Gregg Howald CV
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CAREER ASPIRATIONS Gregg To implement, catalyze and inspire biodiversity conservation through sustainable partnerships for the benefit of wildlife and people. Howald PROFESSIONAL OVERVIEW > Building conservation programs. Over 20 years of experience protecting threatened species by building multi‐lateral/transboundary partnerships focused on the restoration of island ecosystems in the temperate and tropical Pacific. > Building and sustaining long term public‐private partnerships by bringing industry, government, scientists and NGOs together under national and international policy frameworks to conserve threatened species. > Effectively communicating the science of conservation and environmental issues in support of complex environmental compliance processes (eg. NEPA; FIFRA), controversial public consultation, media and advocacy. > Applying the science of ecotoxicology and environmental risk assessment for toxin based invasive species management projects. > Catalyzing the innovation of new, more effective and safer conservation tools to facilitate larger, more complex, or currently unattainable restoration actions. > Mentoring the next generation of conservationists through collaborative working relationships and sharing of expertise internationally. EXPERIENCE 2010‐Present Island Conservation (IC) North America Regional Director > Develop and implement a strategic plan for IC in North America. > Build and maintain partnerships with a diverse group of First Nations, government, funders, NGO, corporate and landowner stakeholders to implement and sustain eradication of invasive species from islands. > Fundraise to support program and project implementation. > Communicate the science of restoration to government, land managers and communities in support and opposed to island eradications. > Mentor both program and project staff implementing projects. Home: > Represent IC with media and key partner communications in North America. 1531 Appleridge Rd > Member of the Island Conservation management team, Innovation Committee, Kelowna, British Columbia and Eradication Advisory Team. V1W 3A5 Canada Note: Resume continues on page 2… p. 250.859.4534 [email protected] Gregg Howald North America Regional Director (cont.) Key Outcomes to Date: > Informing policy with the US Fish and Wildlife Service that has directly led to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Island Conservation (signed April 2015). > Invited member of the United States Delegation at the annual Trilateral Committee for Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Management (2012‐2016). Outcome: Letter of Intent in the Subject Matter of Conservation and Restoration of the Insular Ecosystems of the Mexican United States, United States of America, and Canada (signed May 28, 2014). > Ongoing engagement with First Nation communities – eg. Council of the Haida Nation, Haida Gwaii; Quatsino First Nations, Vancouver Island; Kaho’olawe Island Reserve Commission, Hawaii; Island of Ni’ihau, Hawaii; Aleut Corporation, Alaska; Micronesia (Pohnpei; Yap); Palau; Munakata Shrine, Fukuoka, Japan. > Secured and catalyzed ~ $US 2‐4s Million annual project activity in North America, through philanthropic fundraising, foundation contributions, corporate donations, and/or in kind contributions. > Technical advisor and support for IC Global Affairs lead with World Bank and GEF engagement. > Implemented invasive species eradications on 7 islands in the United States, Mexico and Canada; with 6 pending in 2016/2017. > Advised international invasive species eradication programs in the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Japan, French Polynesia and the European Union (Italy); > Secured and streamlined conservation rodent bait registrations in 3 countries (Canada, United States, Chile). > Key advisor to the NGO Coastal Conservation to implement program of island restoration in Canada. 2004‐2010 Island Conservation (IC) Program Director > Charged to develop IC’s invasive species island eradication program: developing protocols to implementing island rodent eradications worldwide for IC. > Hired and mentored project managers. > Represented IC with media and key partner communications related to project activities. > Translated the science in support of environmental compliance processes (eg. USEPA under FIFRA; NEPA) to implement rodent eradication projects in partnership with lead government agencies. > Provided ecotoxicology support and risk assessment for IC rodent projects internationally; > Fostered IC’s first corporate sponsorship from Bell Laboratories, and lead development on three conservation rodent bait formulas, registered internationally (United States, Canada, Ecuador, Micronesia). Key Outcomes: > Mentored 4 Project