Ernesto Mancera is a marine biologist and Colombia’s foremost expert on Mangroves. He is a research professor at the National University of Colombia in Bogota, where he formerly served as head of the biology department, and also was the former director of the San Andres Campus of the National University, which sits within San Andres island in the Caribbean sea.
Mancera has collaborated on projects with prominent marine biologists around the world, and was the president of the sixth International Mangrove Macrobenthos and Management conference, MMM6, which was held in Cartagena in 2023 and brought together the world’s top Mangrove experts. Mancera has worked for decades collecting data, forming actionable science-based proposals and solutions, and calling attention to the diverse oceanic and coastal ecosystems of Colombia, with a particular focus on the incomparable Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta.
In our InterDialogue we spoke about Cienaga, mangroves, connectivity and the critical importance of interdisciplinary nature-based solutions, communication and dialogue.
Chapters
0:00 – Introduction
1:52 – Mancera’s Introduction to Marine Biology
3:38 – Importance of the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta Ecoregion
6:55 – History and Current Status of the Ciénaga Grande
10:29 – Importance of Ecological Connectivity for Wetland Ecosystems
13:33 – Importance of Mangroves in Wetland Ecosystems
18:17 – Political Corruption and Community Organization in the Ciénaga
19:52 – International Involvement and Ineffective Interventions
22:07 – Recommendations for Successful Collaborations in the Ciénaga
24:12 – Following the Data for Science-Based Policy and Funding
27:17 – Integrating Science, Local Knowledge, and Assertive Communication
31:04 – Fostering Interdisciplinary and Cross-Societal Collaborations
34:46 – Risks to the Mangrove Forests of the Colombian Pacific Coast
37:55 – Mancera’s Experience at the National University in San Andrés
42:57 – Emerging Projects in Nature-Based Solutions
46:05 – Frameworks for Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Collaborations
50:08 – Future of Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Dialogue
52:51 – Science Communication and the Broader Public
53:30 – Mancera’s Current and Future Projects
56:12 – Conclusion
