JONATHAN L. GELBARD
Conservation Value, Inc.
Home address:
3020 El Cerrito Plaza #574
7607 Leviston Ave
El Cerrito, CA 94530
El Cerrito, CA 94530
Email: [email protected]
Tel. (H): 510 898 4895
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Education
Ph.D.
Ecology. University of California, Davis. June 2003.
Area of Emphasis: Integrative Ecology.
M.E.M. Environmental Management. Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. 1999.
Area of Emphasis: Landscape Ecology. Honors: elected “Environmental Advocate” for
the Forestry Environmental Management organization by student body.
B.S.
Natural Resources. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. 1995.
Concentrations: communication, creative writing, American Indian Studies. Honors:
Dean’s List, 1993-1995
Research Experience
Conservation Value, Inc., 1995 – present: Research on Sustainable Land Use – ongoing.
• Research and communicate via social media about the emerging subjects of climate
change solutions and ecosystem services, including: (1) how different land
management regimes (wildland, agriculture, forestry, etc.) affect provision of
ecosystem services and resilience to climate change, and (2) how to develop
management and policy tools that empower landowners to support themselves via the
conservation value of their land.
• Ongoing research explores the measurable, verifiable positive impacts of credibly
green products on the health of ecosystems and people. This work supports a course
on green purchasing taught at UC Berkeley extension.
• Ongoing research on conservation communication. This work supports a course
approved for teaching at UC Berkeley extension.
• Continue to engage in the science and management of invasive species. Co-authored
a policy brief recommending green job programs for stopping invasive species.
Conservation Value Institute (CVI), 2005 - 2009.
Conducted extensive research, outreach and blogging to serve as a bridge – translating the
knowledge of science for citizens and decision-makers. Projects focused on:
• Advancing the Green Economy: understanding the ways that Green Economy solutions
are immediately relevant to our daily lives.
o Conducted research to measure how products, practices and policies that are better
for the environment are also better for health, finances, security and quality of life.
• Sustainable Land Use: championed solutions that make conservation both possible and
profitable, protecting the health of our biosphere and human well-being.
o Researched existing and emerging conservation incentive programs. Coauthored an academic book chapter about regulatory policy and conservation.
• Entertainment Industry Partnerships: partnering with musicians and events to
motivate fans to get actively involved in the Green Economy.
• Communicated CVI’s ideas via the Conservation Value Notes blog and CVI’s online
‘library’ of mission-related articles and tip sheets. Selected blog posts and articles
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JONATHAN L. GELBARD
cross-posted on Triple Pundit, The Yale Forum on Climate Change and the Media.
Completed project to research and design GreenTracker, an online calculator and
tracker that measured savings of money, carbon emissions, energy, water, solid
waste, and land conferred by dozens of green products and practices.
Earth Day Network, January – March, 2009. Contracted to constructively review the accuracy
of “Warming Wonders of the World” essays about climate change impacts on famed
natural areas around the world. http://www.earthday.net/warmingwonders
•
HSBC/Hill & Knowlton, March – April, 2007. Completed contract to quantify the positive
impact of paperless (online) banking – on savings of carbon emissions, water, solid
waste, and trees. Results used in HSBC’s paperless banking marketing campaign.
Earth Day New York, January – April, 2007. Completed contract to research actions,
calculations, and content for the consumer-facing carbon-reduction calculator,
www.countdownyourcarbon.org.
UC Davis Natural Reserve System, June – September, 2003. Completed a literature review of
the positive and negative effects of livestock grazing on ecosystems of California’s Inner
North Coast Range. Research was used to inform the development of the California
Department of Fish and Game’s Knoxville Wildlife Area Management Plan.
Doctoral Research, UC Davis, 1999-2003. Dissertation research project titled “Understanding
the Distribution of Native vs. Exotic Plant Diversity in California’s Grassland
Landscapes”. Field research conducted in the inner North Coast Range of Napa, Lake and
Colusa County, CA between 1 - 6/2000 and 1 - 6/2003.
Advised by Dr. Susan Harrison, Department of Environmental Science and Policy.
Master’s Research, Duke University, 1997-1999. Master’s Project titled “Multiple Scale Causes
of Exotic Plant Invasion in the Colorado Plateau and Great Basin, USA.” Field research
conducted in and around Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, Grand Staircase
Escalante National Monument and Great Basin National Park between 5–8/1998.
Advised by Dean Urban, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University; Jayne
Belnap, US Geological Survey, Moab, UT.
Research Assistant/Intern, Oregon Natural Desert Association, Portland, Oregon. November
1996-August 1997.
