Ana Giró Petersen
Guatemala Coordinator
Ana Giró has been the Guatemalan Coordinator for the Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative since 2011. Based in Guatemala City, she plays a vital role in advancing the conservation and monitoring of the Mesoamerican Reef. Ana leads data collection and training, focusing on the benthic and coral components through the AGRRA methodology. Her efforts have been instrumental in producing reef health Report Cards, conducting Eco-Audits, mobilizing resources, and executing vital coral reef conservation projects. With over 15 years of experience in marine conservation, Ana has been a pioneer in coral reef investigations, leading the discovery of new reefs and advancing the science of reef health monitoring in Guatemala. Her groundbreaking work has been critical for the protection of vital species and conservation of important areas of Guatemala’s Caribbean coast. Ana holds a degree in Marine Science and Aquaculture, as well as a Master’s in Marine and Coastal Science from the University of San Carlos, where she also taught oceanography and coral reef ecology from 2009 to 2013. Ana has contributed to numerous initiatives and is featured in the nature-based documentary Treasure of the Caribbean, which highlights her discovery of the Cayman Crown reef, raising awareness for reef conservation and the importance of Fish Spawning Aggregations. Ana is the co-founder of the organization Pixan'Ja and serves on the advisory committee of the MAR Sustainable Fisheries Network and Fundación Mundo Azul. An avid scuba diver and underwater photographer, she is deeply committed to protecting ocean ecosystems for future generations.