ALWRI enhances leadership

Beth Hahn smiling in a field in front of a mountain range.

FORT COLLINS, Colo., Dec. 19, 2016 – The Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute is committed to providing scientific leadership in developing and using knowledge needed to sustain wilderness ecosystems and value. The strength of that leadership has become enhanced with the appointment of Deputy Director of the Institute Beth Hahn.

Hahn received her Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology/Resource Ecology & Management from the University of Michigan in 2007. She began her career as a research wildlife biologist on a variety of field projects in several states including AK, Mont. and MI. She also worked for the USDA Forest Service Northern Region as the Regional Wildlife Ecologist from 2007-2012. Since 2008, she also worked intermittently with the Office of International Programs, U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Department of State as a technical consultant on diverse natural resource management projects in 10 African countries including Ethiopia, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe.

Hahn’s current work focuses on three primary themes:

  • Contributing to the development of an evaluation framework to address whether ecological restoration actions should be taken in wilderness to mitigate, for example, the effects of climate change,
  • Leading an effort to synthesize the issues associated with wildlife science and management within wilderness, and
  • Continuing to provide analytic support and technical assistance to inform natural resource management programming by U.S. Government agencies working internationally

“Beth Hahn is very knowledgeable about wilderness and an excellent science leader for the National Wilderness Preservation System agencies,” said ALWRI Program Manager Susan Fox.To learn more about the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute visit http://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/science-program-areas/aldo-leopold-wilderness-research-institute.

The Rocky Mountain Research Station is one of seven units within the U.S. Forest Service Research and Development – the most extensive natural resources research organization in the world. RMRS maintains 12 field laboratories throughout a 12-state territory encompassing parts of the Great Basin, Southwest, Rocky Mountains, and the Great Plains. RMRS also administers and conducts research on 14 experimental forests, ranges and watersheds and maintains long-term research databases for these areas. RMRS research is broken into eight science program areas that serve the Forest Service as well as other federal and state agencies, international organizations, private groups and individuals. To find out more about the RMRS go to www.fs.fed.us/rmrs. You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/usfs_rmrs.