Alumnus testimonial
Jorge Andrés Matallana - Climate and Ecosystem Services Officer
Jorge graduated from the MID-program in 2020 and started working on Climate and Ecosystem Services at the Forest Stewardship Council in Bonn, Germany. The MSc made him aware of the importance of inclusion in development efforts, which helps him navigate consultation with diverse stakeholders in his current position.
FSC has to work as a space where very diverse (and opposing) views have to sit together and find agreements on the best possible way to move things forward. I think the MID program is very holistic in its understanding of problems and solutions to global problems, and that has been fundamental for my success in my role.
You work at the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). What does this organization aim to do?
“FSC is an organisation that promotes sustainable forestry around the world, operating the world's most trusted forest certification scheme.”
Your work focuses on Climate and Ecosystem Services. What does your job entail?
“I work in the Climate & Ecosystem Services programme of FSC, which is in charge of promoting sustainable forestry as a solution for the climate and biodiversity crisis, through the enablement of payments for the ecosystem services that forest managers around the world provide to society.” “My role in the programme is quite broad, but I have focused on strengthening the communications and marketing of the programme. This entailed, for instance, designing communication material and messaging that caters to the interests and concerns of different stakeholders. One concrete example of this is the redesign of the website of FSC, where I was part of the team that created the key messages that we convey about climate and ecosystem services.”
What do you like most about your current position and working at the FSC?
“FSC is a unique organisation because of its multi-stakeholder governance that includes and balances the environmental, social, and economic aspects of sustainable forestry. This is very interesting yet also difficult, since FSC has to work as a space where very diverse (and opposing) views have to sit together and find agreements on the best possible way to move things forward. My current position has allowed me to experience this balancing act, since we need to develop solutions for a problem (climate change) that is perceived in different ways by different actors. This makes it both challenging and rewarding, given that it entails listening carefully to the concerns and interests of very diverse groups, and develop criteria to steer conversations in a positive way.”
What aspects of the MID-program do you find useful in your current position?“
I think the MID program is very holistic in its understanding of problems and solutions to global problems, and that has been fundamental for my success in my role. In addition, MID also has a strong emphasis on thoroughness and analytical tools, which has been very important for me since everything I do has to be grounded on evidence and a solid understanding of the way climate science is produced. Finally, the importance of inclusion in development efforts was another message that was constant during the master’s, and this has helped me navigate what can be perceived as an exhausting process of consultation with diverse stakeholders.”