Maria Espinoza

Ecuadorian marine biologist protecting Galapagos ecosystems through citizen science

Maria Espinoza is a groundbreaking Ecuadorian scientist whose community-driven conservation model has revitalized marine protection in the Galapagos Islands. Founder of Guardianes del Mar, she developed the world's first coral reef restoration program led by local fisherfolk. Her coral 'nursery' projects have restored 12km² of reef habitat since 2020, creating 800+ jobs in sustainable tourism.

Using crowd-sourced data from 10,000+ citizen scientists, Espinoza's team identified critical shark migration routes leading to new marine protected areas. Her 2024 book 《Coral Democracy》 outlines her participatory conservation model now replicated in the Maldives and Seychelles. The BBC's "Blue Planet II: New Horizons" featured her work, inspiring global youth climate action movements.