Technical field(s) of expertise: Patrick Chesney has more than 35 years of experience working in the fields of agriculture, biodiversity, environment and human development. Fifteen years have been dedicated to national agricultural research. He has contributed to Guyana National Protected Areas System as Manager at Conservation International-Guyana (2005-2007). During the period 2007 to 2014 (as Project Manager/Chief Technical Advisor), he led United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) team that birthed the Guiana Shield Facility (GSF), an EU-funded project for sustainable development in the Guiana Shield. During 2014-2017 (as Programme Specialist and Assistant Resident Representative / Programme), Patrick led the UNDPs innovative Environment, Extractive Industry and Energy Programme. From 2018 to 2019, he has worked at the CARICOM Secretariat where he coordinated preparation of the Caribbean Biodiversity Strategy and trains CARICOM biodiversity negotiators. In 2021, Patrick founded PC Consultants. He leads a team of 10 specialists. His main areas of expertise include tropical agroforestry systems, organic agriculture, horticulture, biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, protected areas, reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), indigenous land titling and design of participatory conflict resolution mechanisms, the role of biodiversity and ecosystems in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and support to treaty negotiation for the conservation of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ).​ Patrick holds a PhD in Tropical Agroforestry, a MSc in Horticulture, a BSc in Agriculture and has completed additional trainings, e.g. in UN mandatory courses. Patrick is a member of the International Society for Horticultural Science and the Caribbean Academy of Science He was a recipient of two research grants from the International Foundation for Science (1999, 2003) and chair/director of governing boards for state agriculture, protected areas and climate change in Guyana and the Caribbean. He was a nominee for the Tällberg Foundation Global Leadership Prize in 2016. and a recipient of the Guyana Ministry of Agriculture Prize for outstanding contribution to agriculture as Worker Professional in 1996. Patrick is a member of the Amazon Science Panel of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. He is the author of several published scientific papers. an Editor for Agroforestry Systems journal and has lectured university undergraduate and graduate students in molecular biology, agroforestry, forestry and protected areas.