• Assisted staff scientist by co-authoring article reviewing ecological effects of livestock
grazing on exotic plant invasions in the intermountain West, USA.
• Authored 120-page petition to list Great Basin redband trout as threatened or
endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
• Assisted staff scientist in researching and authoring constructive scientific reviews of
federal environmental assessments and impact statements.
• Supervisor: Joy Belsky.
Zirkel Air Quality Collaborative, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, December 1995-June 1996.
Partnered with U.S. Forest Service biologist to co-author proposals to study and
monitor Coal-Fired Power Plant air pollution impacts on Rocky Mountain biodiversity
and ecosystem processes. Advised by Robert Musselman, US Forest Service, Fort
Collins, CO.
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JONATHAN L. GELBARD
New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, Gray Ranch, New Mexico. July – December, 1995.
• Surveyed tree, shrub, grass and forb species, and rock type and geomorphology to
ground truth satellite imagery covering lands of southern New Mexico and Arizona’s
Malpais Borderlands Group, a multi-stakeholder sustainable ranching organization.
• Consulted with ranchers to gain permission to survey their land.
• Contract extended to independently locate and GPS previously surveyed plant
communities and monitoring plots of Heritage Program and The Nature Conservancy.
• Supervisor: Esteban Muldavin.
Project Director, Project Management and Consulting Experience
Conservation Value, Inc., Founder & Principal, El Cerrito, CA. 1995-Present.
• Awarded green Business certifications from the Bay Area Green Business Program
(2010) and Green America (2011).
• My work focuses on expert applications of environmental science and messaging. I
help clients maximize positive impact in the following areas:
o Conservation Science and Management
o Sustainable Business - Environmental Expertise for Your Team
o Strategic Communication and Messaging
o Green Event Production – booking, programming, speaking, moderating
• Selected projects completed for clients include:
o Earth Island Institute: developed a plan to research the potential for ecosystem
service revenue streams to fund California wetland and riparian restorations.
o Spaldin Sleep Systems: serving as this company’s Sustainability Expert. Developed
and implemented the company’s strategic sustainability and communication plans.
 My blog posts authored for Spaldin have attracted media interviews from “O”
Oprah Magazine, Good Housekeeping’s “Daily Green” web site, and Earth911.
 They also inspired an invitation to join the Specialty Sleep Association’s Green
Board of Governors, which is developing a new eco-label for mattresses.
o Bridgepoint Education: partnered with editorial and web development teams to
develop text book and interactive online teaching materials for an Introductory
Environmental Science course
o Cal IPC: lead communication team in completing a messaging project to improve the
attendance and quality of weed management trainings
o ONDA: Completed two successful expert witness declarations for an environmental
non-profit (a 2010 NEPA case and a 2004 FLPMA & NEPA case).
o NOAA: Partnered with a marketing expert to upgrade the messaging strategy and
materials for the agency’s Seabird Colony Protection Program.
o WWF: instructor at “Climate Camp” adaptation workshops. Authored the grasslands
chapter for the “Buying Time” climate change adaptation manual.
o UC Natural Reserve System: completed (1) a weed management plan for the
McLaughlin Reserve and (2) a literature review as part of the team developing the
California Dept. of Fish and Game’s Knoxville Wildlife Area Management Plan
ROTHBURY Think Tank. Director. Rothbury., MI, March - February 2008 – July 2009
• Produced, directed and moderated “Think Tank” panels and workshops focused on the
theme of “Finding Energy Independence” in 2008 and “Joining the Green Economy” in
2009. Panelists included eminent scientists, policy experts, sustainable business
leaders, government officials and musicians.
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JONATHAN L. GELBARD
• Managed budget, collaborated with legal and accounting teams on speaker contracting
and payments, publicity team on marketing and PR, and production team to execute onsite logistics.
• Supervised one assistant and 10 volunteers, who provided valuable logistical support.
Green Apple Festival, National Sustainability Producer. S.F., CA, Sept. 2006 – May 2009
• 2007-2008: Devised and implemented the event’s sustainability policy and educational
programs; selected a diverse mix of NGOs and green businesses to exhibit at the
‘Ecovillages’ of major Earth Day concerts; and coordinated with local governments
about our programs.
• 2009: Organized America’s Largest Earth Day Action. Developed partnerships with
NGOs and agencies in five cities to hold volunteer actions in energy efficiency, green
building, organic gardening and native habitat restoration.
NOAA, Conservation Communication Consultant. S.F., CA, March – August, 2008
• Partnered with a marketing expert to re-position and improve the communication
program for the Seabird Colony Protection Program.
