Celebrating Two Young Conservation Stars

Nolo Martínez, Asekia Executive Director, visits Asekia/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service interns Anderson and Carolina

We’re excited to celebrate the work of our two current interns, Anderson Martínez Rodríguez and Carolina N. Ríos Vila, as they complete their internships this month. Through a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in Puerto Rico, Anderson and Carolina have gained on-the-ground experience and made valuable contributions to wildlife conservation and community engagement. Their journey reflects Asekia’s commitment to cultivating bilingual conservation leaders who can transform their communities.

Bilingual talent development continues to be a cornerstone of Asekia’s purpose—expanding opportunities for emerging Hispanic conservation professionals, and we are thrilled to see our interns succeed during their time with us. 

We extend our gratitude to Carolina and Anderson for their dedication to wildlife conservation in Puerto Rico and for the enthusiasm they bring to their work. Read below to learn more about them!

Carolina: A goal of a career in science leads to conservation and education 

Carolina is a Soil and Crop Science Graduate Intern for Asekia/USFWS (Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge). Located on the island’s southwestern coast, the refuge includes crucial habitat for migratory birds and is home to salt flats, mangrove forests, and subtropical dry forests. Her work helps connect science and community engagement in one of Puerto Rico’s most ecologically important landscapes. 

As part of her work, Carolina has created educational materials, assisted in recruiting volunteers, and participated in and helped organize a coastal cleanup, among many other accomplishments. Her main project site within the refuge is the Las Salinas Interpretive Center, where she receives visitors and shares information about the conservation practices that are currently being implemented there and at Laguna Cartagena, which is also part of a national wildlife refuge. She also helps with bird monitoring and ensures visitor trails remain accessible and safe.

For Carolina, this internship provided an opportunity for her to translate her scientific knowledge into hands-on conservation and education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in crop protection and is currently completing a master’s degree in soil science at the University of Puerto Rico’s Mayagüez campus. Her academic training in soils and crop protection has given her a scientific foundation that she now applies directly to conservation and public education.

“I always knew I wanted to work in something related to the sciences. When I was younger, I would say I wanted to be a veterinarian,” Carolina says. “But then, as I got older and I had the opportunity to participate in summer camps related to agricultural sciences, I became more interested in crop protection. My father works for NRCS. He's a soil scientist with NRCS, so I was familiar with the work that he did. 

“I had the opportunity to participate as a volunteer, and it just convinced me a little bit more that this is where I wanted to work [in] my future,” she adds. “It was kind of innate.”

Anderson: A lifelong love of agriculture 

In his hometown of Corozal, PR, Anderson’s grandparents have a 3-acre farm that they started bringing him to when he was young. Those early experiences sparked a deep interest in agronomy. Soon, Anderson started to cultivate crops at the farm which later led him to decide to study agronomy. 

“Ever since I harvested my first crop of plantains, I knew that it would be my path for the rest of my life. From that moment to the present, I just work to give the community the same experience that my grandfather gave me,” Anderson says. 

Anderson’s grandfather continues to impact his journey. This intergenerational knowledge continues to guide his commitment to serving rural communities. He still learns more about agriculture from his grandfather every day, he adds. 

As part of his role as a Conservation Outreach Intern, Anderson’s main site is the Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge, where he works with local farmers – learning about the challenges they face and the opportunities for local conservation projects that benefit wildlife. He also coordinates outreach activities and visits local schools for educational activities. 

Anderson is completing a bachelor’s degree in agronomy with a curricular sequence in natural resources. He will soon continue his studies in the field with a master’s degree in agronomy at the University of Puerto Rico’s Mayagüez campus.

Q&A with Carolina and Anderson: 

What led you to apply for this internship?

Anderson: “My purpose in life is to serve, and I think that agriculture and conservation are the ways I can serve the people in my country the most. This internship fits exactly what I would like to do in the future. I’ve always been involved in so many experiences, like NRCS and private companies in the production area, but I always wanted to make an impact in the community, not only in the area of crops.”  

Carolina: “I definitely wanted to gain some more experience in what education is and integrate that with the importance of conservation work. That's what initially drew me to the internship, the fact that I would have the opportunity to do both…engage and work with the community and teach them about the importance of conservation practices, as well as participate in them – be a little bit more hands-on with these outreach initiatives and the conservation work being done. I saw that as a way to gain more experience and to familiarize myself and make a more concrete decision about my career.”

What have been some of the highlights of this experience for you? 

Anderson: “A highlight that will definitely be in my heart always is the school visits where I share the conservation work we do at USFWS. To see the kids learning about migratory or native species, that's awesome, and to see their faces and how they learn and have fun at the same time.”

Carolina: “Learning about wildlife conservation practices. Coming from an agronomy background, where you’re normally more focused on agricultural practices…it's nice to learn about the ecological aspect, all the migrations that happen here, the importance of conserving this area for different species as well as, interacting with people that come from all over the world and different experiences. That's been something that's very new. 

It's very fulfilling to be able to teach others about all the stuff that you know, all the important things that we do, the important things that we have in our island, our resources. It's really satisfying at the end of the day to look back and think about the impact that you made with the people that come and visit.”

What advice would you give to future interns? 

Anderson: “Always learn as much as you can, try to bring the best service to the people, and try to work with teams. Teamwork is essential in this agency.” 

Carolina: “Don't be afraid of a challenge. Take every opportunity and chance you get to participate, to get involved, to learn, to just try new things…Our work is highly valued here, and it's a privilege to be able to be trusted and participate in these projects, in these conservation efforts…Do the best that you can, and the rest will be just fine.”

At Asekia, we are proud to support the next generation of bilingual conservation leaders. Carolina and Anderson represent the talent, dedication, and promise that drive our mission forward. We thank our partners at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for helping create meaningful pathways for young professionals across Puerto Rico and beyond.

For more information, contact us at info@asekia.org.