Speaker: Dr. Maria Iturbide-Chang
Wetlands are the unsung heroes of Indiana’s landscapes, providing essential ecosystem services such as water filtration, flood mitigation, biodiversity preservation, and carbon sequestration. Despite their critical role, Indiana has lost over 85% of its original wetlands, leaving these vital ecosystems at risk. This presentation explores the ecological importance of wetlands, their status in Indiana, and the challenges they face due to policy changes, development, and environmental degradation. Using science-based insights and real-world examples, we will delve into successful restoration initiatives and advocate for integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning and conservation efforts. The session will also present actionable steps to protect and restore wetlands, including community engagement strategies, policy advocacy, and scalable restoration techniques.
Maria is the Water policy Director for the Hoosier Environmental Council. As the former Minister of Environment and Natural Resources in Guatemala and the Executive Director of the nonprofit organization FUNCAGUA (water fund) for nine years, she spearheaded initiatives in freshwater management, policy formulation, and strategic planning.
Maria holds a Doctorate in Environmental Policy and Planning from Lincoln University, New Zealand, a Master's in Environmental Sciences, a BS in Biology from Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, and postgraduate studies of (i) Nature-Based Solutions for Water Challenges from Technische Universitat Dresden, Germany, (ii) Water Cooperation and Diplomacy from the University of Geneva, and (iii) Indiana Watershed Leadership Academy from Purdue University-Indiana.
Sponsored by Christopher Moore
