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Daniel B. Botkin
(see also www.danielbbotkin.com for essays and more by
Daniel B. Botkin)
BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY
Daniel B. Botkin is a scientist who studies life from a planetary
perspective, a biologist who has helped solve major environmental issues,
and a writer about nature. A frequent public speaker, Botkin brings
an unusual perspective to his subject. Well-known for his scientific
contributions in ecology and environment, he has also worked as a professional
journalist and has degrees in physics, biology, and literature. His
books and lectures show how our cultural legacy often dominates what
we believe to be scientific solutions. He discusses the roles of scientists,
businessmen, stakeholders, and government agencies in new approaches
to environmental issues. He uses historical accounts by Lewis and Clark
and Henry David Thoreau to discuss the character of nature and the
relationship between people and nature.
CURRENT POSITIONS
Research Professor
Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology
University of California, Santa Barbara |
1999 - Present
Santa Barbara, CA |
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| President |
1991 - Present |
| The Center For The Study Of The Environment |
Santa Barbara, CA |
- Founded and developed this non-profit organization to conduct objective,
independent, scientific analyses of complex environmental issues and
provide results in formats useful for policy formulation; to use a
mult-disciplinary approach, and to involve public participation and
participation of stakeholdeers, and to provide conclusions as sets
of policy options to the public.
| Professor of Biology |
1992 - Present |
| George Mason University |
Fairfax, VA. |
- Lead new interdisciplinary program concerning major environmental
issues
- Develop new curriculum linking fundamental environmental sciences
to applied problems
- Conduct fundamental and applied research in ecology
- Conduct research on the application of advanced computer techniques
to environmental issues
RECENT CONSULTING AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Member of the Board of Trustees of the American Folklife Center, Library
of Congress (Congressional appointee) 2004 to present.
- Head, North American Division, Sustainable Use Project of the International
Union for the Conservation of Nature, 2002 - present.
- Mediated discussions about salmon in the Pacific Northwest among all
interested parties, for Humboldt State University, 2003.
- Directed a project for the Dept. Of Defense Strategic Environmental
Research and Development Program concerning Ecosystem Management of
DOD lands and waters.
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Directed a project funded by special bill of the Oregon Legislature
concerning the relative effects of forest practices on salmon, and
involving economic analyzes, development of new methods to forecast
salmon harvests and set harvest levels.
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Directed a project to determine the carbon dioxide sequestering capacities
of tropical rain forests in Costa Rica, funded by the Andrew Mellon
and W. Alton Jones Foundations.
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Directed a project to develop methods to forecast sustainable levels
of timber harvest with a major timber corporation of Costa Rica.
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Served as section discussion leader at Malaysian - Canadian Conference
on Certification of Sustainable Forestry Malaysia.
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Directed projects to forecast the potential effects of global warming
on forests and endangered species, using advanced computer methods,
supported by EPA, the W. Alton Jones Foundation and Pew Charitable
Trusts.
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Directed a project to provide the first statistically valid estimates
of biomass and carbon storage for large forested areas, for the boreal
and termperate forests of North America, funded by the Andrew Mellon
Foundation.
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Directed a project concerning the effects of water diversion for
water supply on Mono Lake, California, a 40,000 acres salt lake important
for biological conservation and ecotourism.
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Directed a project concerning the use of vegetation in cities, especially
concerning the conservation of biological diversity, funded by the
Los Angeles Metropolitan Water District.
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Advisor, Taiwan Council of Economic Planning and Development and
Taiwan Council of Agriculture, on: Ecological Surveys and Monitoring
for National Parks and Nature Preserves; the development of an environmental
data directory for Taiwan, and the readiness of applied ecology in
Taiwan for application to economic development.
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Codirector of a project to forecast potential effects of global warming
on forests of Siberia, involving field work and computer simulation,
supported by the U. S. D. A. Forest Service, the Russian Forestry
Service, and several U. S. private Foundations.
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Consultant, World Bank, Biological Diversity and Sustainability of
tropical rain forests.
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Consultant, Rockefeller Foundation, Assessment of major non-governmental
environmental organizations in North American and Europe.
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As an advisor to the Soros Foundation, helped plan an environmental
division for a new Central European University in Budapest.
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Consultant, World Bank, Application of remote sensing for land use
mapping in Africa.
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Directed a project concerning conservation of elephants in Tanzania,
using an ecosystem perspective and advanced computer simulation methods,
under support from the World Wildlife Fund.
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Directed an analysis on the potential environmental effects of a
toxic waste facilities on wildlife and natural vegetation, County
of Santa Barbara and State of California.
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For the U. S. Marine Mammal Commission, analyzed the concept of "optimum
sustainable populations" as defined in the U. S. Marine Mammal
Protection Act.
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