Hugo Díez Santaolalla

I am Hugo Díez Santaolalla, although I am also known by my environmental populariser name as Hugoinnatura. I have grown up among the mountains of the Sierra de Guadarrama, in Spain and I have always been concerned about the state of conservation of the planet. I have studied environmental sciences and geography and territorial planning, and I am currently studying a master's degree at the Higher Council for Research and Science (CSIC) on biodiversity conservation.

I believe that science and social dialogue are key to addressing the numerous environmental challenges we face. Therefore, as an explorer I try to better understand the functioning of ecosystems and the relationships between organisms and thus, not only increase knowledge of nature, but also to be able to transmit it to people and make them realize the great luck and great responsibility that we have living in the planet we live on. I have had the opportunity to work on various nature conservation projects, such as the National Iberian Wolf Census in Spain or the Omacha Foundation in the Colombian Orinoco region, and studies on conflicts arising from human activities in the presence of wild animals, such as the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) or the puma (Puma concolor).

LOCATION:	Punta del Este	AREA OF STUDY:	Grasslands
NATIONALITY:	Spain	SPONSOR:	Instituto Clemente Estable
FILMMAKER:	Luca Vincent

START DATE:	26th November
END DATE:	12th December
LOCATION:	Punta del Este
END POINT:	Spain

AREA OF STUDY:	Grasslands
SPONSOR:	Instituto Clemente Estable
FILMMAKER:	Luca Vincent

Area of Study: uruguayan grasslands

The grasslands are an ecosystem composed of large expanses of open fields covered by a dense layer of herbaceous plants. It is the representative ecosystem of Uruguay, and yet, one of the most threatened. It has gone from occupying 80% of the territory in 1990 to 60% at present, due to the conversion of grasslands into monoculture forest fields such as pine or eucalyptus, crops like soy, or large livestock extensions.

In this informative work, we not only want to raise awareness about the threats facing grasslands but also to highlight the value of this ecosystem. To achieve this, we consulted with various biodiversity researchers who study grasslands and the ecosystem services they provide. One of the main actors in grasslands is arthropods, a group of animals vital for the ecosystem’s balance but highly threatened.

Current studies indicate that populations of numerous species are declining, and many species remain undiscovered. Therefore, it is crucial to continue researching and raising awareness about the importance of grasslands in Uruguay