Sara Cernadas-Martín

Sara Cernadas-Martín serves as the New York Ecological Restoration Program Director at Save the Sound, where she leads initiatives to restore tidal wetlands and shorelines, reconnect rivers, and enhance coastal resilience throughout Westchester County, Long Island, and the greater New York region. She brings over a decade of experience in marine and coastal science, restoration ecology, and community-based conservation, with a strong commitment to science-driven and inclusive environmental restoration.

Before joining Save the Sound, Sara was the New York Habitat Restoration and Stewardship Coordinator with the Long Island Sound Partnership, working in partnership with NEIWPCC and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to identify and advance habitat restoration and stewardship projects across the state. She previously managed the Water Quality Program for the Peconic Estuary Partnership, overseeing projects focused on nitrogen management, blue carbon, and watershed resilience. Earlier in her career, she served as a Research Scientist with the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science and the Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program, leading biodiversity and fisheries assessments and pioneering the use of environmental DNA for habitat monitoring. Sara has also collaborated internationally with the United Nations Development Programme, contributing to global initiatives focused on marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, and biodiversity conservation.

Sara holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Marine and Atmospheric Science from Stony Brook University, where her research centered on biogeochemistry and marine ecology, and a Licentiate in Biology from the University of Barcelona, specializing in Ecology and Zoology.

Originally from Spain, she is passionate about connecting science, policy, and communities to create lasting restoration outcomes. She also loves teaching and has been an adjunct professor at Suffolk County Community College since 2016, where she shares her passion for science and the environment with the next generation of students.