In 2017, a CLP Future Conservationist Award helped Alfonso Hernández Rios and his team to conduct the most comprehensive census of Craveri’s murrelet and its threats ever achieved to date. Eight years later, we hear from Alfonso on his proudest moments from his CLP project and subsequent career leading up to his current role as the Senior Conservation Manager at Conserva Aves, an initiative co-managed by BirdLife International in Latin America.
“CLP was pivotal in my professional development; broadening my horizons and deepening my understanding of key conservation aspects. It also connected me to a global network of passionate conservationists and provided opportunities for growth that have been instrumental in shaping my career and fuelling my passion for conservation.” – Alfonso Hernández Rios
Alfonso posing with a Heermann’s Gull colony in Mexico’s Gulf of California © Alfonso Hernández Rios
“I applied for the CLP Award in 2017 in an effort to expand Mexico’s seabird conservation program so we could protect threatened endemic species we hadn’t yet addressed. The opportunity to advance the conservation of the little-known and vulnerable Craveri’s Murrelet was motivation enough to embrace the challenge of applying. As we say in Mexico, “El no ya lo tienes, hay que buscar el sí” (“You already have the ‘no’; you must seek the ‘yes'”).”
As we now know, Alfonso succeeded in seeking the “yes”, going on to co-lead a CLP-supported project updating the conservation status of Craveri’s Murrelet– a nocturnal seabird that nests on select small islands in Mexico’s Gulf of California, where it is threatened by invasive predators.
During the project, Alfonso and his team visited most of the known nesting sites, conducting both terrestrial (nest) and marine (individual) surveys. They also collected blood samples and eggshells for genetic and dietary analyses, recorded some of the few high-quality vocalizations of the species, and collaborated with the Mexican government, local fishers, and a women-led birdwatching group to raise awareness about island biosecurity and the importance of seabirds.
An adult Craveri’s murrelet – a nocturnal seabird species is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List © Alfonso Hernández Rios
Alfonso said: “This CLP project resulted in the most comprehensive census of the Craveri’s murrelet and its threats to date, including the discovery of the largest known nesting colony—an especially exciting finding given the species’ vulnerable status. We also identified a new nesting site for another Mexican endemic species, the black-vented shearwater.
What fills me with the greatest pride is the dedication and resilience of our team. Operating under challenging conditions—open seas, uninhabited islands, meticulous planning, specialized training, and round-the-clock work—they demonstrated an unwavering commitment and passion for species conservation.”
Alfonso’s CLP project led the most comprehensive census of the species ever conducted to date © Alfonso Hernández Rios
Despite working on the project nearly a decade ago, Alfonso still has clear recollections of the seabird surveys he conducted around Mexico’s islands.
“I vividly remember an early morning while we were surveying nocturnal seabirds around Isla Salsipuedes. After working through the night, just before dawn, we prepared to return to the island. The stillness was profound; the boat’s engine was off, and the sky was a canvas of stars, crystal clear as only desert skies can be. The water shimmered with bioluminescence, casting a magical blue glow around us.
As we started the engine to head back, two silhouettes emerged alongside the boat. To our amazement, they were sea lions, their forms illuminated by the bioluminescent waters. They accompanied us to the island’s shore, offering an unforgettable spectacle that reinforced our dedication to conserving Mexico’s islands.”
Mexico’s islands in the Gulf of California – habitat of the Craveri’s murrelet and other endemic wildlife © Alfonso Hernández Rios
Following his CLP project, Alfonso pursued a second master’s degree through the MPhil in Conservation Leadership at the University of Cambridge, UK. His dissertation focused on reptile trafficking in Germany and Spain, in collaboration with Fauna & Flora (a CLP partner alongside BirdLife International and the Wildlife Conservation Society).
Alfonso with his dissertation submitted as part of his MPhil in Conservation Leadership at the University of Cambridge © Alfonso Hernández Rios
After completing his MPhil, Alfonso then moved to Dakar, Senegal, where he managed the West Africa Marine Conservation Programme for BirdLife International- the organisation he has worked for ever since.
“There [in Senegal] I worked alongside a wonderful team and partnership to reduce seabird bycatch by industrial and artisanal fishing fleets, supported the management of marine protected areas, and conducted science and capacity building across seven countries in the region.
Currently, I reside in Quito, Ecuador, where I work as BirdLife’s Senior Conservation Manager for the Conserva Aves Initiative, a collaborative effort led jointly with American Bird Conservancy, Audubon, Birds Canada, and RedLAC. This initiative supports community-based organizations, Indigenous and Afrodescendant communities and NGOs in establishing, expanding, and managing protected areas in critical sites for threatened birds across Latin America.
To date, we collaborate with over 65 local organizations working to create more than 100 protected areas in the Tropical Andes, the most biodiverse region per square metre in the world.”
Alfonso conducted field surveys on Craveri’s murrelet in Mexico’s islands as part of his CLP project © Alfonso Hernández Rios
Reflecting on the impact of CLP on his career, Alfonso describes its approach as “human-centered and professional”, adding “its profound impact on early-career conservationists is unparalleled.”
He continues: “[CLP] is not merely a funding program where you receive a grant, implement a project, and that’s it. CLP places a strong emphasis on the growth of its grantees through intensive training and fosters an alumni network that thrives through active participation. Even after completing a CLP project, there are grants available for exchanges to learn from other alumni, attend conferences, and take courses on critical conservation topics.
As such, CLP is a wonderful incubator for conservationists, having propelled the careers of countless individuals over 40 years. It’s not uncommon to encounter several CLP alumni at any conservation forum, from biodiversity conferences to COPs.
All of this makes CLP a unique and absolutely essential program for developing conservation leaders worldwide. We need more CLPs to address the biodiversity and climate crises!”
Alfonso believes that CLP must strengthen and diversify its funding base to secure its future and its ability to keep building new generations of conservation leaders. “The impact of CLP is undeniable—so many of today’s leading conservationists had their start thanks to CLP’s support. Investing in CLP means investing in the future of conservation itself.
For donors and partners, this is a unique opportunity to contribute directly to meaningful, lasting change. By supporting CLP, they are not just funding a project; they are shaping the careers of passionate individuals who will drive global conservation efforts for decades to come.
Strengthening partnerships with international organizations, foundations, and socially responsible businesses can ensure financial stability, while continued investment in training, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing will allow CLP to remain at the forefront of conservation leadership.
With the right support, CLP will not only sustain but expand its impact, reaching even more young conservationists and tackling the most pressing biodiversity and climate challenges of our time.”
Feeling inspired?
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