Jonathan Scheuer

Jonathan currently continues his career work on the resolution and management of conflict over natural resources as a private consultant, advising private and public clients on conservation and Native Hawaiian policy and strategy. Previously he worked for nearly six years for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, first as a policy analyst focused on water rights and later as the founder and director of their Land Management Division, which manages a portfolio of nearly 28,000 acres of conservation and other lands. Jonathan had lead responsibility in acquisition of these properties. Supported by a Switzer Leadership Grant, Jonathan worked in 2002-2003 as an evaluation coordinator in the Land Assets Division of Kamehameha Schools (KS) (http:www.ksbe.edu). He currently serves as a Commissioner on the O`ahu Island Burial Council (appointed by Governor Neil Abercrombie, April 2011) (http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/hpd/bcagnda.htm). He also serves as a Board member of the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (www.hilt.org), a statewide land trust. Born and raised in Hawai`i, Jonathan earned degrees in Environmental Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz (B.A. 1991, Ph.D. 2002), and Yale University's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (M.E.S. 1995). His doctoral studies, partially funded by a Switzer Fellowship, examined a battle over water rights on the island of O`ahu known as the Waiahole Water Case. His academic, professional, and activist work has focused on public policy aspects of the interactions between indigenous groups and the environmental community, community-based activism, water management, and the conservation of biological diversity.