Anthony J. Giordano
Conservationist
Carnivores and global communities
Anthony J. Giordano is a scientist, conservation practitioner, and social entrepreneur who develops innovative approaches that promote human-wildlife coexistence. He has an academic background in evolution, environmental studies and conservation biology, including a PhD in wildlife ecology and management. Over his 30-year career, Anthony has worked in 34 countries and on 5 continents, and has managed dozens of international conservation projects. As director of S.P.E.C.I.E.S., he believes that wild carnivore populations are critical to maintaining the ecological integrity, resilience and connectivity of large landscapes.
I am designing integrated socioeconomic and ecological roadmaps to coexistence between people and carnivores across the world in order to create lasting benefits for rural communities. Over several decades, I have learned to move beyond simply doing conservation science and ecology. Instead, I integrate science into innovative and practical solutions. I advise on the development of policy, connect environmental improvements to impactful global development practices, develop, sustainable business ideas, and apply them to responsible consumerism. I use my background in population dynamics, community ecology and social science to clarify regional conservation problems, and then work to develop and implement novel solutions to address them.
“We can empower and reward global communities for coexisting with other species, and transcend the blunt tools of carbon offsets and credits.”
The science that I pursue serves to describe the efficacy of our programs as evaluation tools and metrics. By constantly moving outside of my comfort zone, I have no comfort zone. In most ways, I am always exploring new corners of the world, and new habitats, cultures and communities. This includes the exploration of new disciplines, technological solutions to conservation problems, approaches to sustainability, and ways to facilitate human-wildlife coexistence. I am increasingly exploring new ways of thinking about our global conservation challenges.
By focusing on the health of predator populations and their ecological communities in rainforests, peat swamps, mangroves, wetlands, savannas and other critical habitats, we can empower and reward global communities for coexisting with other species, and transcend the blunt tools of carbon offsets and credits. I believe this has great potential to combat climate change, and build wealth in communities.