The recipient of the 2019 Aldo Leopold award is Dr. Bernal Rodriguez-Herrera of the University of Costa Rica. Dr. Rodriguez-Herrera’s research contributions are numerous and highly influential. The principal focus of his work on mammals has concerned mostly bats throughout Latin America. His principal research foci are: 1) the ecology of tent-making bats 2) describing new species and geographic distributions of bats throughout Latin America 3) application of gathered data in the advancement of conservation programs, and 4) public outreach and education, particularly for school children. Every letter of support spoke of Bernal’s extreme dedication and commitment to bat conservation and the importance of his work.
Dr. Rodriguez-Herrera is the Academic and Research Director of the Tirimbina Biological Reserve, an organisation dedicated to conserving a 345 hectare wildlife refuge in the northern Costa Rica and the Founder and Coordinator of the Costa Rican Conservation Bat Programme (PCMCR) as well as the Outgoing Coordinator of the Latin American Bat Conservation Network (RELCOM). He has won numerous awards recognizing his impactful contributions to conservation, including the Ford Motor Company Award for Conservation and Environment (2002 and 2003) and the prestigious Whitley Award for Nature Conservancy (2012 and Continuation Funding in 2014).