International Cooperation Staff
Jerry Bauer
BS Forestry Management : MS Forest Management
Jerry Bauer is professional, conservationist with more than 28 years of experience in the LAC region. He has worked for the US Forest Service for more than 25 years, where he is currently the Acting Director of the International Cooperation Unit at the International. Jerry has been on long-term assignments in Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and Panama and many short-term assignments throughout the region. He is and Adjunct professor with Department of Forestry, Southern Illinois University and an associate with the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at Indiana University. Jerry is also a Certified Interpretive Guide.
Jerry works closely with USAID, where he has served as a Natural Resource Technical Advisor and Mission Environmental Officer in Central America. He has a broad range of expertise and experiences including environmental analysis, program management, silviculture, ecotourism development and protected area management. Jerry is also well-known for his high-quality photography that he uses to help build environmental awareness about conservation needs in the Region.
Jerry Bauer is professional, conservationist with more than 28 years of experience in the LAC region. He has worked for the US Forest Service for more than 25 years, where he is currently the Acting Director of the International Cooperation Unit at the International. Jerry has been on long-term assignments in Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and Panama and many short-term assignments throughout the region. He is and Adjunct professor with Department of Forestry, Southern Illinois University and an associate with the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at Indiana University. Jerry is also a Certified Interpretive Guide.
Jerry works closely with USAID, where he has served as a Natural Resource Technical Advisor and Mission Environmental Officer in Central America. He has a broad range of expertise and experiences including environmental analysis, program management, silviculture, ecotourism development and protected area management. Jerry is also well-known for his high-quality photography that he uses to help build environmental awareness about conservation needs in the Region.
Peter L. Weaver
BS Forest Management; MS Watershed Management; Ph.D. Botany and Ecology
Pete was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia, South America, taught at the University of Puerto Rico, and worked with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources before joining the U.S. Forest Service in 1974. His major responsibilities at the Institute include long-term monitoring of primary and secondary forests in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Other activities include: species-site relationships along environmental gradients, forest succession, autecological studies of tropical tree species, plantation growth, cloud forest research, and summaries on mahogany in Central America. He has served as a committee member for students at the University of Puerto Rico.
Pete has always been interested in technology transfer and has spent a total of 5 years overseas on 55 short-term assignments in 20 countries, mainly with the Forest Service, USAID, and the FAO. Recent cooperative international activities have included mahogany line planting, reforestation, and conservation projects in Antigua, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, and Montserrat. Since 2000, the international work has been with NGOs in Nicaragua and Panama concerning cloud forest monitoring, ecotourism, and syntheses regarding natural and cultural resources. Local cooperation has been mainly with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources, the Puerto Rican Conservation Trust, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Park Service in the U.S. Virgin islands.
Pete was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia, South America, taught at the University of Puerto Rico, and worked with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources before joining the U.S. Forest Service in 1974. His major responsibilities at the Institute include long-term monitoring of primary and secondary forests in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Other activities include: species-site relationships along environmental gradients, forest succession, autecological studies of tropical tree species, plantation growth, cloud forest research, and summaries on mahogany in Central America. He has served as a committee member for students at the University of Puerto Rico.
Pete has always been interested in technology transfer and has spent a total of 5 years overseas on 55 short-term assignments in 20 countries, mainly with the Forest Service, USAID, and the FAO. Recent cooperative international activities have included mahogany line planting, reforestation, and conservation projects in Antigua, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, and Montserrat. Since 2000, the international work has been with NGOs in Nicaragua and Panama concerning cloud forest monitoring, ecotourism, and syntheses regarding natural and cultural resources. Local cooperation has been mainly with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources, the Puerto Rican Conservation Trust, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Park Service in the U.S. Virgin islands.
Michael Donald
USAID LAC Bureau Regional Environmental Advisor for Caribbean/Dominican Republic
Mike Donald has worked for the US Forest Service for more than 20 years. He is currently on an interagency assignment with USAID as the LAC Bureau’s Regional Environmental Advisor for the Central America and Mexico region. He is based out of Guatemala. Mike is responsible for providing technical assistance to USAID Central America Regional Environmental Program (PROARCA) and to Missions in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. He is also the U.S. Government Representative in Belize for the Tropical Forestry Conservation Act. Mike was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras (1986-1988) and is fluent in Spanish. He has extensive experience in watershed management and restoration, especially related to aquatic ecosystems, and environmental impact analysis.
Mike Donald has worked for the US Forest Service for more than 20 years. He is currently on an interagency assignment with USAID as the LAC Bureau’s Regional Environmental Advisor for the Central America and Mexico region. He is based out of Guatemala. Mike is responsible for providing technical assistance to USAID Central America Regional Environmental Program (PROARCA) and to Missions in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. He is also the U.S. Government Representative in Belize for the Tropical Forestry Conservation Act. Mike was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras (1986-1988) and is fluent in Spanish. He has extensive experience in watershed management and restoration, especially related to aquatic ecosystems, and environmental impact analysis.
Helen Cortes
Helen began working with our team in June 2005. She provides administrative support to both the International Cooperation Unit and the State & Private Forestry Programs at IITF. Helen keeps the ship in order and keeps things moving so we can accomplish our work plans and objectives. Our administrative responsibilities are rapidly changing as the Forest Service moves to updated technology and electronic systems, so Helen's assistance to us in invaluable, as she learns the new technology that we use to keep us moving forward.
