Maria Franco Chuaire
Senior Associate, Initiative 20x20

Maria is an Associate for the Global Restoration Initiative of the Food, Forest, and Water Program. She works directly for Initiative 20x20, a country-led effort aiming to bring 20 million hectares of degraded land in Latin America and the Caribbean into restoration by 2020.
Prior to joining WRI, Maria was a Research Fellow at the Research Department of the Inter-American Development Bank. She worked in the political economy area supporting and carrying out research on policymaking capabilities (including studies on the determinants and effects of institutionalization), budget institutions, and tax compliance in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Maria holds an M.A in Economics from the University of British Columbia and a B.A in Economics from Universidad del Rosario in Bogota, Colombia.
Maria is a passionate traveler and cyclist. She also enjoys photography, practicing yoga, dancing, and mastering new recipes.
Insights
Research
External Publications
Projects
Global Restoration Initiative
WRI is partnering with governments, businesses, and communities around the world to restore millions of hectares of deforested and degraded land.
Part of ForestsInitiative 20x20
A country-led effort to change the dynamics of land degradation in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Part of Forest and Landscape RestorationThe Land Accelerator
A curated network and accelerator program for entrepreneurs who restore degraded forests and farmland
Part of Forest and Landscape RestorationTerraMatch
TerraMatch is the global platform that connects projects that grow trees and restore land with ambitious funders.
Part of Forest and Landscape RestorationThe Restoration Policy Accelerator
Inspiring, innovating and streamlining public policies for landscape restoration.
Part of Forest and Landscape Restoration