Frances Camille Rivera is a marine ecologist and the Co-Founder of Oceanus Conservation, a nonprofit organization aiming to restore the remaining blue carbon habitats in the Philippines. She lobbied for a local agreement to protect 260 ha of mangrove forests across the Philippines. She is also a recent 2022 National Geographic Explorer, which supports her work engaging citizen science in merging technology and mangrove and seagrass monitoring. She was also a 2021 Wetland Restoration Steward and 16 Women Restoring the Earth by the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF). With more than a decade of experience in coastal management and marine conservation, she has led various community-based mangrove restoration projects, facilitated alternative livelihoods for communities, and engaged more than 7,000 young people in ocean conservation. Additionally, she has spoken about community-based restoration and conservation and the role of young people in nature-based solutions at UNFCCC COP26, the UN Ocean Conference, and COP28.
Expertise
Blue Carbon, Mangroves, Dugongs, Seagrass, Wetlands, Philippines, Citizen Science, Coastal Management, Community-based Restoration, Nature-based Solutions, Youth Engagement and Advocacy, International Conferences
Affiliations
- National Geographic Explorer
- Founding Executive Director, Oceanus Conservation
- Global Landscapes Forum Asia Pacific Steering Committee
- Global Future Council on the Regenerative Blue Economy
- Member, IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management
Awards and Fellowships
- 2022 National Geographic Explorer
- 2021 Wetland Restoration Steward
- Global Landscapes Forum 16 Women Restoring the Earth
- 2023 Named one of the 12 IUCN Young Changemakers
