports, and two co-authored books, one of them published by SEO/BirdLife.

Hyacinth Armstrong-Vaughn is an accomplished conservation specialist with more than 15 years of work in project management, natural resource conservation, and the non-profit sector. She has extensive experience engaging stakeholders, growing networks, and fostering partnerships in multi-stakeholder environments to advance sustainable outcomes.

She currently serves as Coordinator of the COLOURS (COmmunities, Local Outcomes and Regional Centres) project at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), building on her leadership role coordinating IUCN’s implementation of the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) programme in the Caribbean.

Prior to joining IUCN, Hyacinth managed the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) Coastal and Marine Management and Education project in the southeastern Caribbean, delivering training, networking, and outreach across five countries. She also played a pivotal role in establishing the Caribbean Protected Areas Gateway (CPAG), supporting countries in biodiversity reporting, and promoting regional collaboration to advance global biodiversity targets.

Hyacinth holds an MA in Environmental Policy and is committed to fostering collaborative approaches that align science, policy, and community action to achieve lasting conservation outcomes in the Caribbean.

Natalia Boulad has 20  years of experience in Spatial Conservation Planning, GIS Modelling and Management of Conservation Projects. She is currently working as The Protected Areas, World Heritage and Biodiversity Programme Manager at The International Union for the Conservation of Nature - The Regional Office for West Asia. She has been responsible for the management and implementation of different conservation projects in Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Iraq and KSA. She has previously worked for the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature RSCN in Jordan as the Head of GIS Unit. Her professional fields of expertise include: Species distribution modelling, protected area zoning, protected area network design and planning, land change modelling, modelling of ecosystem services and mainstreaming the IUCN Green List standard within protected area management. 

Arsene Alain Sanon holds a PhD in Environmental Geosciences, which he obtained in 2009 from Nancy 1 University (France). Prior to that, he obtained a DESS (postgraduate diploma) and then a DEA (master's degree), both focusing on biodiversity conservation and restoration of degraded landscapes. Arsene has some 20 years of experience, the last 15 of which he spent with the IUCN Protected Areas and Biodiversity Programme in project and program coordination and management positions in the field of nature conservation and sustainable development. Previously, he worked for the IRD as an Associate Researcher, where he participated in the implementation of several research projects for development on biodiversity and ecosystem services, soil health, environmental risk assessment, ecological engineering, etc.

Since March 2025, Arsene has been appointed as the Regional Head, Protected Areas and Biodiversity Programme and is responsible for implementing the IUCN's technical program on protected areas and biodiversity in West and Central Africa, where he provides the support to define and operationalize the strategic direction and priority actions of the IUCN's commitment to biodiversity conservation and socio-ecosystem resilience in the region.

Arsene is a member of several IUCN expert commissions and the West African Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Experts Network (WABES Experts Network).

Il est de nationalité burkinabé, et a un doctorat en économie rurale, option économie agricole et de l’environnement de l’Université de Cocody en Côte d’ivoire, et prendra ses nouvelles fonctions le 1er mai 2018. Avant de rejoindre l’UICN, Jacques a également travaillé entre autres dans l’administration Burkinabé en tant que économiste chercheur au Centre National de Recherche Scientifique et Technologique, et enseignant en économie et analyse de politique à l’université Polytechnique de Bobo-Dioulasso. Ensuite, il a rejoint en Gambie, le Centre International pour la Trypanotolerance en tant que chercheur associé et Chef de programme de recherche « socioéconomie, macroéconomie et politique ». Il a donc formé de nombreux chercheurs et praticiens sur les approches d’analyse et d’intégration des considérations sociale, économique et politique dans la gestion des ressources agricoles et environnementales. Jacques a rejoint l’UICN depuis 2007 et a occupé plusieurs fonctions, dont Coordinateur de Programme en Guinée Bissau, Chargé de Programme de Planification, Suivi-Evaluation et Apprentissage au bureau régional du Programme Afrique Centrale et Occidentale (PACAO), puis en tant que Chargé de développement de projet & Coordinateur FEM/FVC. Il a contribué au développement et à la mise en œuvre du portefeuille des projets des différentes Unités du PACO. Son rôle au Programme de l'UICN au Burkina Faso consistera à diriger le développement stratégique et l'action de l’UICN, développer et mettre en œuvre un portefeuille de projets et gérer les ressources mises à la disposition du programme. _________________________________________________________________ Mr. Jacques Somda is a Burkinabe national, and hold a doctorate degree in rural economics, Agricultural and Environmental economics, from the University of Cocody in Côte d'Ivoire, and will take up his new position on May 1, 2018. Before joining IUCN, Jacques worked as, among other functions, economics scientist in th

Je suis tiltulaire d'un doctorat en Médecin vétérinaire et d'un Master spécialisé en Gestion des Aires Protégées.

J'ai 22 d'expérience professionnel dans le domaine de la conservation dont 14 ans à l'UICN. Je suis présentement Chef du Parogramme UICN Sénégal et Coordonnateur Régional Sénior des Programmes Patrimoine Mondial et Liste Verte. Je suis membre du panel international de l'UICN sur le patrimoine mondial et

An Ecuadorian environmental economist with 25 years of experience in project management in Latin America and globally, covering forestry, climate change, biodiversity, conservation, and human rights, among others. She currently works for the IUCN South America Office as Regional Program Coordinator, leading the management of the entire regional portfolio and fundraising efforts. Previously, her most significant positions and projects included the Latin America and Caribbean Directorate of the global Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), implemented by the Latin American Future Foundation in Ecuador; Regional Coordinator of the All Eyes on the Amazon initiative, led by Hivos and Greenpeace; and Coordinator of the UN REDD+ Joint National Program in Ecuador. Her first stint at IUCN was 22 years ago, where she was involved with the Global Program on Forests and Climate Change for almost a decade. With a Master's degree in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics and Climate Change Law and Economics, Consuelo facilitates participatory processes for building agreements in multi-stakeholder platforms at the global and national levels on issues related to sustainable development. She also facilitates knowledge management processes at the regional level.

Zornitza Aguilar holds a Master’s degree in Conservation and Management of Natural Areas and has over 20 years of professional experience in environmental and development issues, public policy, and the management of natural spaces, among others. She stands out as an expert in her field, having coordinated the design, implementation, evaluation, and monitoring of a wide range of socio-environmental projects with international bilateral and multilateral cooperation institutions and organizations, as well as public and private institutions, NGOs, CSOs, and Indigenous communities.

Zornitza has led several initiatives with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition, including the preparation of Ecuador’s Sixth National Biodiversity Report for the Convention on Biological Diversity, the update of Ecuador’s Wetlands Action Plan, and the Protected Areas Financial Sustainability Project. She is currently serving as Senior Officer for Protected and Conserved Areas and Regional Coordinator of the Green List at the IUCN South America Regional Office.