Eric Dante Gutierrez
Researcher, Erasmus University Rotterdam International Institute of Social Studies
Executive Director, Freeland Brasil
Dr Juliana Machado Ferreira is founder and Executive Director of Freeland Brasil, the South American branch of the Freeland Foundation (an internationally respected counter wildlife and human trafficking organization). She is a Biologist with MSc and PhD in Genetics, both from the University of Sao Paulo.
Dr Juliana collaborated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Forensics Laboratory from 2005 to 2013, first as a volunteer and then as a visiting scientist, and she developed her Ph.D. dissertation in collaboration with the laboratory. A TED Fellow 2009, TED Senior Fellow 2010-2012, Juliana was also laureate a 2014 National Geographic Emerging Explorer and received the 2016 WINGS Courage Award from the organization WINGS WorldQuest.
Freeland Brasil’s mission is to conserve biodiversity by combating wildlife trafficking and the organization works using a comprehensive approach that combines scientific research, education and awareness, and public policy based on three pillars: (1) Education and Awareness to reduce demand for wildlife and parts and products; (2) Research, development of tools and capacity building to support law enforcement and; (3) Public policy and international articulation to institutionalise the combat against wildlife trafficking.