Juan Sebastián Villalba Macías is a renowned Uruguayan conservationist, founder and coordinator since 2000 of the M’Bopicuá Biopark of Montes del Plata, an innovative centre dedicated to the conservation and reintroduction of endangered wildlife in the department of Río Negro, Uruguay. With a career spanning more than five decades, he has led major initiatives at both regional and international levels, including his work as Regional Director of TRAFFIC South America (WWF) and as Technical Coordinator for CITES in Uruguay. He has also served as a consultant to the Inter-American Development Bank and, until June 2025, served as Environmental Advisor to the Departmental Government of Río Negro.

Widely recognized for his tireless fight against illegal wildlife trafficking —even inspiring Disney’s film Rio— he has taken part in technical missions and expeditions in over 80 countries, and has been consulted as an expert by major international media such as CNN, BBC, National Geographic, and TIME. He has received numerous distinctions, including the Gorilla Award from Loro Parque and the Renacimiento Prize for Science and Technology, awarded for six consecutive years.