The People Behind the Conservation

Miguel Guevara is the founder and director of Grow Jungles, a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit he started in 2019 to help protect Costa Rican rainforest and to pay local people to care for and restore it.

Lindsey Guevara combines a deep understanding of human health with a passion for the natural world. A graduate of Emory University's Physician Assistant program, with a background in Medical Biology and a master's in Biomedical Science, Lindsey brings a scientific and practical perspective to conservation. At Grow Jungles, she leads initiatives that bridge human well-being and rainforest preservation, designing projects where community health, sustainable livelihoods, and environmental restoration intersect. From providing medical support in remote communities to advocating for generational protection of Costa Rica's forests, Lindsey ensures that conservation efforts also nurture the people who depend on these ecosystems. Her work embodies a holistic vision: thriving ecosystems, empowered communities, and the knowledge that the health of humans and nature are inseparable.

Miguel Gerardo Guevara holds a BS and an MS from the University of Montana. His master's thesis, completed in 1999, studied the abundance and population structure of economically important tree species in the wet forest of Piedras Blancas National Park in southern Costa Rica. He previously worked with MINAE, Costa Rica's Ministry of Environment, and is a retired biology teacher from Palmar High School.

Miguel Guevara is the founder and director of Grow Jungles, a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit he started in 2019 to help protect Costa Rican rainforest and to pay local people to care for and restore it.

Lindsey Guevara combines a deep understanding of human health with a passion for the natural world. A graduate of Emory University's Physician Assistant program, with a background in Medical Biology and a master's in Biomedical Science, Lindsey brings a scientific and practical perspective to conservation. At Grow Jungles, she leads initiatives that bridge human well-being and rainforest preservation, designing projects where community health, sustainable livelihoods, and environmental restoration intersect. From providing medical support in remote communities to advocating for generational protection of Costa Rica's forests, Lindsey ensures that conservation efforts also nurture the people who depend on these ecosystems. Her work embodies a holistic vision: thriving ecosystems, empowered communities, and the knowledge that the health of humans and nature are inseparable.

Miguel Gerardo Guevara holds a BS and an MS from the University of Montana. His master's thesis, completed in 1999, studied the abundance and population structure of economically important tree species in the wet forest of Piedras Blancas National Park in southern Costa Rica. He previously worked with MINAE, Costa Rica's Ministry of Environment, and is a retired biology teacher from Palmar High School.

Javier Elizondo Esquivel is a Costa Rican architect, explorer and photographer. Over three years he tracked down and photographed waterfalls across the country, and in 2019 he published the book Cataratas y Leyendas, which features 129 of them.

César works on conservation strategy in some of Costa Rica's most biodiverse regions, with a focus on ecological restoration and local partnerships. He advises Grow Jungles on strategy and helps connect our work with the people and places that need it most.

Luis Murillo is a Costa Rican entrepreneur and the owner of Grupo Instelec, a company with more than 30 years of experience in construction, industrial maintenance and infrastructure. He advises Grow Jungles on how practical infrastructure and technology can support rainforest conservation and create opportunities for local communities.

Tico has spent years working in the Costa Rican rainforest on forest protection, wildlife monitoring and community-led conservation. He advises Grow Jungles on field operations and helps keep our projects running well on the ground.