Sandra Bessudo Lion is a French Colombian

marine biologist Marine biology is the scientific study of the biology of marine life, organisms in the sea. Given that in biology many scientific classification, phyla, family (biology), families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others th ...

from the

École pratique des hautes études The École pratique des hautes études (), abbreviated EPHE, is a Grand Établissement in Paris, France. It is highly selective, and counted among France's most prestigious research and higher education institutions. It is a constituent college o ...

(EPHE) in Paris. She is a professional diver and involved in the conservation of marine biodiversity and the environment. She is the founder and director of the Malpelo Foundation and served as a presidential counselor for environment management for Colombian president Juan Manual Santos.

Education

Bessudo earned a Masters in Life and Earth Sciences Studies in

Perpignan Perpignan (, , ; ca, Perpinyà ; es, Perpiñán ; it, Perpignano ) is the prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France, in the heart of the plain of Roussillon, at the foot of the Pyrenees a few kilometres from the ...

(France).

Career

In 1999, Bessudo founded the Malpelo Foundation. As director of the Malpelo and other marine ecosystems foundation, she was an active promoter in the establishment of the Isla Malpelo Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, making it a "Particular Sensitive Area" recognized by the

International Maritime Organization The International Maritime Organization (IMO, French: ''Organisation maritime internationale'') is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping. The IMO was established following agreement at a UN conference ...

(IMO). In 2006, UNESCO recognized the area as a World Heritage Site. She led several research projects on sharks using acoustic and satellite telemetry. In December of 2011, Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos appointed Bessudo as new director of the Presidential Agency of International Cooperation of Colombia, a governmental entity in charge of managing, technically coordinating and leading the public and private international cooperations. Before that, she had acted as high presidential counselor for environmental management, biodiversity, water and climate change. Bessudo also worked in the special administrative unit of the National Natural Parks System of the Ministry of Environment. Bessudo also served as Coordinator of the Workshops and Cycles of Conferences in Colombia for the International Year of the Oceans. Diving instructor in Club El Nogal and diving Director in Aviatur. Sandra Bessudo has independently produced dozens of publications, videos and specialized documentaries.

Awards

Among her awards, Bessudo was recognized with the Distinguished Service Medal to the General Navy Direction, granted by the

Colombian National Army The National Army of Colombia ( es, Ejército Nacional de Colombia) is the land warfare service branch of the Military Forces of Colombia. With over 361,420 active personnel as of 2020, it is the largest and oldest service branch in Colombia, an ...

and the 2011 Biosphere Awareness Award granted by the Mayors of Cadiz, Spain and

Mariquita, Tolima San Sebastián de Mariquita is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia, about northwest of Bogotá. This town and municipality contains several important Spanish settlements that were located here due to its vicinity to the ...

in Colombia. She also received the Environmental Civil Order Merit "Thomas van der Hammen" Grade of Grand Cross of Gold, delivered in the Colombian Congress facilities and awarded by the Council of Environmental NGOs, among many other that she has received in

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

and abroad.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bessudo, Sandra People from Bogotá Living people Colombian people of French descent Colombian people of Belgian descent Underwater divers Colombian environmentalists Colombian women environmentalists 21st-century Colombian women politicians 21st-century Colombian politicians Presidential advisers of Colombia Year of birth missing (living people)