Nery Barrera: Forest guardian

Nery Barrera plans to save the trees. And the rivers. Before joining the Berkeley Engineering community as a transfer student last year, Barrera worked for the Guatemalan Forest Service. He says that he became passionate about applying engineering concepts to protecting natural resources after watching unchecked development change his childhood home of Jalapa, Guatemala.

Now an environmental engineering student, he says, “I noticed how the expansion of our town affected the relationship of the community with the natural resources. I witnessed forested areas disappear completely, and the rivers become contaminated. That is when I knew what I want to do. It was not a difficult decision.”

As a father, Barrera says he is also motivated to provide an example for the next generation. “With hard work, all of our dreams can become a reality,” he says.