Sindy J. Martínez Callejas & Dr. Felipe Roa-Clavijo - Researchers in Columbia S.A.

See bios below This talk presents research conducted by Sindy Martinez and Dr. Felipe Roa-Clavijo, two Colombian researchers working in the region of Montes de María, in the Colombian Caribbean. Armed conflict caused deforestation and the displacement of rural communities in the year 2000. After residents returned, led by a resilient group of women who drew attention to the recovery of their territory and the endangered dry forest ecosystem, they now run a yam-producing association and a plant nursery to support restoration efforts. This case shows the strong link between conflict recovery, environmental restoration, grassroots leadership, as well as the importance of interdisciplinary research with high impact in their territory.

About the Speaker

Sindy J. Martínez Callejas is a researcher at the Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute. She holds a degree in Ecology from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Colombia) and a Master’s, Interdisciplinary Development Studies from Universidad de los Andes (Colombia). With over 13 years of experience in participatory research, her work primarily focuses on the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity. She is particularly interested in understanding the relationships between society and nature and seeks to bridge the gap between these two spheres through participatory science approaches. Dr. Felipe Roa-Clavijo holds a PhD in International Development from the University of Oxford and a Master’s, Public Administration from Seattle University. He is an expert in food security, agriculture, and rural development. He is the author of the books The Politics of Food Provisioning in Colombia (Routledge, 2022) and Política en el Plato (Ediciones Uniandes, 2024) and several documents in specialized publications. He is currently a professor at the School of Government at Universidad de los Andes in Bogota, Colombia, and Associate Researcher at the University of Oxford.