MEET THE SCIENTIST - Yuliana Bedolla

Marine biologist and 2023 Whitley Award winner on protecting rare seabird nest sites

- Jo Price

Mexican conservationist Yuliana Rocío Bedolla Guzmán was recently recognised by UK charity Whitley Fund for Nature for her work to protect important seabird colonies from invasive mammals. While pursuing a Masters in coastal oceanography, she contacted non-profit Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas (GECI) to conduct fieldwork for her thesis on the Baja California Pacific Islands: “I witnessed the relevance of the restoration work they were doing,” says Yuliana. She started working as a coordinator for the organisation before later becoming a project director.

“Mexico provides crucial  breeding and foraging