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Edgar M. Fortune
Edgar has always had a special interest in the flora and fauna of the
Caribbean and is focusing his efforts at helping those isolated ecosystems
which so badly need it.
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Born in New York City he now resides in Seattle WA with his wife and daughter where he has cared for animals of all species, shapes and sizes working for the Woodland Park Zoo as a Keeper since 1984. Edgar's efforts with conservation began long before the founding of GICS. In the past he personally maintained breeding stock of some of the rarest snakes in the world sharing off spring with other zoos around the country as well as releasing stock back into the wild to help maintain populations on the verge of extinction. He was able to share his research and personal experience with the network of Zoo Keepers he built up over the years and improve the husbandry and survival rate for many species. And yet still he was never too busy to share his knowledge with young enthusiasts even providing mentoring from time to time. Working for the zoo he has had numerous opportunities to help support the efforts of others and it was only natural that he seek to create a foundation where he can more directly apply his experience and knowledge to further expand much needed conservation efforts. With a long passion for the Caribbean it is only natural that Edgar has focused initial efforts on the small island ecosystems threatened in the Bahamas. The removal of invasive Australian Pine trees and the Bimini Island Boa conservation project being two of the main thrusts of GICS for 2008. Ultimately the goal is to establish strong sustained programs in these areas and expand the reach of GICS around the globe impacting delicate island ecosystems where they are threatened. Publications
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Vice-President and founding member of the Board of Directors of GICS. Mr. Diel started working with ornamental game birds at a young age, which preceded him working as a Volunteer and an Attendant at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA. contributing to over 18 years experience working with exotic and domestic animals During his tenure at Woodland Park Zoo, Mr. Diel worked in the waterfowl exhibits and assisted with the rearing of captive offspring. Mr. Diel has many years experience working with Psittacines, Anatidaes and many Softbill species. After leaving Woodland Park Mr. Diel began working for local city and County government. In 1999, Mr. Diel returned to the Animal Control field. He currently serves as President of the Animal Control Officer’s Guild Executive Board where he served as the 2nd Vice-President and Lead Negotiator from 1999 to 2008. In 2005, Mr. Diel graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor in Business Management. Mr. Diel is enrolled in Concord University Law School where he is currently working towards a Juris Doctorate.
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"Art Wolfe's photographs are a
superb evocation of some of the most breathtaking spectacles in the
world." - Sir David Attenborough
Over the course of his 30-year
career, Art Wolfe has worked on every continent and in hundreds of
locations. His stunning images interpret and record the world's
fast-disappearing wildlife, landscapes, and native cultures, and act as
a lasting inspiration to those who seek to preserve the very subjects
recorded in Art's images. His photographs are recognized throughout the
world for their mastery of color, composition and perspective. Art's Photographic Mission Art's photographic mission is multi-faceted. His vision and passionate wildlife advocacy affirm his dedication to his work. By employing artistic and journalistic styles, he documents his subjects and educates the viewer. His unique approach to nature photography is based on his training in the arts and his love of the environment. Hailed by William Conway, former president of the Wildlife Conservation Society, as "the most prolific and sensitive recorder of a rapidly vanishing natural world," Art has taken an estimated one million images in his lifetime and has released over sixty books.
Published Photography Books In 2000, Art founded Wildlands Press
(WP) to publish The Living Wild, which has sold more than 50,000 copies
worldwide and garnered awards in Applied Arts and Graphis. In 2001, WP
published the award-winning Africa, and in 2003, Edge of the Earth Corner
of the Sky. In 2004, Edge of the Earth Corner of the Sky captured
significant publishing awards, including IPPY (Independent Publishers),
Benjamin Franklin (Publishers Marketing Association), and National Outdoor
Book Award. Titles for 2007 include On Puget Sound. Past titles include
Vanishing Act, The High Himalaya, Water: Worlds between Heaven &l;
Earth, Tribes, Rainforests of the World, The Art of Photographing Nature,
and Light on the Land. |
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Art has been awarded
with a coveted Alfred Eisenstaedt Magazine Photography Award, as well as
named Outstanding Nature Photographer of the Year by the North American
Nature Photography Association. The National Audubon Society recognized
Art's work in support of the national wildlife refuge system with its
first-ever Rachel Carson Award. He is a member of the Canon elite list of
renowned photographers "Explorers of Light", the Microsoft Icons
of Imaging program, and formerly, Fujifilm's Talent Team. Magazines all
over the world publish his photographs and stories. Televisions Productions Art has also ventured into the world
of television production with "On Location with Art Wolfe,"
"Techniques of the Masters" and "American Photo's
Safari." Coming May 2007 to public television is the high definition
series "Travels to the Edge with Art Wolfe." Art's Background The son of commercial artists in
Seattle, Art graduated from the University of Washington with Bachelor's
degrees in fine arts and art education. Art spends nearly nine months a
year traveling. Art was chosen as one of the first
photographers in the Microsoft
Icons of Imaging program. Since 2000, Art has been one of the Canon
Explorers of Light. Fellowships and
Advisory Boards
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Fred M. Utter Now in his 50th year in the field of fishery biology, Dr. Fred Utter received his PhD degree in genetics in 1969 from the University of California at Davis. During his 30 years with NOAA, he organized and led a genetics program at the Northwest Fishery Science Center in Seattle. This program pioneered studies to improve management of fish species, particularly salmon and trout, by applying knowledge of their genetic structure obtained by single gene markers. Through Dr. Utter’s affiliation with the University of Washington, many students, scientists, post docs and visiting researchers were attracted to the program, and many have gone on to be leaders of their own groups in agencies and academia worldwide. These “offspring” implement this contagious model to perpetuate this leadership, resulting in him being recognized as one of the 26 NOAA history makers over 200 years in 2006. Since retirement from NOAA in 1988, Dr. Utter has remained professionally active internationally and locally. Presently at the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington, his activities include being editor of the Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, and a member of the Interior Columbia River Technical Recovery Team. He has authored well over 100 scientific publications, and after two decades the 1987 book he co-edited (Population Genetics and Fishery Management) still remains widely read and cited.
