Basel Metropolitan Area
I am an ecologist and urbanist studying how cities depend on and impact the natural world. 50+ scientific publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=qjx1OkwAAAAJ&hl=en
Research the impact and dependencies of communities on the natural world, studying how nature can increase resilience in the face of climate change and improve human health and well-being. Provide scientific support and strategic advice to The Nature Conservancy's Nature-Based Solutions projects around the globe.
Lead scientist for the Conservancy’s Build Healthy Cities Program, which worked to both preserve biodiversity near cities and to maintain ecosystem services that urban dwellers depend on. Helped direct the science behind much of the Conservancy’s urban conservation work, and provided scientific support to Conservancy urban projects around the globe.
Helped design the Conservancy's urban program, first in the United States and then globally. Research focus on natural infrastructure for maintaining biodiversity and human well-being. Also provides science support to our energy policy team, particularly thinking about how energy policy will affect land-use, water-use, and biodiversity. Major achievements at TNC: • Helped start TNC’s first urban conservation initiative, which now has active projects in more than 25 cities worldwide. Helped raise more than $10 million in funding from several donors. • Lead the development of the organization’s first global agriculture strategy. Helped raise funds from corporate donors to launch the global agriculture program and hire the program’s director. • Conducted a major scientific research project looking at how US energy policy, particularly with regard to climate change mitigation, would affect land-use and biodiversity. Presented this report on Capitol Hill, where it had a significant effect on the political debate around a potential cap-and-trade bill. The report was mentioned on the Senate floor during debate, as well as in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal.
Researched the impact global urban growth will have on biodiversity and conservation, and taught landscape ecology, helping architects and planners incorporate ecological principles into their projects.
Led a research project examining the landscape-scale effects of forest harvesting and forest conversion on biodiversity and invasive species spread in western Massachusetts.