Ricardo is a coastal ecologist with extensive experience in managing natural protected areas. He holds a BS in Coastal Marine Biology from the University of Puerto Rico at Humacao (2009) and a PhD in Ecosystem Science and Management from Texas A&M University (2013). For the past eight years, Ricardo has served as the Management Officer for Puerto Rico’s Northeast Ecological Corridor, Arrecifes de la Cordillera, and Canal de Luis Peña Natural and Marine Reserves. Recently, he was appointed as the Technical Advisor for the Natural Protected Areas Bureau of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER), where he supports strategic planning and policy development for conservation. His current management and research activities focus on the impacts of sea-level rise on coastal freshwater wetlands, hydrological restoration in natural protected areas, and mitigating the effects of extreme sargassum inundations in Puerto Rico. Prior to these roles, Ricardo worked with the San Juan Bay Estuary Program, focusing on ecosystem restoration and community-based conservation initiatives. With a passion for integrating science into resource management, Ricardo is committed to fostering resilient ecosystems and sustainable practices that benefit both biodiversity and local communities.