Managers that are today leading island conservation programs in the Caribbean, Tropical Pacific, Mexico, and Ecuador. > Conducted international island rodent eradication training in the Tropical Pacific (Micronesia) (2007). > Directed, advised and implemented rat eradications and trials on >15 islands in Alaska, Mexico, US Central Pacific and Micronesia. > Strategic rodent eradication advice to the Galapagos National Park on Projecto Pinzon (2007). > Co‐founded the NGO, Coastal Conservation, focused on restoring island ecosystems by removing invasive species in Canada. > In conjunction with the USDA and Bell Laboratories, secured Section 3 bait registrations for 2 conservation rodent bait formulations with the USEPA in compliance with FIFRA. 1996, 1999‐2004 Island Conservation (IC) Project Director > Embedded with the US National Park Service to develop and manage the first North American aerial broadcast rat eradication from Anacapa Island, California Channel Islands National Park. > Hired and managed field staff. Developed protocols and studies to inform environmental compliance process, inform eradication, and risks to the environment from rodenticide use. > Provided technical input for the environmental compliance processes including writing of the Environmental Impact Statement in compliance with NEPA, FIFRA and ~20 other consultations, permits and regulatory agency engagement. > Regular engagement and support for funders ‐ American Trader Oil Spill Trustee Council (NOAA, USFWS and Cal Fish and Game). > Media relations. Key Outcomes: > Successful implementation of rat eradication from Anacapa Island despite legal challenge by animal rights organizations (Fund for Animals; Humane Society of the United States). > Established relationship with Bell Laboratories, Madison, Wisconsin to develop a custom bait product, and support registration with the US EPA in compliance with FIFRA. 1998‐1999 Genesis Laboratories, Fort Collins, Colorado Study Director/ Scientist II > Directed and/or assisted in a variety of mammalian and avian studies (efficacy, avian reproduction, range‐ finding, LD50, LC50) involving bird repellents, rodenticides, insecticides, and antibiotics registered or to be approved under FIFRA. Assisted in studies with infectious diseases and their treatment at the vector level. Responsible for the technical conduct of several diverse research studies, as well as the interpretation, analysis, documentation and reporting of results. Key Outcomes: > Trained in Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards, first aid, analytical instrumentation (HPLC and GC/MS) and an array of laboratory techniques. 1997‐1998 Keystone Wildlife Research, Whiterock, British Columbia Biologist > Carried out Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM) and Wildlife Habitat Assessment (WHA) under BC Resource Inventory Committee (RIC) standards. Performed extensive database construction and statistical data analysis of three field seasons of mule deer pellet counts for assessment of habitat quality for over wintering deer. Evaluated wildlife habitat for species ranging from large and small carnivores (bears and cats, marten and ermine), ungulates (deer, moose, elk and caribou), to small mammals (hares and squirrels). Constructed wildlife habitat assessment databases and worked with GIS technicians to develop habitat suitability/capability maps. EDUCATION 1997 University of British Columbia Master of Science > Ecotoxicology of the anticoagulant rodenticides used in island restoration 1993 University of British Columbia Bachelor of Science (Agr.) (Honors) > Wildlife Management SELECT PUBLICATIONS AND TECHNICAL REPORTS Holmes, Nick; G. Howald, A. Wegmann, J. Donlan, M. Finkelstein, B. Keitt 2015. The potential for biodiversity offsetting to fund invasive species eradications on islands. Submitted to Conservation Biology. Pitt, W. C., A. R. Berentsen, A. B. Shiels, S. F. Volker, J. D. Eisemann, A. S. Wegmann, and G. R. Howald. 2015. Non‐ target species mortality and the measurement of brodifacoum rodenticide residues after a rat (Rattus rattus) eradication on Palmyra Atoll, tropical Pacific. Biological Conservation 185:36‐46. Campbell, K. J., J. Beek, C. T. Eason, A. S. Glen, J. Godwin, F. Gould, N. D. Holmes, G. R. Howald, F. M. Madden, J. B. Ponder, D. W. Threadgill, A. S. Wegmann, and G. S. Baxter. 2015. The next generation of rodent eradications: Innovative technologies and tools to improve species specificity and increase their feasibility on islands. Biological Conservation 185:47‐58. Pott, M., A. S. Wegmann, R. Griffiths, A. Samaniego‐Herrera, R. J. Cuthbert, M. d. L. Brooke, W. C. Pitt, A. R. Berentsen, N. D. Holmes, G. R. Howald, K. Ramos‐Rendón, and J. C. Russell. 2015. Improving the odds: Assessing bait availability before rodent eradications to aid in