Members in Action: Jordi Cortina-Segarra, Regional Director for Europe to the SER Board of Directors

Dr. Jordi Cortina-Segarra is the newly elected Regional Director for Europe to the SER Board of Directors, and currently serves as the Chair of SER Europe. Jordi is a Professor of Ecology at the University of Alicante in Spain.  

How long have you been a member of SER? What’s your best experience with SER so far?

I have been a member of SER for 15 years. My best experience with SER is contributing to this growing discipline and hoping we are contributing to a systemic change.

Why did you join SER?

I joined SER because I enjoy an intellectual challenge and the opportunity to create!

What do you hope to accomplish during your term of office?

I will work to sustain the growth and the pivotal role of SER, promote ecological restoration and ecological restoration networks worldwide, and bring a European multi-faceted view to SER.

What is your current occupation?

I am a professor of ecology at the University of Alicante (Spain) and I currently serve as chair of SER Europe.

What do you find most rewarding about working for your organization?

The feeling that we make a difference, and meeting so many talented and motivated people.

What projects are you working on right now?

I am currently working projects related to:

• systematic participatory restoration planning
• standards for the practice of ecological restoration
• defining guidelines and priorities for national restoration plans
•  identifying knowledge needs of restoration practitioners in Europe

How does your work support the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration?

SER Europe is strongly committed to supporting current European and Member States efforts to make ecological restoration a major component of our response to the global environmental crisis.

What does ecological restoration mean to you?

Learning to live wisely and peacefully with other people and nature.

Why would you encourage others, particularly young people, to get involved in this field?

The field of ecological restoration provides a great opportunity to contribute to this change, and there are so many things to do! Ultimately, it is all about beauty and fun, right?

What’s one thing - either industry-related or not - you learned in the last month?

I’m excited about regenerative architecture and the way ecological restoration can contribute to building, urbanization, and tourism. Also learning how complex estimations of cost-effectiveness can be…

What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?

Some time ago, I was awarded for a crazy performance on the hit ‘video killed the radio star’. Also, for the funniest costume in an extreme-running race. Fortunately, graphical evidence is well preserved.