Edgar Selvin Pérez, a biologist from the University of San Carlos in Guatemala, has developed all his work experience in the fields of conservation biology, sustainable rural development, value chains, articulation of knowledge systems, management, planning, strategic consulting in local government and cooperation. With postgraduate studies in the fields of Rural-local Development, human and economic development; human rights and PhD candidate in Human and Social Sciences from the University of Salamanca. His work has always included innovation and paradigm shift, especially in human relations with the environment and territorial approaches to governance. His work experiences have allowed him a holistic vision of the necessary compatibility of conservation, sustainable use, and a rights approach as instruments of human development. Edgar led the process to present a National Biological Diversity Policy and Strategy as the basis for sustainable development; He has represented Guatemala at the CCAD-SICA level, before the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, IPBES and has influenced the development and implementation of bilateral and multilateral cooperation projects (GEF-CBD) and global negotiations on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Currently, Mr. Pérez is in charge of cooperation and environmental advisory at te local government of Antigua Guatemala, has been also as a consultant for several national and international programs, working for: UNDP, Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Guatemala, GIZ, WWF, TMG, IUCN. He is president and co-founder of the Junej T'inam Foundation for Rural Development and the company OTUS S.A with ventures in agroforestry systems on the southern coast of Guatemala and the value chain of honeybee products.