World Wildlife Fund, Facilitator, Climate Camp, Washington D.C. May 2002 – Feb 2008
• Instructed and facilitated the Grassland and Montane Ecoregion Group at WWF's firstof-a-kind "Climate Camp" adaptation workshops.
• Trained land managers from around the world in how to strategically integrate climate
change into management planning.
• Facilitated collective brainstorms about research, management, policy and
communication strategies for maximizing the resilience of ecosystems and human
communities to climate change.
• Secured keynote speaker (Jerry Brown) and live music for event’s banquet.
• In 2002-2003, I completed the grasslands chapter of WWF’s ground-breaking “Buying
Time” climate change adaptation manual.
Conservation Value Institute, Executive Director & Senior Fellow, Berkeley, CA, 2005-2009
Planned and executed research, education and outreach programs focused on:
• Advancing the Green Economy: educated citizens and decision-makers in ways that
environmental solutions are immediately relevant to their daily lives.
• Sustainable Land Use: championed solutions that make conservation possible and
profitable, protecting the health of our biosphere and human well-being.
• Entertainment Industry Partnerships: partnered with musicians and events to motivate fans
to get actively involved in the Green Economy.
• Supervised interns, completed marketing, legal, planning and budgeting tasks.
• Raised over $85,000 to support the new organization’s programs.
HeadCount, Outreach Director, Berkeley, California, 2004
• Helped build and direct this non-partisan voter registration and education
organization; registered 50,000 voters as the voter registration organization of such
musical acts as Dave Matthews Band, Santana, Jack Johnson, The Dead and Phish.
• Supervised 5 central administrators, 9 regional coordinators, 50 team leaders.
• Authored successful grant proposals, training manuals, marketing and PR.
• Engaged media: was interviewed on 2 Bay Area radio shows and by 1 national online
news publication.
• The organization received a prestigious community service award for our 2004 campaign.
Teaching Experience
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JONATHAN L. GELBARD
Instructor, Sustainability Studies, UC Berkeley Extension, Berkeley, CA. Sept 2010 - Present
Instructor, Climate Camp, World Wildlife Fund, Washington D.C. April 2006, February 2008
Teaching Assistant, ESP 100, Introduction to Ecology. Department of Environmental Science
and Policy, UC Davis (Spring 2002).
Publications and Technical Reports
Reaser, J.K., O. Doering, J.L. Gelbard and J. Vollmer. 2010. Invasive Species and the Green
Economy – Policy Brief. National Invasive Species Week, Washington D.C.
Gelbard, J. L. and S. Harrison. 2005. Invasibility of roadless grasslands: an experimental study of
yellow starthistle. Ecological Applications 15:1570-1580.
Gelbard, J. L. and S. Harrison. 2003. Roadless habitats as refuges for native grassland diversity:
interactions with soil type, aspect, and grazing. Ecological Applications 12:404-415.
Gelbard, J. L. and J. Belnap. 2003. Roads as conduits for exotic plant invasions in a semiarid
landscape. Conservation Biology 17:420-432.
Paul Aigner, P., T. Fabula, J. Gelbard, S. Harrison, C. Koehler, A. Millington, and J. Rugyt.
2005. Knoxville Wildlife Area Management Plan. California Dept. of Fish and Game.
Gelbard, J.L. 2003. Potential Positive and Negative Effects of Livestock Grazing on Valley and
Foothill Plant Communities of the Interior California Floristic Province (With reference to the
Knoxville Wildlife Area, Napa County). UC Davis Natural Reserve System. November, 2003.
Gelbard, J.L. 2003. Site weed management plan for the UC Davis McLaughlin Reserve, Napa
and Lake Counties, CA. September, 2003.
Belsky, A. J. and J. L. Gelbard. 2000. Livestock grazing and weed invasions in the arid West.
Oregon Natural Desert Association, Bend, OR.
Book chapters
Ackerman, M. and J.L. Gelbard. 2011. Music – Inspired by weather, inspiring action on climate
change. In. Schneider, S. H. (ed). The Encyclopedia of Climate and Weather. Second Edition.
Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Jantz, P.A., B.A. Preusser, J.K. Fujikawa, J.A. Kuhn, C.J. Bersbach, J.L. Gelbard, and F.W.
Davis. 2007. Regulatory Policy and Conservation. Chapter 23 in Stromberg, M., J. Corbin, and C.
D'Antonio. (editors). Ecology and Management of California Grasslands. University of California
Press. Berkeley.
Gelbard, J. L. 2007. Invaders on the move: roads and off road vehicles as major causes of weed
invasions. In Wuerthner, G. and M. Mattson (editors). Thrill craft: the environmental
consequences of motorized recreation. Island Press.