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Justin Schroeder has been working in horticulture professionally for 7years, 6 of those years spent at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. With a focus on tropical plant species, he researches, creates, and maintains both old world and neo-tropical rainforest habitats at the zoo. He has a broad knowledge of IPM practices and has helped to implement “green gardening” techniques throughout his career. With a strong understanding of animal behavior, he also works privately on breeding projects that help support conservation through organizations like Tree Walkers International. Justin has used his experience with animals and his strong background in botany to help educate people by giving talks and seminars through the Woodland Park Zoo and the University of Washington’s Center for Urban Horticulture. Now, Justin is starting to focus on conservation work including local habitat restoration and the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly project, partnering with the Oregon Zoo and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Through GICS, he will be working to create detailed plans to maintain habitats through restoration and the removal of invasive and non-native plants using environmentally conscience methods.
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Currently an associate professor in the Department of Earth and Biological Sciences at Loma Linda University in California, Ricardo has always been employed in a position to make a difference with our flora and fauna resources whether as Wildlife Biologist or Scientific Aide in the field conducting animal and botanical surveys or in the lab both conducting research and teaching students the proper techniques and procedures. Ricardo's advanced degrees have been focused on herpetology with both an MS in Biology from Loma Linda University, "Radio telemetry of Headstarted Green Iguanas on the Caribbean Coast of Coast Rica" and a BS in Biology from La Sierra University in California with a research concentration in Herpetology. |
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Ricardo has worked in the US, Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia and adjacent islands, Costa Rica, and Bahamas. PUBLICATIONS Senior
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Joares Adenilson May Júnior, D.V.M. GICS is pleased to have an international members on it's board of advisors, especially those with such an extensive background and passion for conservation as Joares. On the research page we have highlighted just some of his current activity with the maned wolf in Brazil as well as his work with the big cats in Southeastern Brazil. Additionally he is also working on conservation efforts with the lowland tapir, Hoary Foxes, ocelots and small cats. He generally works with camera traps to identify where the animals are active followed by humane traps to collect blood and other samples to monitor the animals health. The Hoary Fox Project is a part of Programa de Conservação Mamíferos do Cerrado, a group to research mammals from Cerrado. The coordinator is MsC. biologist Frederico Gemesio Lemos, professor from University of Goias State and the head of hoary fox conservation in Brazil. The project is a study of ecology and biology of Brazilian foxes, and interaction with different species of canids in anthropogenic areas. If that's not enough to keep him busy he's also working on his masters degree at the University of Sao Paulo in experimental epidemiology applied to zoonoses. His path has taken him from owning his own veterinary practices, to teaching biology, and now to leading conservation efforts. Along the way many zoos and other organizations have directly benefited from his veterinary skills as he has either worked directly for the zoo or as a consultant. Joares brings a strong background in carnivore behavior as well as wildlife medicine complementing the other members of the board. Below is a sample of the paths he has taken to get to this place in his career. |
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Shirley McGill is an Educational/Management Consultant, with 18 years of service to the Outward Bound USA National office, working in the following centers:
McGill designed Urban Education Programs curriculum used by Outward Bound to address staff and organizational issues of Diversity, Urban Education, and Instructor/Staff Professional Development. Curricular models designed include those focused on:
Her work gave rise to the development of the TIOBEC flagship program, CHOICES: An Urban Outward Bound Expedition, which generated $1.5 million dollars annually for TIOBEC from the program’s 1997 inception until its demise in 2007, totaling $15 million dollars over the 10-year period Shirley CO-facilitated mandatory staff professional development. The Choices program served 850 Boston public school students annually As an Outdoor Adventure Educator, Shirley served as Educational Consultant to the New York Central Park Conservancy for 10 years, where she was responsible for the development of the Central Park Challenge, the Park’s outdoor adventure program for execs, teachers, cbo personnel, and urban youth. Shirley served as Curricular Designer and Instructor of Challenge courses. She was also responsible for the Design and Facilitation of Central Park Conservancy’s Recreation Department Instructor Staff Training. Shirley’s clients also include Passages Northwest, The Children’s Defense Fund, and the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, among others. Shirley McGill is a Reformist Leader in Education in this country in the Outdoor Education, Management Consulting, and Diversity arenas.
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