_Over the last 20 years, I have been lucky to work with non-profits, government, schools, philanthropic organizations and individuals, to tackle problems at the nexus of natural resources and environment, technology, and strategic planning and analysis. The brief descriptions below highlight some of my past projects and experience. I work hard to ensure that the outputs from a particular project match the appropriate audience and objectives. The links in the right column provide examples of the diversity of outputs:
livelihoods, stakeholder and training needs assessments, & capacity building:
In the developing world and in North America, awareness of livelihoods helps us meet partners and stakeholders where they are, rather than where we want them to be. Systematic assessments of capacity, economic and non-monetary incentives, political and cultural contexts and knowledge, both traditional and scientific, can all guide and strengthen interventions. I have worked with stakeholders ranging from global industries to marginalized individuals to design and implement projects and interventions that build on common ground and establish enduring solutions.
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_conservation planning and assessment:
From 2000-2003 I helped develop and launch the Wildlife Conservation Society's Living Landscapes Program (LLP), which established a framework for strategic planning conservation action in large, diverse landscapes. This work included:
In the years since LLP, I have worked on a variety of projects assessing risks to wildlife and their habitats. |
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integrated water management:
Water's enormous importance for human livelihoods and for environmental flows has made it a central part of my work. It's 'cross-sectoral' nature and the large spatial scales of hydrological ecosystem services present significant challenges. I have worked on water policy at regional, national and multi-national levels, eco-hydrological assessments (examining quality, quantity and timing of flows), and on the indirect effects of hydrology, like disease dynamics, herding systems and land use conflicts. |
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mitigating and managing conflict:
Conflicts between people and wildlife or among stakeholders can derail conservation efforts from the outset. Perception can trump reality, and direct conflict can quickly ossify to become deep seated, and underlying conflict. I have worked with conflicts stemming from carnivore-livestock interactions, crop depredation, disease, land use and resource availability, particularly water. Transparency, understanding before being understood, and working from common objectives are a few of the strategies I bring to conflict mitigation and management. |
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strategic planning:
In addition to implementing site-based strategic planning through the Living Landscapes Framework (above), I led the strategic planning process for WCS's Yellowstone Rockies Program, using the "Done in a Day" approach, and participated in the development of the USAID Tanzania Mission's Environment Strategic Objective. Most recently, I facilitated the Sussex School's update of its strategic plan for 2012-15. |
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technology, data management and software development:
A thread running through my professional history is technology and innovation. Including:
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zoonotic disease ecology & management:
I co-founded the HALI (Health for Animal and Livelihood Improvement) Project with Jonna Mazet from the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center, Drs. Rudovick Kazwala and Dominic Kambarage of Sokoine University of Agriculture and support from the USAID-Funded Global Livestock Collaborative Research Support Program. The HALI project began with four components: 1) wildlife health, 2) livestock health and productivity, 3) waterborne disease, and 4) socioeconomic assessments of communities. The HALI Project continues today in Ruaha and the "one health" model developed by WCS, UCD and HALI forms the centerpiece of the PREDICT program, now being implemented worldwide. |
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