Karen Noboa is an environmental biologist by profession with a Masters degree in Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation from the University of Greifswald (Germany). She worked for five years at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition in the Directorate of Biodiversity on issues related to wildlife management, environmental crimes with emphasis on biodiversity, and binational treaties to combat illegal wildlife trafficking with Ecuador and Peru. She currently works as Director of the Sustainable Development Department of the Progressio Ecuador Foundation where she develops, implements and monitors projects related to the sustainable development of rural and indigenous communities in the Coast, Highlands and Amazon of Ecuador. These projects focus on sustainable agriculture, food security, climate change, nature conservation, environmental crime, and circular economy with special emphasis on contributing to the achievement of the SDGs.