Mauricio De la Maza-Benignos

Mauricio De la Maza-Benignos (born July 27, 1970) is a Mexican conservationist, naturalist, zoologist and filmmaker. He is also a member of Mexico's National System of Researchers. In addition to his work in ichthyology, he is an agronomist and zootechnician, a jurist, an administrator, and an editor.

Education He earned his bachelor's degree at the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, a Master of Business Administration at The University of Lancaster, a Ph.D. summa cum laude, at the Autonomous University of Nuevo León, studied Law (with honorific mention of excellence), under a merit scholarship at the TecMilenio University., earned an MA (with honorific mention of excellence) in Cinematography, Multimedia, Script Writing and Film Directing from the "Escuela Superior de Cine y Multimedia Ilumina". In October 2021 he was awarded a Doctor honoris causa by the “Claustro Doctoral Honoris Causa, A.C.” which is conformed of a coalition of international universities for his professional career. In August 2021 he received the Presea Ray Tico Internacional (Gold mention) from the government, the people of Costa Rica, the artists community of that country, and the governments of Costa Rica and Mexico for his outstanding and excellent work and services as an artist, activist, and scientist in favour of both countries. In February 2020 he received the Conservation Award from the Arizona Game and Fish, for his professional career in favor of the wildlife and wetlands of the transboarder region between both countries. In 1994 he obtained the “Best students of Mexico Award” by the “National Permanent Committee for the Best Students of Mexico”, From 2006―2011, he served as Director for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Chihuahuan Desert Program; and from 2011― as Conservation Science Director and Chief Executive Officer for Mexican NGO, Pronatura Noreste. Starting 2020, he serves in the Board of Advisors of the WCFF.

Legal and policy work De la Maza led the efforts that brought about, in 2014, the first concession of surface waters for “environmental use” in Mexico, within Cuatrociénegas' Area for Protection of Flora and Fauna, established by the National Commission for Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) in the state of Coahuila. "By this act, Mexico´s National Water Commission (CONAGUA) established the necessary legal mechanisms to ensure the security and legal certainty of water resources needed to protect priority ecosystems, thereby supporting the healthy environment to which every person in Mexico is entitled for his/her development and well-being under article 4 of the Mexican Constitution, while also promoting sustainable development of water resources.”