Catarina Meireles (Woman),  MED Researcher  (Mediterranean Institute of Agriculture, Environment and Development) and assistent professor at the Department of Biology  (UEVORA). She has a degree in Biology since 1999 (UEVORA, Portugal) and a PhD in Chemistry and Environmental Biology (Geobotany field) since 2010 (University of Jaén, Spain). She  is a specialist in flora, vegetation and habitats, working mainly in the management of rare, endemic or protected species and habitats, particularly within the scope of the Natura 2000 Network. conservation of habitats of Community interest present in Portugal (under article 17 of the report). In 2007 and 2019, respectively, she led the first and third assessment of the conservation status of habitats of Community interest present in Portugal (under article 17º report). From 2016 to 2020 she was part of the project 'Red List of Vascular Plants in Mainland Portugal'. She participated in several management and restoration projects, including Protected Area Planning Plans and Natura 2000 Network Management Plans, as well as in three LIFE Nature and Biodiversity projects. She currently coordinates the LIFE-Relict and Zimbral for LIFE projects. She is also a representative of the Portuguese academy in the 'Workshops for the Harmonization of Procedures for Monitoring, Evaluation and Conservation of Types of Habitats of Community Interest- Biogeographic Process Natura 2000 for the Mediterranean Region', funded by the European Commission. She is vice-president of the Portuguese Association of Vegetation Sciences (PHYTOS).