Barbara Ayala-Orozco

I am an Associate Professor at the Institute of Ecosystem and Sustainability Research at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), conducting inter- and transdisciplinary research on environmental governance collaborative management of social-ecological systems. My work examines local institutional configurations, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and social participation in the management of forests and biodiversity, focusing on the factors shaping place-based collaboration in Mexico. Mentoring is central to my academic practice, and I have supervised research on forest governance, climate change and gender, commons management, and participation in environmental policy instruments. Through collaborative research with diverse actors, I generate knowledge and co-design sustainable management alternatives aimed at strengthening equity, collective action, and environmental justice.