Jose Fernando Ochoa Pineda is Executive Director and Founding member at Defensa Ambiental del Noroeste (DAN), a public interest lawyers nonprofit organization working to protect biodiversity and environmental human rights in Northwest Mexico. Fernando holds a Law degree from the Universidad Intercontinental (Mexico City) and Postgraduate studies in Environmental Law and Policies and Criminal Law. His work experience includes four years as associate lawyer in a private attorney’s office bureau, as well as more than 19 years of experience in environmental conservation and environmental human rights in the nonprofit sector. Fernando is an active member of the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (E-LAW) and is former legal advisor for the Waterkeeper Programs of the Baja California Peninsula. Throughout his career, Fernando together with a team of specialized lawyers has halted the construction or operation of ill-advised developments and activities all along the Gulf of California region protecting important wildlife species and ecosystems. Fernando has been a keynote speaker sharing his experience at various academic forums and conferences all around the world.