Working towards a wilder and fairer world.

Over nearly a decade of working in the environmental field, I have seen an increasing emphasis on "rewilding"— supporting the growth of wildlife populations in landscapes they historically inhabited through reintroductions or increasingly militarized enforcement of protected areas that allow these species to rebound naturally. While all of this can have immense biodiversity and carbon sequestration benefits, these projects often have direct impacts on human livelihoods. Wide-ranging species like elk, wolves, or elephants rarely stay in tidy little spaces that we draw on a map.

Pastoralists are frequently on the frontlines of these impacts. Whether you live in the American West and call it "ranching" or you live in the Serengeti and call it "herding," these communities are facing unique threats from growing populations of large carnivores and herbivores in many places around the world. Having worked closely with ranchers in California for much of my career, I have a deep respect for people who make their living off the land, and have witnessed the real economic impacts that conservation-livelihood conflicts can have. I believe that local people need a voice in rewilding and long-term wildlife conservation planning and that addressing potential human impacts thoughtfully should be a crucial component of how we design and implement projects. 

This is an area where conservation practice can benefit from social science perspectives and tools, and where my work is situated. You can learn more about me and my current research on this site, but in short, I'm motivated to improve the way conservation projects are designed and implemented, promoting a balance between human rights and Nature's needs. I believe this will be critical to our generation's ability to meet the intertwined challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development, and to steer towards a more hopeful future for the generations to come. Over the course of my career, I aspire to play a small role in shaping a world where conservation practice is more equitable, just, and compassionate towards communities that call the landscapes where we work home.