Dr. Paul Velazco, assistant professor of Biology, served as a plenary speaker at the VII International Seminar on Environment, Biodiversity and Development (SIMABID), and the I Seminar on Ecosystem Services for Sustainability in Latin America and the Caribbean (EcoSLaC). The seminars were hosted by the Universidad de la Amazonia in Florencia, Colombia.

His talk, “Ecos de la Noche: Murciélagos, Servicios Ecosistémicos y Conocimiento de los Pueblos Originarios,” (Echoes of the Night: Bats, Ecosystem Services, and Indigenous Knowledge) discussed the role of bats as key contributors to ecosystem functioning through services such as pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control. In the Neotropic region–which includes South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and tropical Mexico–biodiversity and human livelihoods are sustained by these ecological services by supporting forest regeneration and the stability of natural and agricultural systems.

Dr. Velazco’s talk also touched on the valuable knowledge about bat ecology, behavior, and distribution that Indigenous peoples have preserved for generations, and how stronger, more inclusive conservation strategies can be achieved by integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific research.

“Sharing research on an international stage is part of our responsibility as researchers,” Velazco said. “Creating opportunities to exchange ideas across cultures and disciplines strengthens collaborative efforts so we can better understand and conserve biodiversity in some of the world’s most important ecosystems.”

The meetings brought together academics and representatives from national and international organizations to discuss issues related to biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the sustainability of the Amazon and Latin America.