Ernesto Christian Enkerlin Hoeflich (born 14 December 1958 in
Monterrey
Monterrey (, , abbreviated as MtY) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León. It is the ninth-largest city and the second largest metropolitan area, after Greater Mexico City. Located at the foothills of th ...
) is the Director of Conservation and Sustainability at Parque Fundidora. A prominent
Mexican conservationist, environmentalist and researcher, he specializes in
parrot
Parrots (Psittaciformes), also known as psittacines (), are birds with a strong curved beak, upright stance, and clawed feet. They are classified in four families that contain roughly 410 species in 101 genus (biology), genera, found mostly in ...
s'
ecology
Ecology () is the natural science of the relationships among living organisms and their Natural environment, environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community (ecology), community, ecosystem, and biosphere lev ...
, environmental policy, sustainability and biodiversity stewardship.
Education
Enkerlin holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Agronomy and Animal Science from
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM; ), also known as Technological Institute of Monterrey () or just Tec, is aresearch university based in Monterrey, Mexico, which has grown to include 35 campuses located across 25 cit ...
(ITESM, 1980) and a doctorate degree in wildlife and fisheries sciences from
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University (Texas A&M, A&M, TA&M, or TAMU) is a public university, public, Land-grant university, land-grant, research university in College Station, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of ...
at College Station (1995).
Career
He has worked as a research professor at the Center for Environmental Quality (ITESM) and as an adjunct research scientist for the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation of the
Earth Institute
{{Infobox organization
, name = The Earth Institute
, image = Ei blue1.gif
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at
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...
, in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
.
As a conservationist, Enkerlin has worked for several
NGO
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an independent, typically nonprofit organization that operates outside government control, though it may get a significant percentage of its funding from government or corporate sources. NGOs often focus ...
s and co-founded ''Amigos de la Naturaleza''
and ''Pronatura Noreste'' before joining the National Commission on Protected Areas by presidential appointment. During his tenure, Mexico increased its protected area coverage by almost 50% adding over 8 million hectares in different protected area categories and also became the country in the world with the most international protected area designations which it holds to this date (2015). CONANP incorporated 26 new sites to the
World Network of Biosphere Reserves
The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) covers internationally designated protected areas, known as biosphere or nature reserves, which are meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature (e.g. encourage susta ...
and received recognition for over 125
wetland
A wetland is a distinct semi-aquatic ecosystem whose groundcovers are flooded or saturated in water, either permanently, for years or decades, or only seasonally. Flooding results in oxygen-poor ( anoxic) processes taking place, especially ...
s of international importance under the
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of Ramsar site, Ramsar sites (wetlands). It is also known as the Convention on We ...
.
Additionally, Mexico incorporated Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California (2005) and Monarch Butterfly Sanctuaries (2009) as natural sites under the
World Heritage Convention
The World Heritage Convention, formally the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, is an international treaty signed on 23 November 1972, which created the World Heritage Sites, with the primary goals o ...
. Enkerlin was also involved in negotiating and launching the first international agreement on wilderness signed by the governments of Canada, United States and Mexico in November, 2009, ''Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation for Wilderness and Protected Areas Conservation'' and in establishing the first wilderness area in Latin America. He coined the concept of "avocado landscape" for the main production regions in Mexico and as part of "The Path to Sustainability" recently adopted by the avocado growers association (2024, APEAM). Enkerlin coined the concept of "avocado landscape" for the main production regions in Mexico and as part of "The Path to Sustainability recently adopted by Association of Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico (APEAM)
Formerly, Enkerlin was the Leader of the Legacy for Sustainability (ITESM); chair,
World Commission on Protected Areas
The World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) is one of six commissions of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
History
In 1948, the IUCN established a Committee on National Parks. Two decades later the IUCN had been ...
(WCPA-IUCN); Scientific President for Pronatura, Mexico's largest conservation NGO; and board member of the Global Institute for Sustainability (ITESM) and Fundación Coca-Cola. He is a retired Professor of Ecology and Sustainability from Monterrey Tech and has been dedicated to his family's sustainable vineyard and winery since 2016.
He is the brother of notable Mexican entomologist
Walther Enkerlin.
Awards
His efforts at the National Commission on
Protected areas of Mexico
Protection is any measure taken to guard something against damage caused by outside forces. Protection can be provided to physical objects, including organisms, to systems, and to intangible things like civil and political rights. Although ...
(CONANP), which he presided from 2001 to 2010, were distinguished with the 2005
Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Preservation by
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
and one of the 2009 Distinguished Service Awards by the
Society for Conservation Biology
The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) is an 501(c)(3) non-profit international professional organization that is dedicated to conserving biodiversity. There are over 4,000 members worldwide, including students and those in related non-academ ...
.
The
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the stat ...
(IUCN) awarded Enkerlin one of the 2008 Packard Awards and the Kenton Miller Award for Innovation in Protected Areas Conservation in 2009.
See also
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Enkerlin, Ernesto
Conservation biologists
Mexican conservationists
Mexican ecologists
Academic staff of the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education alumni
Texas A&M University alumni
People from Monterrey
Mexican people of German descent
1958 births
Living people
People associated with the International Union for Conservation of Nature