2024 New Futures Fellowship

Climate + Marine Communities

The Climate + Marine Communities fellowship focuses on addressing global threats to marine habitats through advocacy, supported by research. By championing efforts to protect marine ecosystems and strengthen resilience, our fellows are driving change in their local coastal communities. Their work is centered on the preservation of mangrove biodiversity, advocating for stronger protections of these critical environments.

Protecting Costa Rica's Mangroves

Mangroves are vital to Costa Rica's ecosystem, enhancing biodiversity, protecting coastlines, sequestering carbon, and supporting local fisheries and economies. These remarkable trees are essential for maintaining environmental health and resilience against climate change.

As part of our fellowship, Astrid Juárez traveled to Manzanillo Puntarenas to engage with community members about the threats climate change poses to mangroves. She emphasizes the urgent need for stronger enforcement of environmental laws and the importance of the Escazú Agreement in amplifying marginalized voices in decision-making.

Community-led initiatives, such as mangrove reforestation in Manzanillo, offer hope for restoring these ecosystems, but they require increased governmental support to thrive. Check out Astrid’s videos for more information!

Safeguarding Tobago’s Mangroves

Tobago's mangroves face a critical threat from unregulated development, particularly in the Magdalena area, where significant destruction has occurred. To protect these vital ecosystems, our fellow Seth Aqui advocates for stronger regulations and sustainable development practices, along with increased community involvement. This study highlights the necessity of government support and enforcement to ensure the preservation of Tobago's mangroves. Watch Seth’s videos below for more information!

Read more of the fellows' recommendations in their white paper.

Meet the Fellows

  • Astrid Peraza Juárez

    Astrid Peraza is a materials science engineer, climate and gender equality activist and storyteller from Costa Rica. Now pursuing a degree in Management of Natural Resources. With an unwavering commitment to environmental issues, Astrid utilizes her storytelling to shed light on the urgent need for climate action. As a member of the 2022 fellow Cohort for Future Rising, she worked to create a documentary centered on the women's cooperative in the rural village of Manzanillo, Puntarenas. This small fishing village on Costa Rica's Pacific coast grapples with poverty and government neglect. Astrid strives to empower women and girls, create opportunities for growth, and inspire them to be changemakers. By sharing stories and implementing initiatives to support young women in their pursuit of leadership, she hopes to contribute to a more equitable future where gender equality is not just a goal but a reality.

  • Seth Aqui

    A lifelong connection to the ocean, sparked by a transformative summer camp with the Buccoo Reef Trust, led Seth to pursue a B.Sc. in Marine Sciences at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. Now a PADI Rescue Diver and veteran of numerous projects, Seth's expertise lies in environmental project management, pollution monitoring, and scientific communication. Seth's work includes a study on the impact of human pollution on the Bon Accord Lagoon, stakeholder-driven improvements for the lagoon's health, and mapping local sediment movement. He has experience in GIS, fisheries management, aquaculture, and marketing, contributing across a diverse range of marine conservation efforts. Additionally, Seth serves as Tobago's island representative for the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, advocating for sustainable practices to protect marine ecosystems.

Fellowship Advisor

Angelo Bernardino

Angelo is a Marine Ecologist and Professor of Oceanography at the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo in the city of Vitoria, Brazil. Angelo is interested in marine conservation and its connections with climate change effects in the oceans and humans. Angelo has a PhD in Biological Oceanography and lead a number of projects in both offshore and coastal ecosystems, from the abyssal depths to coastal mangroves and intertidal reefs. During recent years, as a National Geographic Explorer, he has been working to explore the importance of Amazon mangroves as a potential climate mitigation in Brazil’s forestry sector, and to map and value the ecosystem services of mangroves to local communities in Northern Brazil.

Interested in Fellowships?

We're not currently recruiting for any fellowships, but we'd love to keep you informed! Sign up with your email address to receive the latest news and updates on future opportunities.

By signing up, you are consenting to be automatically enrolled in our monthly newsletters. Our newsletters provide updates on fellowships, events, and relevant news. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the 'unsubscribe' link in the newsletter.