Angel Balarezo
Field Research Assistant 
Andes to Amazon Biodiversity Program
Angel Balarezo is one of the best local naturalists and research assistants
on the project from the region of Madre de Dios, Peru. He has been
involved with scientific and conservation projects for more than a
decade in the region. Before joining the project Angel was working as a
lead tour guide for the Blanquillo Rainforest Lodge on the upper Madre
de Dios River. He has learned the scientific names of many birds,
mammals, insects, and other organisms, plus the trees, shrubs, vines,
and herbs of the forests. Much of his knowledge has been self-taught
through hundreds of interactions with tourists during the last five
years. He is currently working on the vanilla project in Quince Mil and Puerto Maldonado. Angel is well known for carrying a traveling library of
natural history books that he has used to teach himself the plants,
insects, birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and other
organisms. He is an extremely hard worker, always focused and driven on
the job. Everybody on the team learns a great deal from him.