Conservation Research & Innovation
Lindsay Dreiss Rosa, Ph.D.
Scientist. Conservationist. Leader.
I’ve spent my career advancing conservation solutions through policy, science, and action. Much of that work is powered by partnerships, data-driven advocacy and strategic communications to (re)connect people to their special place and the creatures they share it with. My special place has always been the forests of New England, but I have great respect for the complexity of all life.
​
Currently the Vice President of Conservation Research and Innovation at Defenders of Wildlife, I oversee the Center for Conservation Innovation. This interdisciplinary group of scientists, policy analysts, and tool developers work collaboratively to fill critical information gaps and pioneer pragmatic solutions for biodiversity conservation.
I also serve as an affiliate faculty member at George Mason University and the University of Connecticut. Prior to joining Defenders, I was teaching faculty at Middlebury College and served as a lead spatial data manager for the State of Vermont.
Key Themes
RECENT RESEARCH
We document which drivers of global biodiversity loss affect over 2,700 imperiled species in the US. Our results are the first in which climate change has been identified as the leading threat to species listed under the Endangered Species Act. We also show that the majority of US imperiled species experience multiple threats, with some groups such as cnidarians, bivalves, and amphibians facing a higher total number than average.
Deciding where to implement actions for conservation remains challenging for many reasons, including the increase in maps aimed at prioritizing locations for conservation efforts. Although a growing numbers of maps can create the perception of uncertainty and competing science, a shared set of principles underlie many mapping initiatives. We overlaid the priority areas identified by a subset of maps to assess the extent to which they agree.