Martin Schaefer

Martin Schaefer is a seasoned professional in the fields of evolutionary biology and animal ecology, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco since March 2016 and as Director of the Biodiversity Future Initiative since July 2023. Schaefer is also a Founding Board Member of InvestConservation® and Co-Founder of Nature Wealth, both established in 2023. Additional roles include membership in the IUCN Species Survival Commission for Ibises, Storks and Spoonbills since January 2016. Previous academic positions include Associate Professor and Assistant Professor at The University of Freiburg, where Schaefer raised $2,200,000 for research initiatives. The educational background includes a PhD in Ecology Evolution from Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg and both Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Biology from The University of Freiburg. Early research at Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco focused on threatened birds in Ecuador.