Perspectives from My Research Community
"Dr. Ximena Herrera - Alvarez, has made an impact by collating all information on Amazonian timbers, including their IUCN threat status. This is an important source for all interested in timbers of Amazonia".
Hans ter Steege, PhD
Senior Researcher
Naturalis Biodiversity Center & Utrecht University, Netherlands
"Dr. Herrera-Alvarez has demonstrated a strong ability to integrate a large amount of relevant scientific information from multiple key stakeholders in tropical forests".
"Dr. Ximena Herrera-Alvarez is a curious and open-minded ecologist whose research spans scales from decomposing wood invertebrates to trees across the Amazonian basin. Working at the interface of basic and applied science, she connects fundamental ecological understanding with real-world environmental challenges".
" I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Ximena Herrera-Alvarez since 2016, first at IKIAM University in Ecuador and later during her PhD at UPNA (2019–2024). From the beginning, she stood out for her initiative, intellectual curiosity, and independence.
During her PhD, she developed and led her own research on Amazonian forests, an area outside her lab’s funded projects at the time. She independently acquired new skills, including R programming and advanced analytical methods, and built collaborations with national forest administrations across the Amazon Basin and international organizations. She also secured international research funding during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her PhD resulted in a major scientific contribution: the first taxonomically standardized, regionally comprehensive database of Amazonian timber species, integrating information on taxonomy, distribution, conservation status, and commercial relevance. By making this resource openly available, she demonstrated a strong commitment to Open Science, which was recognized with the 2025 Open Science Award from the Spanish Association of Terrestrial Ecology.
Her work exemplifies the combination of scientific rigor, independence, and meaningful real-world impact".
Gonzalo Rivas-Torres, PhD
Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Director
& Associate Professor and Researcher
Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador
"I've been working with Ximena for about 15 years. Along this time, we've been involved in several projects on ecology, conservation, animal health, and environmental policy, among others. I have felt very pleased with working with her as her leadership and inquisitive mind are fundamental to succeed in any research project. Finally, but not less important, Ximena is a very empathetic person, an excellent co-worker and a great mentor with young students".
Leonardo D. Ortega - López, PhD
Lecture and Researcher
Population and Environment Research Group
Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Ecuador
"Dr. Ximera Herrera-Alvarez lives and breathes ecology. Driven by a profound connection to nature, she focuses her research on turning rigorous science into actionable conservation. She is entirely dedicated to serving both science and our ecosystems."
"I had the opportunity to meet Ximena in 2018, when she took part in a training workshop organized by the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization as part of a regional project on biodiversity and sustainable forest management in the Amazon. From the very beginning, I was impressed by her enthusiasm and curiosity about Amazonian forest research. Over time, I saw how that motivation developed into a highly relevant regional research initiative, which she led and which resulted in the creation of the MADERA database. Her work reflects a remarkable ability to integrate science, technical information and regional collaboration, generating applied knowledge that contributes to the conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests".
"Working with Ximena was a very valuable experience for my professional development. Her research in Amazonian ecosystems provides fundamental knowledge for understanding these environments and contributing to the conservation and sustainable management of their resources. From the very beginning, she welcomed me into her laboratory and showed great willingness to share her knowledge and guide me through different research activities.
Thanks to this experience, I had the opportunity to visit incredible and well-preserved areas of the Amazon, strengthen my research and scientific writing skills, and gain a deeper understanding of the importance of generating knowledge that can be applied to conservation.
In addition, Ximena is attentive to the development of her team, promotes learning opportunities, and creates opportunities that make a significant contribution to the professional growth of those who work with her".
Gabriela Rivadeneira - Barba, MSc
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador
"Dr. Ximena Herrera-Alvarez is an inspiring and dedicated ecologist whose teaching and mentorship sparked my passion for research and conservation. As her student in biology, I learned to appreciate the importance of ecosystems and their preservation. By assisting her with a project on the composition of invertebrate communities associated with leaf litter and decaying wood in the western Amazon, I gained practical experience sorting invertebrates from samples, skills that later guided my own work with aquatic macroinvertebrates. Her commitment to research and the conservation of natural systems has profoundly shaped my professional path. Today, as a hydrologist, I am dedicated to the conservation and restoration of water sources, a mission deeply influenced by her guidance".
Technical Specialist
Water Protection Fund – FONAG, Ecuador
"Working alongside Ximena has been an immensely enriching experience, both personally and professionally. Her brilliance, humility, warmth, and genuine commitment to her work are truly inspiring. Through her professionalism and passion for ecology, she has inspired those around her to develop a deeper appreciation for the complexity and beauty of natural ecosystems.
It was a privilege to witness firsthand the fascinating dynamics of ecosystem regeneration and the remarkable processes that underpin ecological resilience. I am profoundly grateful to Ximena, who has played a fundamental role in my professional development and learning. Her guidance, dedication, and passion have had a lasting impact on my own journey as a professional".
Community Relations Assistant
UNACEM, Ecuador
"Working alongside Ximena has been an excellent experience. Her research addresses key issues for the conservation of the Amazon, and her work has inspired me while guiding the development of high-value science communication products".
Ana Espinoza, MSc
CEO