Gelbard, J. L. 2003. Grasslands at a crossroads: protecting and enhancing resilience to climate
change. Pages 13-40 in Hanson L. J., J. L. Biringer, and J. R. Hoffman (editors). Buying time: a
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JONATHAN L. GELBARD
user’s manual for building resistance and resilience to climate change in natural systems. World
Wildlife Fund. Washington D.C. 242 Pages.
Belsky, A. J. and J. L. Gelbard. 2002. Comrades in harm: livestock and exotic weeds in the
intermountain West. Pages 203-205 in Wuerthner, G. and M. Mattson (editors). Welfare
Ranching: The subsidized destruction of the American West. Island Press. Washington D.C. 346
Pages.
Harrison, S., J. L. Gelbard et al. 2000. Plant communities of the McLaughlin Reserve. UC Davis
Natural Reserve System.
Selected Non-Scientific Articles and Blog Posts
What’s Really ‘Green’? A Look at Mattresses (Landing Page for Series) – A four-part series
proposing a framework for guiding green purchasing choices.
About Climate Change – Music for Action campaign by the Natural Resources Defense Council
Action Fund, HeadCount and Bonnaroo, March 1, 2010.
Musicians Inspiring Fans to Act on Climate Change Solutions – Yale Forum on Climate Change
& The Media, October 15, 2009
The Future of America's Major Media Outlets - Fixing the Fourth Estate After Failures On
Drilling and Iraq The Triple Pundit and Conservation Value Notes, September 10, 2008
A Talking Points Lesson From An Encounter With Global Warming Deniers Conservation Value
Notes, December 3, 2007
Leading the Fight Against Climate Change (and Peak Oil): Is the Next President the Most
Important in U.S. History? Conservation Value Notes, October 12, 2007
Ecosystem Services in Decisionmaking - Stepping Into Reality Conservation Value Notes,
August 29, 2007
Climate Change, Fire, & Water in the American West Conservation Value Notes, August 9, 2007
Accountability of Ecosystem Impacts in the Green Products Market Conservation Value Notes,
December 13, 2006
From Zero Waste to Biodiversity Conservation - of Recycling and Still-Undiscovered Species
Conservation Value Notes, September 13, 2006
Climate Camp Afterthoughts, Part I; Part II Conservation Value Notes, May 2006
Selected Press Coverage & Media Interviews
Documentary Film Interview about the benefits of urban forests and watershed protections. Dig
It: featuring members of Pearl Jam, Timberland’s CEO and more.
Radio interview: Alice Radio’s Sunday Magazine. September 27, 2009.
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JONATHAN L. GELBARD
Radio Interview: Green Apple Festival, the importance of ‘going green’ to our environment,
economy, and quality of life. Beyond Organic Radio with Jerry Kay. April, 2007.
Radio Interview: HeadCount Works to Improve Youth Voter Registration. Dead to the World.
KPFA, FM. Berkeley, CA. June 2004.
Lewis, L. 2004. Musicians work to improve youth voter registration. The Raw Story. May
2004. http://www.rawstory.com/exclusives/lewis/musicians_right_to_vote.htm
American Museum of Natural History. 2004. Species and Sprawl - A Road Runs Through It,
February, 2004. http://sciencebulletins.amnh.org/bio/f/sprawl.20050201/essays/50_1.php
Lau, E. 2003. Weeds at home on our roadsides. Sacramento Bee, May 4, 2003. (Sacramento Bee
link no longer available)
Melley, B. 2003. Studies find roads are pathways for invasive species. Associated Press. June
2003.
Environmental News Service, 2003. Roads Open Up Paths for Weed Invasions. April 18, 2003.
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2003/2003-04-18-09.asp#anchor7
Conservation Magazine’s “Journal Watch” section. Paving Roads Can Increase Weed Invasions.
Summer, 2003.
Zapphos, P. 2003. Another Roadside Detraction. High Country News. September 15, 2003.
University of California, 2001. Roadless habitats as refuges for native plant diversity. Office of
Research, Summer, 2001. http://www.ucop.edu/research/publications/pdf/nsfsu01.pdf (page 2)
Larmer, P. 2000. Are cows the ultimate weed seeders? High Country News. May 22, 2000.
Selected Presentations & Speaking Engagements
“Advancing the Green Economy: Achieving Impact From the Office to the Ecosystem.” UC
Berkeley Extension Public Lecture Series, Berkeley, CA. March, 2011.
Panelist - “Education Innovation: how to integrate sustainability and biomimicry into the
curriculum”. Green Festival, San Francisco, CA. November 7, 2010.
Panelist - “Greening the live music industry”. New Noise, Santa Barbara, CA. November 5,
2010.
