Gabriela Sandoval, one of Conservation Nation’s 2025 Conservationist Grant recipients, is an Ecuadorian biologist, committed to conservation and the protection of biodiversity and threatened species. From childhood, she has felt a deep connection to nature and a strong desire to protect animals and plants. As she advanced through her biology degree at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, she became even more passionate about conservation while discovering the extraordinary biodiversity of her country.
Her conservation journey began with the Khamai Foundation in 2022 as a chapter author and editor for the Reptiles of Ecuador book. Since 2024, she has taken on a leadership role as Director of Grants. Currently, she is the Vice President at Khamai Foundation and through her work, she has contributed to protecting key habitats in the Mindo Cloud Forest and the Amazon Rainforest, supporting ongoing efforts to conserve endangered species.