Ryan Walsh Email & Phone Number

I have leveraged my academic and personal background to create unique botanical programs at the Toledo Zoo and a financially sustainable conservation business, the Wild Toledo program. Under my leadership, the Wild Toledo program has expanded from an on-grounds urban prairie initiative to a full-service nursery that does prairie installations, native landscaping and runs a profitable native plant greenhouse business. The novel creation of the business side of Wild Toledo allows the program to be sustainable without outside funding, while simultaneously meeting conservation goals. I have similarly run Lepidopteran conservation efforts at the Toledo Zoo, including captive rearing and research of the Federally endangered Mitchell’s satyr and Karner blue butterflies. Outside of native plantings, I direct the horticulture department and am responsible for all Toledo Zoo botanical programs.

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  Director Of Plant Conservation

  The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium

  May 2014 - Present - Toledo, Ohio, United States

  • Direct the urban prairie initiative at the Toledo Zoo, adding >50 urban prairies in NW Ohio for urban pollinator conservation, research and urban revitalization.o Created the Wild Toledo Native Plant nursery and landscaping business.o Developed the Wild Toledo initiative as a sustainable and profitable conservation program with net revenue > $100,000 in 2021.o Coordinated ESG initiatives with corporate partners to fulfill ESG goals leveraging the Wild Toledo program. Coordinated work with partners at local, county, state and national level as well as national and multi-national corporate partnerso Write grants and pursue corporate ESG funding for expansion of the conservation program• Manage the rare and endangered butterfly research and captive rearing program at The Toledo Zoo.o Coordinate captive rearing of Federally Endangered Mitchell’s satyr and Karner Blue butterfly for release.o Conduct independently funded Lepidopteran research in support of the endangered butterfly conservation programs.o Supervise community outreach for Lepidopteran conservation.• Manage the creation and curation of the botanical collection at The Toledo Zoo Museum of Science tropic and prairie conservatories.• Design and create the annual Toledo Zoo Orchid Show• Design and create plantings for new Toledo Zoo exhibits, attractions and conservation programs.• Manage the Horticulture Department at The Toledo Zoo including maintenance and planning of all botanical activities on grounds.o Leading the sustainability transition to native plant-only grounds using Wild Toledo grown native plants.o Direct and advise on all horticultural operations and construction projects at the Toledo Zoo• Led mapping of Wild Toledo prairies and Lights Before Christmas displays utilizing ArcGIS and Trimble hardware.

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  Bowling Green State University

  Biology/Biological Sciences, General