Linda-Estelí Méndez

Work

Linda-Estelí Méndez works to restore riparian and wetland habitat to benefit the environment and agriculture in California. Her area of research and advocacy include development and implementation of environmental markets, freshwater wetland and riparian habitat throughout California, socioeconomic benefits of environmental markets for the agricultural sector, and facilitating the meaningful involvement of community and diverse stakeholders in environmental planning.

Previously, Linda-Estelí worked on international development and water policy in South Africa, Senegal and Nicaragua.

Background

• Tom Graff Fellow, Environmental Defense Fund, 2011-2012.
• GIS Analyst, International Rivers, 2011
• Visiting Researcher, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 2010
• Program Coordinator, Department of Environmental Sciences, Pan-American School of Agriculture Zamorano University, Honduras, 2008
• Member, Gamma Sigma Delta Honors Society of Agriculture, 2007-present
• Research Intern, Department of Development Economics, Wageningen University, the Netherlands, 2007

Education

• MSc. Public Policy and Tropical Agrarian Systems, École Nationale d’Agriculture Montpellier SupAgro, France
• MSc. Irrigation and Water Engineering, Wageningen University, the Netherlands 
• BSc. Environmental Sciences, Pan-American School of Agriculture Zamorano University, Honduras

Publications

Kemerink, J.S., Méndez, L.E., Ahlers, R., Wester, P. and P. van der Zaag. 2013. The question of inclusion and representation in rural South Africa: challenging the concept of Water User Associations as a vehicle for transformation. Water Policy. Vol. 15: 243-257.