As a graduate student, I’ve been working from home for almost a year and a half. Now as a Fellow with the US Fish and Wildlife Service this summer, I am working remotely to write a status review for an endangered plant. My background is in wildlife biology and my previous work has been mostly in the field. This transition from mostly being in the field to a full-time office job (that I do from my home) has been a learning-curve for me, but also a rewarding experience. I have learned that while there is no substitution for field biology, a lot of conservation takes place from the office and is exciting in its own way. My project has involved coordination with partners which means I have spent time talking with people who are species experts about the species’ ecology and conservation actions that can be implemented for its recovery. These conversations and sharing of knowledge are crucial in order to implement science-based, informed, management strategies that contribute to species recovery.

I feel proud to be a part of an organization that is a leader in conservation. I already feel like in some small way I am making a difference for a species that is in peril. My position gives me a lot of freedom and flexibility to develop new creative strategies for conserving this species. I’ve found the easiest way to do this is through collaboration with partners who are also working hard to protect this species. I have been asking various land managers what they have been noticed about the species or what actions they have been taking to conserve it, and then sharing that knowledge with other land managers so that they can employ similar techniques. This sharing of knowledge and coordination is powerful because each species expert has different knowledge and lessons learned and by sharing that knowledge we can gain further insight into best practices for managing sensitive species.

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: US Fish & Wildlife Service - DFP

Location: Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office