Ryan Elting Email & Phone Number

Greenbank, Wa

As Conservation Director, I lead the Land Trust's Conservation Team and am responsible for coordinating land acquisition, land management, and grant fundraising. I work with private landowners to protect important natural areas and working farms and forests within priority areas defined by the Land Trust. We partner with a variety of agency and non-profit entities to leverage funding and maximize individual partner strengths. Our land protection is carried out with a mindfulness of our capacity to effectively steward and restore those lands, so that we can be sure to always model responsible management.

Southeastern North Carolina

In addition to the duties of NC Sandhills Program Director, below, I was responsible for developing and implementing strategies to coordinate and expand stewardship and controlled burning across three of the Conservancy's conservation landscapes that have been integrated under a single longleaf pine forest whole system program.

Nc Sandhills Conservation Landscape

I directed a landscape-scale program focused on the conservation of longleaf pine forest at the northern end of the historic range, working closely with Federal, State, and local partners to garner resources for the protection, restoration, and management of an ecologically healthy and functional landscape. Primary responsibilities involved identifying and working with willing landowners to place priority lands under conservation, restoring ecosystem connectivity by buffering and connecting core habitat blocks, developing and implementing ecosystem restoration plans, and fostering a collaborative partnership to leverage resources for these activities. Additional duties include staff supervision, grant writing to expand program capacity, grant and operations budget management, conservation planning, public relations, and prescribed fire program duties (Firefighter Type 1, Squad Boss).

Zambia, Africa

I worked with the Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO) program, a Wildlife Conservation Society project in Zambia’s Eastern Province, collecting baseline data to determine the scale of forest loss. I navigated rural areas and remote country with COMACO staff, conducting interviews with village elders in over 200 settlements, that documented the prevalence and motivations for local forest use practices. I linked survey results with GPS data to assess and map the footprint of forest clearing activities in the region, and worked with project staff to develop landscape environmental assessments and strategies to improve conservation effectiveness for two expansive landscapes.

Southern Pines, North Carolina

As ORISE Conservation Fellow with The Nature Conservancy, I was responsible for managing TNC's GIS database and performing all GIS responsibilities for the Sandhills Program. I gained familiarity with the land acquisition process, carrying out environmental assessments, baseline documentation, and work with landowners, appraisors and surveyors. I managed conservation easement and land stewardship monitoring activities, generated preserve management plans, and developed grant proposals for longleaf pine forest restoration projects. I assisted with prescribed burns, and other land management and habitat restoration projects, and general preserve management responsibilities.

Hillsborough, Nc

As Manager of the Little River Regional Park, I oversaw the development and operations of this 400 acre Regional Park in Durham and Orange Counties of NC. I organized and led a volunteer trail building team that logged over 10,000 volunteer hours and constructed a 7+ mile hiking trail system. I created a native plant and pollinator garden with donated materials and volunteer time that I solicited, organized an environmental education program, and developed a comprehensive land management plan for the Park.

Duke University, Durham, Nc

During my graduate studies in wetlands ecology and restoration at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, I collected stream data from urban and reference watersheds, including flow and nutrient concentration. Following graduation, I assisted with graduate research in wetlands ecology and restoration including lab analysis of wetland soils, and field data collection.

Cape Cod, Ma.

Worked and lived with a 12 member team of environmental service volunteers. Partnered with federal, state and local agencies to implement land and water conservation and environmental education throughout Cape Cod. Carried out extensive trail clearing and invasive species removal. Held several individual service positions; carried out least turn and piping plover surveys with the USFWS on Monomoy NWR; developed an inventory and environmental status description for all conservation properties owned by the Town of Welfleet, MA; developed a land management plan for a newly acquired conservation tract of the Orleans Conservation Trust.

Gaborone, Botswana, Africa

Led a five member field research team that assessed the forage health on the 25,000 acre Mokolodi Nature Reserve, requiring identification of all local tree and grass species. Trained local guides in study methodology to assure long-term success of study. Served as Senior Environmental Educator at the Mokolodi Education Center, planning and developing curriculum, and teaching ecology, conservation, and wildlife biology to over 10,000 students. Earned Botswana Professional Guide License (Lodge B), certifying knowledge required to lead tourist groups on game drives.

Masters Of Environmental Management, Conservation Ecology

Bs, Biology & Environmental Studies

Study Abroad, Ecology And Conservation, Junior Year

Activities and Societies: Independent study projects. Intensive Setswana language training. Local homestay.Studied Ecology.