Staff Spotlight: Juan Robalino

Juan Robalino is Landesa’s Climate Change and Land Tenure Specialist based in Houston. Juan started working for Landesa in 2023.

What brought you to Landesa?

After moving to the U.S. in late 2022, I found myself searching for an organization that looked at development through a different lens. My background was in green finance, which focuses on channeling and mobilizing resources, but Landesa offered something deeper: an approach rooted in the fundamental ‘rules’ of development—land tenure. I was determined to work here because I believe that the intersection of sustainable landscapes and secure rights is where the most meaningful impact happens.

What are your core responsibilities in your role?

I support our global teams on two main fronts. First, I work on sustainable mangrove management as a climate action tool, focusing on how secure tenure can protect these vital ecosystems in places like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Second, I help advance Landesa’s position in nature-based markets, ensuring that high-integrity frameworks and carbon projects worldwide respect and uphold the rights of local communities.

What is the most rewarding part of your work at Landesa?

The most rewarding part is the innovation that happens when we merge legal expertise with economic strategy. We are not just looking at environmental problems as financial puzzles; we are solving them through the lens of social and human capital. It has been deeply fulfilling to develop ‘rights-based’ (rather than just ‘risk-based’) solutions for initiatives related to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent for nature-based projects, or ensuring that land tenure is a main consideration when designing Payment for Ecosystem Services for ecosystem conservation.

How do you spend your time when you’re not working?

I am a family person through and through. Our household is a true global map: I am Ecuadorian, my wife is Romanian, our daughter was born in Uzbekistan, and our son was born in the U.S. Because of our diverse backgrounds, we love spending our time exploring together. Whether it is a new park or a new walking trail, every day after work is an opportunity for us to discover a new place that brings our world a little closer together.

Describe your vision for a better world.

My vision for a better world is one where collective action finally outweighs competitive interest. Early in my career, I was surprised by how often development organizations compete for the same resources rather than aligning for the same mission. I envision a future where funding is no longer a catalyst for competition, but a fuel for radical collaboration. In this world, we move past the ‘stagnation of silos’ to form a unified voice, one strong enough to protect our planet and ensure that no one is left behind.