He earned his bachelor’s degree at Colorado State University in 1995 and a Ph.D. in Ethnobotany from Miami University in 2005. In 1999, Dr. Gilmore began working on conservation projects with the Maijuna, an indigenous people in the Peruvian Amazon. In 2004, their joint effort led to the establishment of a Maijuna Indigenous Federation, FECONAMAI. The federation essentially allows the Maijuna to have a voice against government policies that would otherwise oppress them. The federation also makes it easier for the Maijuna to collaborate with groups like Rainforest Conservation Fund to fight against unfair policies together. Dr. Gilmore continues to work with Maijuna. Currently, they are trying to establish a protected area to preserve Maijuna’s lands and resources for future generation. He is also working with the Maijuna to solve issues pertaining to drinking water and sanitation.