Dr Cabrera was trained as a biologist at the National University of Mexico (UNAM) with a Master degree from the same institution in Ecology and Environmental Sciences. For more than 20 years Leonardo has explored the causes of landscape conservation and degradation by using transdisciplinary approaches to integrate ecological and social dynamics of cultural landscapes of Mexico, Central America, Australia and Canada. In his PhD research (McGill University, Montreal, Canada), he worked with ancient pastoral communities of Central Mexico’s high mountains to understand local traditional grassland management practices, land ownership and defense, and power relationships shaping a vibrant cultural landscape of high conservation value. Since 2007, Leonardo has been with Parks Canada as Ecosystem Scientist to lead ecosystem monitoring and habitat restoration projects, conserve species at risk, coordinate scientific research, collaborate with partners, and present natural and cultural treasures to Canadians.