Entry #11: How to Use the Forest without Losing the Forest with Dr. Raquel Thomas

Dr. Raquel Thomas is the Director of Resource Management &
Training at the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest
Conservation and Development. Raquel got her PhD in tropical
forest ecology in London, where she studied the role of rodents
in seed dispersal in neotropical forests. Raquel has always had a
passion for forests and tree composition, which led her to
continue research on the diverse plant communities of the Guiana
Shield region. In 2005, Raquel started her position as the
Director of Resource Management & Training at Iwokrama and
has led the organization ever since, ensuring that the forest
remains protected while also providing income for local
communities. In this episode, we discuss how sustainable forest
management works, why conservation is so much more than just
science, and how business can partner with indigenous communities
to protect biodiversity.