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Science

Zach Bright

Using science to inform and solve conservation challenges

Science is at the heart of The Wilderness Society’s work helping to inform conservation efforts and shape public land policy decisions for future generations. From Aldo Leopold to Olaus Murie to Jerry Franklin, science has always been at our core and continues to be one of the most important driving forces in our conservation campaigns.

The Science Team’s ecologists—based in Alaska, Colorado, Montana, Minnesota, Washington, and Maine—research everything from wildlife migration patterns to quantification of the wildest places on earth. We work on local and national scale research projects across the U.S. with conservation, university, and agency partners. Our expertise includes forest ecology, wildland fire science, conservation biology, climate change analysis, animal behavioral ecology, freshwater ecology and more.

The science team supports the organization’s mission through innovative research, sharing existing science, advising on management and policy, and collaborating with other scientists, local communities and land managers to solve conservation issues.

Science we’re conducting

Wilderness science

Assessing ecological integrity, landscape intactness and "wildness" on global and local scales in order to identify biologically important wild places.
Forest ecosystems and management

Mapping old-growth forests nationwide, studying the effects of forest management on biodiversity and developing strategies for conserving forests in the face of climate change and wildfires.
Landscape connectivity and animal migration movements

Developing connectivity and species models to aid in conserving wildlife corridors, ecological connectivity and biodiversity hotspots.
Freshwater ecosystems and fish

Studying freshwater fish species and critical areas in rivers and aquatic ecosystems needed to sustain fish populations.
U.S. public land conservation and planning

Using science to inform land management policy to protect important ecosystems and map an aspirational vision of conservation of federal public lands.
Conservation science communication and cartographic visualizations

Creating impactful maps and conducting spatial analyses that inform public land policy, highlight critical wild ecosystems and connect people with landscapes and conservation issues.

Through this work, the team strives to create lasting solutions that help preserve public lands for generations to come.

Meet our team

Travis Belote, Ph. D. Deputy Vice President of Science	Greg Aplet, Ph. D. Director, Special Projects	Kevin Barnett, M.S. Landscape Ecologist
Mariah Meek, Ph. D. Director of Research	Jason C. Leppi, Ph. D. Lead Fisheries Biologist	Peter McKinley, Ph. D. Senior Conservation Biologist
Tim Fullman, Ph. D. Senior Ecologist	Marty Schnure, B.A. Deputy Director, Cartography & Spatial Analysis	Matt Dietz, Ph. D. Director of Science Applications