Ernesto HERRERA

I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Iberoamericana and completed a Master’s in Environmental Management at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. I also hold a diploma in Fundraising from Indiana University.

In the 1990s, I worked in government, at the Ministry of Communications and Transportation, and in the private sector, collaborating with companies in the plastic injection, refrigeration, and food industries. Later, at Grupo Bimbo, I focused on environmental issues within the company’s Ecology Department.

Since 2002, I have dedicated myself to civil society organizations, serving as the Executive Director of Reforestamos México, A.C. Under my leadership, the organization received the National Forestry Merit Award in 2009 and the Recognition for Nature Conservation in 2018.

As Executive Director of Reforestamos, a member organization of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2008, I have had the honor of holding key leadership positions within the Union. I served as Chair of the National Committee of Mexico from 2015 to 2018 and as Chair of the Mesoamerica Regional Committee from 2019 to 2024. I have also been active in IUCN’s Global Group to strengthen National and Regional Committees. In this capacity, I helped establish a task force to promote the importance of a safe civic space where individuals and organizations from all sectors can engage in the local environmental agenda. I also contributed to the creation of IUCN’s ABCÑ, a Spanish-speaking forum that has enabled safe dialogue around the Escazú Agreement and the protection of environmental defenders.

I also serve on the boards and advisory councils of other civil society organizations working on trees, sustainable natural resource management, rural enterprise development, and Mexico’s digitalization. I am part of the BMW Foundation’s global network of Responsible Leaders, and in 2023 I was recognized by Forbes México as one of the 30 sustainable minds. I am particularly interested in developing multisectoral alliances in Mexico and Latin America to ensure transparency, legality, responsibility, and sustainability in land management, as well as in the sustainable use of forest and fishery resources.

Beyond my professional life, I enjoy spending time with my family, nature photography, forest walks, cycling, swimming, diving, and exploring mezcal culture. These activities allow me to maintain balance and deepen my connection with nature.