Javier Simonetti

Biography

Javier A. Simonetti is a biologist committed to contribute to the development of the scientific and cultural bases to inform and strength the progress of public policies and decision-making processes in biodiversity conservation. Javier has over 40 years of experience dealing with the role of human activities shaping modern-day biological communities.

Attempting to achieve land-sharing between biodiversity and human uses of the landscape, Javier has dealt with the conservation of biodiversity in fragmented forests, forestry plantations and livestock ranges in Latin America. Javier graduated from Universidad de Chile in 1979 and obtained his PhD from University of Washington in 1986.  He immediately joined Universidad de Chile, where he is Professor at Facultad de Ciencias. At Universidad de Chile, Javier has launched and chaired the Interdisciplinary Program in Biodiversity Studies as well as the Transdisciplinary Program in Environment.

Javier as also chaired the Latin American Botanical Network and served in the Advisory Council of the Chilean Secretary of the Environment. Currently chairs Asociación Kauyeken, a not-for profit NGO dedicated to value the relationship between Nature and Culture as a basis to foster a culture of environmental protection. For his work, Javier has been elected member of the Chilean Academy of Sciences and distinguished by the Chilean Society of Ecology and the Society for Conservation Biology.