Board of Directors
Jim Cordoba Alfaro
Founder & President
Jim Cordoba Alfaro is a prominent figure in the field of entomology, conservation, and community leadership in Costa Rica. Born and raised in Costa Rica, Jim developed a deep passion for the country’s rich biodiversity from an early age. His love for nature and insects, in particular, led him on a remarkable journey of exploration and scientific discovery.
Jim‘s career as an entomologist began to flourish when he settled down in the picturesque Osa Peninsula in 2008. With a firm commitment to studying and conserving the region’s remarkable biodiversity, he dedicated his efforts to understanding the intricate ecosystems of the rainforest. Over the years, Jim‘s contributions to the scientific community have been invaluable.
Throughout his career, Jim‘s unwavering dedication and expertise have resulted in significant achievements. He is renowned for his groundbreaking discoveries, having identified and documented the existence of 30 new species of butterflies and beetles. His relentless pursuit of knowledge also led to the discovery of a new mammal record for Costa Rica, further expanding our understanding of the country’s diverse fauna.
Beyond his scientific contributions, Jim has actively worked to bridge the gap between scientific research and the local community. As the executive secretary on the board of the Asociación Integral Corcovado-Carate, he gained invaluable experience in nonprofit organization administration and leadership. This role allowed him to make a positive impact on both nature conservation and the well-being of the local community.
Driven by his passion for education and environmental conservation, Jim founded the Insectopia Interactive and Research Center. This innovative project serves as a hub for scientific exploration, environmental education, and public outreach. Through the center, Jim aims to inspire future generations to appreciate and protect the delicate balance of nature.
In addition to his work in Costa Rica, Jim extends his influence beyond borders. He manages two prominent NGOs, the BioSur Foundation in Costa Rica and the US charity Lands for Biological Diversity. Through these organizations, he continues to advocate for land conservation, environmental education, and scientific research on a global scale.
Jim Cordoba Alfaro’s unwavering dedication to the study of insects, his remarkable discoveries, and his tireless efforts in community leadership have earned him a well-deserved reputation as a leading figure in entomology and conservation in Costa Rica. His work serves as an inspiration to aspiring scientists and environmentalists, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of biodiversity conservation.
Juan Carlos Calleja Ross
Secretary
Juan Carlos has a degree in Graphic Design from the University of Costa Rica. Since 2005 Juan Carlos has worked as a designer, photographer, and museologist for the Regional and Community Museums Department of the National Museum of Costa Rica, providing advice and training as well as having a hand in different projects in cultural and natural museums throughout the country.
Karla Barquero Villalobos
Treasurer
Karla studied biology at the University of Costa Rica and specializes in the study of bats and their variety of species, diets, habitats, and roles within tropical ecosystems. Karla is one of the first Costa Rican biologists to develop the study of bioacoustics. Karla has also conducted several studies for the University of Ulm in Germany.
Her fascination with bats opened the door to her next passion: environmental education and working with communities that coexist around protected natural areas. After years of working in the non-governmental sector developing projects that combine education with tourism, conservation, and multisectoral management, she joined the corporate sector and expanded her professional experience to the field of corporate social responsibility. She transitioned her career toward Human Resource management. She has since expanded her skills and experience, successfully holding several positions in local, regional, and multinational companies both, in Costa Rica and Mexico. Karla is an enthusiastic communicator, passionate about creativity, development, and organizational transformation, she currently develops her own projects as an independent consultant and coach.
Dr. Jenna Lawson
Scientist
Jenna is a biodiversity scientist currently working as a research associate with Imperial College London investigating how we can use new technology to conserve ecosystems and associated biodiversity. Jenna received her Ph.D. in 2021 where she used bioacoustics to determine the distribution of the spider monkey and design a biological corridor for wildlife and assessed the impact of land use change on native forests on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica.
Jenna has worked on conservation projects in the UK, Peru, Fiji, and Costa Rica and is heavily involved with scientific and conservation work on the Osa Peninsula. In addition to her research activities, Jenna is actively involved in activism and outreach both in the UK and overseas, to help people to understand and act on the ecological crisis that faces humanity. Her love for wildlife brought her to Costa Rica to work on the Osa Peninsula, it was here that she met Jim and learnt about the amazing work of Biosur Foundation.
Staff Leadership
Eddier Blanco
Executive Director
Collaborators
Roman Willi
Contributing Wildlife Filmmaker & Photographer / Webdesigner
Award-winning wildlife photographer & filmmaker from Switzerland with a Bachelor of Science degree in media engineering. As a naturalist and conservationist, he helps the foundation by running the website and creating content for social media.
His work can be seen on his website.
Interns
Benicio Becka & Jaden Jansen
Grant Writers
Jaden Jansen
Grant Writer