Dr. Mário Marcos do Espírito Santo is a biologist with a PhD (2004) in Ecology, Conservation and Management of Wildlife from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Since 2005, he is a professor at the Department of General Biology at the State University of Montes Claros, Brazil. Dr. Espírito-Santo’s main research interests are forest succession, ecosystem functioning and conservation strategies and policies for tropical dry forests. He coordinates a research network called “Rede Matas Secas”, aiming to study the biodiversity and natural regeneration in Brazilian tropical dry forests inside the Brazilian System for Biodiversity Research – SISBIOTA BRASIL, involving several institutions. He is also part of other collaborative research networks, such as TROPI-DRY and 2ndFOR, aiming at increasing the knowledge on biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and human occupation and sustainable use in Brazilian tropical dry forests.