Sara Hernandez

Sara Hernandez, PhD in environmental economics. She has 25 years of expertise in areas related to the economics of biodiversity, water resources and ecosystem services. She has extensive experience in economic valuation techniques, environmental impact assessment, cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis, and the design and implementation of market-based instruments and innovative financing mechanisms. In particular, she has developed and implemented so-called "payments for ecosystem services" mechanisms in Central and Latin America (Colombia, Haiti) and Europe (Brittany and Normandy). She acted as parnert coordinator within the framework of an European Interreg CPES (Channel Payments for Environmental Services) project. Her expertise also covers the design of innovative business models and circular economy models, and the elaboration of national and regional strategies for adaptation to climate changes.

She has also acted as a technical advisor to decision-makers in governments, local authorities and the private sector in different institutional and cultural contexts. She has managed projects commissioned by the World Bank, the European Union and the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UNCCD. Lately, she successfully led projects within the Economics of Land Degradation framework in Tunisia, Madagascar and Mexico.