“Invasive Species and The Green Economy: Job creation to empower EDRR managers to ‘Be as
aggressive as Starthistle!’” Bay Area Early Detection Network Partners Meeting. March, 2010.
Panelist and moderator of two panels on joining the New Green Economy, ROTHBURY Think
Tank 2009. ROTHBURY, MI.
“Repositioning NOAA’s Seabird Colony Protection Program to Motivate Conservation-Oriented
Behavior Changes” NOAA symposium on environmental messaging strategies for wildlife
conservation. October, 2008.
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JONATHAN L. GELBARD
“Do Carbon Offsets Really Work?” Cornell Silicon Valley/NASA Ames Research Center Panel
on “How Do We Create a Low Carbon Economy.” November, 2007.
“Effective Communication of Conservation Biology to the Public.” UC Berkeley Chapter of the
Society of Conservation Biology. Berkeley, California. March, 2006.
“Effective Communication of Conservation Biology to the Public.” UC Davis Chapter of the
Society of Conservation Biology. Davis, California. January, 2006.
“Roads, livestock grazing, and noxious weeds: using science to improve land management.”
Santa Barbara County Weed Management Symposium. Santa Barbara, CA. September 2004.
“Landscape structure, biotic resistance, and invasional meltdown: an experimental study of
yellow starthistle invasion.” Presented at annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America,
Portland, Oregon, August 2004.
“Effects of roads and off-road vehicles (ORVs) on native plant persistence and exotic plant
invasion.” Presented to UC Davis Road Ecology Center. Davis, California, April 2004.
“Effect of landscape structure on native and exotic plant diversity in California grasslands.”
Presented at annual meeting, the Ecological Society of America, Tucson, Arizona, August 2002.
“Roadless habitats as refuges for native plant diversity against exotic plant invasion in California
grassland landscapes.” Presented at 2002 California Department of Fish and Game Weed Control
Conference, Yosemite, California, March, 2002.
“Roadless habitats as refuges for native plant diversity against exotic plant invasion in California
grassland landscapes.” Presented at 2001 California Exotic Pest Plant Council (Cal EPPC)
Annual Conference, San Diego, California, October, 2001.
“Effect of spatial isolation from roads on native vs. exotic plant diversity in California grassland
landscapes.” Presented at annual meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology, Hilo, Hawaii,
August 2001.
“Effect of spatial isolation on native vs. exotic plant diversity in California grassland
landscapes.” Presented at Bay Area Conservation Symposium, Davis, California. January 2001.
“Roads as conduits for exotic plant invasions.” Presented at the annual meeting of the Society for
Conservation Biology. Missoula, Montana. June 2000.
Research & Project Grants and Honors
Michigan Economic Development Corporation Sponsorship to ROTHBURY Think Tank (2009)
The Libra Foundation Grant to Conservation Value Institute (2007)
Mark Vann Foundation Grant to Conservation Value Institute (2006)
Rex Foundation Grant to Conservation Value Institute (2006)
Gamble Foundation Grant to Conservation Value Institute (2005)
Dave Matthews Band, The Dead and Phish: to support HeadCount voter registration and
education teams on summer tours. (2004)
UC Davis Biological Invasions IGERT Short-Term Fellow (2002)
U.S. Department of the Interior, Great Basin National Park; to support master’s research (1998).
Edna Baily Sussman Fund, to support Master’s research, (1998)
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JONATHAN L. GELBARD
Sperling Foundation, to support Master’s field research in Utah, (1998)
Sigma Xi Grant in Aid, to support Master’s field research in Utah, (1998)
Professional Affiliation and Service
Reviewer: Ecology, Ecological Applications, Conservation Biology, Biological Conservation,
Diversity and Distributions, Landscape Ecology.
Member: Ecological Society of America, Society for Conservation Biology, American
Institute for Biological Sciences.
Advisory Board: HeadCount (2006 – present); Rock the Earth (2005 - 2006)
Additional Skills and Information
GIS and GPS related: Proficient in ArcGIS, ARCVIEW, IMAGINE, Pathfinder
Word Processing and Spreadsheet and Presentation Software: MS Office Suite
Statistical Software: JMP, SPlus
Online Publishing: blogging, development of online tools for advancing sustainability.
Web Site Management: Dreamweaver; Photoshop, editing and maintaining web sites.
Experienced event planner, amateur photographer.
Brown-black belt–Kajukenbo; Green Belt—Seibukan Jujutsu; High Green Belt–Shotokan Karate
Avid hiker, skier, boater. Experienced on horseback: trained in English and Western saddles.
Soulful blues harmonica player.
References
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Available upon request and via my LinkedIn profile
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