Ernesto Enkerlin

A native of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Ernesto Enkerlin is a prominent Mexican conservationist and researcher specializing in sustainable development and biodiversity stewardship. He graduated with honors from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education with a degree in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and then received his doctorate at Texas A&M in Conservation and Sustainable Development. His thesis was on the biology and ecology of the Red-crowned Parrot. In 1997 he started and positioned Pronatura Noreste (Northeast Chapter) as one of the most important NGOs in the country. He also worked as an adjunct research scientist for the Center for the Environmental Research and Conservation of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, in the United States. In 2001 Ernesto was named director of the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas of Mexico (CONANP), a post that he continues to occupy to this day. In 2005 his efforts there won him the distinguished Sultans Qaboos Prize for Environmental Preservation by the UNESCO.

Humberto Berlanga

Born in Mazatlan, Humberto Belanga graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico Faculty of Sciences with a degree in Wildlife Management and has dedicated his career to this field and to building strong working relationships with North American organizations concerned with habitat and avian conservation in Mexico and North America. Humberto has been an invited professor and instructor for various forums, courses, workshops and seminars related to wildlife conservation management, Natural Protected Areas and the political environment. To date he has published over 20 scientific and technical publications related to wildlife conservation and management. From 1995-2000 Humberto held the post of Director of Wildlife Management for the National Institute of Ecology in Mexico. He has been a member of work projects for “Areas of Importance for Bird Conservation” (AICAS) and for the “North American Shorebird Conservation Initiative” (NABSCI), both of which were initiated by the Commission of Environmental Cooperation. He is a current member of the technical committees for the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, Partners in Flight and the Western Hemisphere Counsel for Aquatic Birds.  For the last 9 years he has been the National Coordinator for the North American Initiative for Bird Conservation (NABSCI- ICAAN) in Mexico within the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of the Biodiversity (CONABIO).

Paul A. Opler

Paul A. Opler is an internationally known entomologist and conservationist. He has authored more than 150 articles and 6 books including the Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Butterflies, Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies,Peterson First Guide to Butterflies and Moths, Butterflies East and West, a coloring and activity book on butterflies of National Parks and refuges.  He has also made DVDs about Audubon Society Butterfly Essentials for Beginners and Gardeners and Butterflies: Common and Endangered.   Many of Paul and his wife Evi's butterfly and moth images may be seen at Children's the Butterflies Site and  the Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA).

Paul has investigated butterflies of Sinaloa for more than 14 years, especially the area around Mazatlan and the Durango highway. Paul and Evi have photographed many of the area's butterflies and conducted many butterfly counts.

Paul and Evi's photo credits include, but are not limited to, Time, Life, National Geographic Research, Audubon, Peterson Field Guides, and Chanticleer publications.