Environmental Consulting Services
Selfie of Kirra and Coyote Mint on Siplichiquin/San Bruno Mountain.
One dark night in 1998...
I found myself standing at Land's End, gazing out at the Pacific and I knew I had to find a way to be near that place.
The following summer, I moved to the Presidio of San Francisco, started a internship in habitat restoration and environmental education with the National Park Service and became the steward of the beaches and bluffs below the Golden Gate.
Fast forward 20+ years, and I've become the founder and lead scientist of a small environmental consulting business, right here in the Bay Area! My specialties are seed ecology, rare plant propagation, endangered species recovery and butterfly reintroduction.
After 30 years of absence, we've helped the Bay checkerspot butterfly return to San Bruno Mountain. Watch the lifecycle of this rare butterfly unfold, from the day we released them through their survival to form the next generation.
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These many years, I have committed my expertise in restoration ecology and endangered species recovery to Bay Area conservation agencies. I am a local expert in rare plant and butterfly recovery, I know the land intimately and I maintain the trust and respect of colleagues from government and regulatory agencies throughout the region.
My career highlights include successfully reintroducing the Mission blue butterfly to San Francisco (Yelamu), reintroducing the Bay checkerspot butterfly to San Bruno Mountain (Siplichiquin), reestablishing the golden paintbrush on Whidbey Island, pioneering experimental propagation of the Raven’s manzanita, overhauling the Golden Gate Park Nursery’s operations to prevent the spread of Sudden Oak Death/Phytophthora sp., launching a citizen-science conservation initiative for the Sonoran desert toad and training hundreds of budding ecologists, interns and volunteers.
My credentials include a Masters of Science in Restoration Ecology from the University of Washington, a research fellowship with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and former land management positions for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the University of Washington, The Nature Conservancy, the City and County of San Francisco and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. I have specialized expertise in rare and endangered butterfly recovery, restoration project management, biological monitoring for a wide range of plant and animal species, seed collection and rare plant propagation, rare and invasive plant mapping and monitoring, rare plant and butterfly reintroduction, GIS proficiency, integrated pest management, permitting and regulatory compliance and facilitating long-term interagency collaborations. In addition, I have an extensive background in developing and providing technical trainings, including creating widely-adopted protocols for Mission blue butterfly monitoring and co-authoring a manual for establishing and operating a restoration nursery.
As the sole-proprietor of Root Wisdom, I have the flexibility and skills to offer expert services and produce thorough, timely results that fit your needs. I look forward to working together!
Contact me directly to inquire about rates, availability or requests for proposals.
