Macarena Parra

Principal Investigator - Sea Turtle Conservation

Macarena is a Chilean marine biologist, graduated from the Universidad Católica del Norte, with over fifteen years of experience in the research and conservation of sea turtles in Galapagos and other countries in the region. Since 2009, she has served as the Principal Investigator of CDF's Sea Turtle Conservation Program, closely collaborating with the Galapagos National Park Directorate in implementing green turtle nesting monitoring and other related projects.

She pursued her doctoral studies at Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom, focusing on the impacts of marine traffic on the archipelago's sea turtles. Macarena leads efforts to identify anthropogenic threats and assess the impact of climate change on green turtles in the Galápagos Marine Reserve. Additionally, she has significantly contributed to the development of educational programs with the Galapagos National Park Directorate and organizations like Ecology Project International, aimed at promoting sea turtle conservation among local youth. Her commitment is centered on early detection and addressing threats, advising management authorities to protect and preserve these species in the archipelago.