Anays Blanco

Anays is an environmentalist and conservationist from Hermosillo, Sonora, with roots in Cananea, where her connection to conservation began. It was there, more than a decade ago, while studying Business Management Engineering, that she took part in biological survey expeditions in several mountain ranges in the region — experiences that sparked her interest in botany, wildlife, and wildlife monitoring.

Throughout her career she has sought to improve natural resource management by integrating economic activities with responsible stewardship and conservation. This vision led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Biosciences, exploring the ecological and economic relationship between ranching and hunting. Before joining SIA, she worked at the Cuenca Los Ojos reserve, contributing to its mission and to the management of conservation projects. She also collaborated for several years with Borderlands Restoration Network as an intern, helping design courses and environmental education projects in Sonora.

Anays first became familiar with SIA’s work early in her conservation career, through research using records from the Madrean Archipelago Biodiversity Assessment (MABA). In 2018 she took part in spring monitoring workshops, wildlife tracking, and a Parques Hermanos tour. In 2026 she joined SIA as Sonora Projects Manager, aiming to contribute to initiatives that link conservation with productive activities and communities through education and responsible resource management.

Her favorite sky island is Sierra Los Ajos, which she explored and studied during her first conservation project and where her interest in nature became a calling.

In her free time she enjoys nature, horseback riding, working as a vaquera in the countryside, reading, running, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She is also a functional training coach in indoor cycling.

Email: anays@skyislandalliance.org