Profile

Dr. Alicia Chacalo Hilu was a professor at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Azcapotzalco Campus, from 1981 until her retirement. She studied Biology at the UAM Iztapalapa Campus, earned her master's degree in Forest Resource Management at Laval University, Quebec, Canada, and obtained her PhD in Biology from the Faculty of Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

She distinguished herself as the first certified arborist in Mexico by the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) since 1996. Throughout her career, she served as chair of the research and education sector of the ISA and was the editor and coordinator of the Spanish translation of the ISA certification manual. Since 1995, she supervised the trees at the UAM Azcapotzalco Campus. Additionally, she was the founding president of the Mexican Arboriculture Association, A.C.

As an editor, she was in charge of the journal Arbórea and served on the editorial boards of Urban Forestry and Urban Greening and Ciencia Forestal en México. She co-authored and contributed to several relevant books, including Contributions to the Urban Ecology of Mexico City, The Urban Trees of the Metropolitan Area of Mexico City, and The Trees of Mexico City, among others.

For six years, she participated in the ISA’s arborist certification exam committee and the Hispanic committee. She also collaborated in drafting and reviewing environmental standards related to pruning, tree removal, and the creation of green areas.

In 2004, she received the Award for Excellence in Education from the International Society of Arboriculture, recognizing her outstanding educational work.

Between 2007 and 2014, she was an advisor to Reforestamos México. Her work focused for many years on municipal arboriculture, developing tree censuses for Mexico City. Later, her research focused on studying root growth in different soil types, quantifying green areas using GIS, and soil management, fertility, composting, and mulch (wood chips) application.