Jhan Carlos Carrillo

Jhan has a deep interest in the natural history, ecology, and evolutionary biology of Neotropical vertebrates, especially mammals and birds. Since 2022, he works as a spatial data ecologist consultant for Audubon Americas, a division of the National Audubon Society dedicated to bird protection throughout the Western Hemisphere. He has contributed to the development and implementation of Conserva Aves, an ambitious conservation program that seeks to create, consolidate, and strengthen 100 new subnational strategic protected areas in Latin America. This program has already funded 19 key projects for bird protection in Colombia.

The loss of migratory birds in the Americas has reached unprecedented levels, presenting major challenges for conservation professionals. To address this crisis, it is critical to know where to focus efforts and generate the greatest impact, both for the protection of birds and for the well-being of ecosystems and local communities. Safe Wings, an innovative tool created by the National Audubon Society in collaboration with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, provides a decision support system for conservationists.

This conference will explore how Safe Wings can support conservationists and decision makers to better prioritize their efforts to protect regional avifauna. It will show how the tool allows for the creation of customized maps and answers to important conservation questions. In addition, different perspectives on the protection of migratory and resident birds in Colombia and the American hemisphere will be discussed.