David S. Wilcove

Position
Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs and the High Meadows Environmental Institute
Office
312 Robertson Hall
Advisee(s):
Bio/Description

David S. Wilcove is Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs and the High Meadows Environmental Institute. He joined the faculty in 2001 after working for 16 years in various environmental organizations. Wilcove’s research focuses on developing innovative ways to protect biodiversity in an increasingly hot, hungry, and crowded world. He and his research group (The Drongos) have worked in Asia, Africa, South America, North America, and Australasia.  In recent years he has devoted particular attention to wildlife conservation in Asia. He and his students and postdoctoral students have worked in Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, New Zealand, East Africa, South America, Central America and North America. Their work typically combines ecological research with economics and other social sciences to address issues such as deforestation, commercial logging, agriculture and the wild animal trade.

From 1991 to 2001, Wilcove served as senior ecologist at the Environmental Defense Fund in Washington, D.C., where he focused on developing economically and scientifically sound policies for protecting endangered species.

From 1986 to 1991 he was senior ecologist for The Wilderness Society, where he helped to develop the scientific foundation for the Society’s arduous and successful campaign to protect the ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest. Prior to joining the staff of The Wilderness Society, he was a research scientist in zoology for The Nature Conservancy.

Wilcove has served on the board of directors of the American Bird Conservancy, Rare, the Society for Conservation Biology and on the editorial boards of Conservation Biology and Ecological Applications.

Wilcove is the author of two books and numerous scientific publications, book chapters and popular articles dealing with conservation biology, endangered species, biogeography and ornithology.  His work has garnered awards from the Society for Conservation Biology, Defenders of Wildlife, the Pew Foundation, The Wildlife Society, and the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute.  

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