Vasco Chavez-Molina

Vasco Chavez-Molina works at the intersection of science and policy to advance marine governance and fisheries management. He is the Manager of the High Seas Program at Conservation International’s Center for Oceans, where he focuses on strengthening international policy and governance in areas beyond national jurisdiction, with particular emphasis on regional fisheries management organizations and the implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.

He is also an Instructor of Environmental Governance at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he teaches an upper-level undergraduate course on international conservation frameworks and global environmental governance under the United Nations system. Vasco earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from CU Boulder under the guidance of Dr. Cassandra Brooks, where his research focused on fisheries management, ecosystem valuation, and policy pathways for the legal protection of high seas ecosystems.

Vasco’s work spans multiple regions and multilateral organizations, blending academic rigor with hands-on policy and field experience. He brings a unique perspective to natural resource governance, linking scientific research with decision-making across governments, regional fisheries bodies, the United Nations, and diverse stakeholder groups.