Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation

This grant will fund Chuck Striplen's time as environmental scientist at the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) to create a new Tribal Initiative within the Historical Ecology Program of the organization.  The Initiative will integrate the historical, ecological and cultural knowledge of California's native tribes into conservation planning and management of non-reservation land and watershed resources.  This grant creates an opportunity for Chuck, as a tribal member, scientist and staff member at SFEI, to take on a leadership role in a unique new program that aims to better integrate landscape and cultural priorities on a watershed scale.  This year, Chuck will focus on establishing a steering committee comprised of tribal representatives, public agencies, other non-profit conservation groups, municipalities and others, and prepare for building the new program's capacity over the coming years.

The Adirondack Nature Conservancy has hired Jessie Levine as a consultant to develop a pilot program for funding the replacement and upgrade of road culverts to benefit aquatic species and habitat.  Working with state and local governments and ANC’s academic and NGO partners, Jessie will help local highway departments in the Adirondack region by developing cost-share programs to offset the costs of installing new culverts that are better adapted to more severe weather scenarios under a changing climate.  Culvert upgrades will help to ensure habitat connectivity for aquatic species and help to preserve the integrity of wetlands and waterways as severe storms and high water events become more common.  Jessie’s background in watershed management and environmental policy will provide needed expertise to complement ANC’s science and policy staff.

Whale Trust received a second year of support for Meagan Jones as its first full-time Executive Director.  Meagan co-founded the organization in 2001 while getting her PhD, and began working full time after finishing her degree.  Meagan is leading the organization through the next phase of its growth and development after a successful previous year developing a strategic plan and fundraising plan.  Over the course of the next year, she will continue plans for the development of Whale Trust’s research and education center and continued exploration of collaboration opportunities with University of Hawaii-Maui College.

This grant will allow the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association to expand Leslie Abramson's position to full time at the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.  Leslie will fill the role of Project Manager for the Whale/Vessel Interactions Project where she will coordinate and guide an interdisciplinary working group addressing the issue of whales and ship strikes.  This area off the coast of San Francisco provides breeding and feeding grounds for blue, gray and humpback whales and other marine mammals.  In recent years, there have been several incidents of whale deaths due to ship strikes.  The working group will develop an action plan with recommendations on research and monitoring, communication and outreach to stakeholders, industry best management practices, and new policies and regulations; will consult with and make formal recommendations to the U.S. Coast Guard on altering shipping lanes in the Bay Area; will work towards a nationally coordinated approach to reduce impacts on whales from vessel traffic; and will present its work and findings nationally and internationally.  This project builds on Leslie's prior experience with other national marine sanctuaries, and as a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow in Washington, D.C. last year where she served as part of the U.S. delegation to the International Whaling Commission annual meeting in Morocco.

The Pinchot Institute for Conservation has been awarded a third year of funding for Amy Rogers as Project Director, continuing to develop a conservation program for the Mache-Chindul Reserve in Ecuador focusing on reforestation and, this year, testing the concept of environmental mortgages.  Amy has established a conservation program in the Esmeraldas Province in Ecuador focusing on two primary goals:  to understand forest regeneration ecology in the Choco Forest, and to undertake reforestation and conservation strategies in a way that also supports local stewardship and economic development so that forest-based livelihoods can be sustainable and meet forest conservation goals.  This year, Amy will work with Switzer Fellow Josh Donlan of Advanced Conservation Strategies, to test the concept of 'environmental mortgages' as a way to create these sustainable livelihoods.

The U.S. Forest Service's Northern Research Station, based in Amherst, Massachusetts, will work with Susannah Lerman to lead a project to incorporate a wildlife habitat component to the NRS's urban forest evaluation program.  The end goal will be to improve the Forest Service's overall urban forest management activities.  Specifically, Susannah will integrate metrics on bird habitat as an indicator of ecosystem health into the Forest Service's computer modeling software to develop an overall picture of urban forest biodiversity.  The data will be available to a broad range of users including forest managers, municipalities, planners, students and volunteers for information on bird populations as an indicator of biodiversity and ultimately, as a tool to assist land managers.  Susannah completed her PhD in biology from UMass Amherst in May, 2011.  Her past experience includes scientific research with the Center for Biological Diversity in San Diego, CA; with the Ashuelot Valley Environmental Observatory in Keene, NH; and with the Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences in Woodstock, Vermont.  

Dustin Mulvaney will continue his research into the safety and sustainability of the solar photovoltaic industry for a third year.  Dustin and Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) will build on the momentum of the past two years of Dustin's role as Research Scientist on the Clean and Just Solar Energy Campaign.  This third year of funding will allow Dustin to continue his research into the chemicals and processes used in the solar industry, prepare and release public outreach documents and information, continue policy research and analysis, and continue to serve as SVTC's media liaison.  Dustin will continue to support SVTC as it deepens its work with the solar industry, legislative representatives, government agencies, university researchers and the public to document solar industry practices and potential environmental and human health risks.