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Our Team

Michael Jenkins - President and CEO

Tel. - 202-298-3000   |   Email - mjenkins (at) forest-trends.org

Michael is President of Forest Trends. From 1989-1999, he was the Associate Director for the Global Security and Sustainability Program of the MacArthur Foundation. Michael's responsibilities with the Program included all grant-making in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as overarching program management. In 1998, Michael was in a joint appointment as a Senior Forestry Advisor to the World Bank. Before entering the MacArthur Foundation, he worked for three years as an agroforester in Haiti with the USAID  Agroforestry Outreach Program. Previous to that, he worked with a Washington-based development organization, Appropriate Technology International, as a technical advisor. In the late 1970s, Michael was a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay working in agriculture, apiculture, and forestry projects. He has traveled and worked throughout Latin America, Asia and parts of Africa, and speaks Spanish, French, Portuguese, Creole and Guaraní. Michael has contributed to a number of books and articles, and with Island Press published "The Business of Sustainable Forestry: Strategies for an Industry in Transition". He holds a Master's of Forest Science from Yale University.

Tundi Spring Agardy - Director, Marine Ecosystem Services Program

Tel. - 240-505-9105   |   Email - tagardy (at) forest-trends.org

Tundi is an internationally renowned expert in marine conservation, with extensive field and policy experience in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, North America, and the Pacific. Tundi specializes in coastal planning and assessment, marine protected areas, fisheries management and ocean zoning, and has published widely in these fields. She founded Sound Seas in 2001 as an independent group working at the nexus of policy and science to promote marine conservation. At Forest Trends, she is heading up the MARES initiative – a program looking to protect Marine Ecosystem Services through Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) markets. Tundi works with international think tanks, foundations, multilaterals, museums and academic institutions, environmental groups, and consortia with interest in solving local and regional coastal and marine conservation problems. She completed her undergraduate work at Wellesley and Dartmouth Colleges and then received her Ph.D. in biological sciences and Masters in Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island and was postdoctoral fellow at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She has served as Senior Scientist for the World Wildlife Fund and began Conservation International’s Global Marine Program, which she oversaw as Senior Director. She also led the coastal portion of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment – a 3-year global analysis released in 2005 that represents the consensus of over a thousand scientists on the state of the world’s ecosystems.

Rebecca Asare - West Africa Coordinator, Katoomba Incubator

Tel. - None Listed   |   Email - rasare (at) forest-trends.org

Rebecca is the Coordinator of the West Africa Katoomba Incubator.  She brings ten years of research and work experience on agroforestry, community-based natural resource management, and conservation in Africa.  Prior to joining the Incubator, Rebecca completed her doctoral thesis on the biophysical and social dynamics driving cocoa farm establishment and shade management in Ghana.   She has conducted policy and social research with the World Agroforestry Centre on agroforestry in buffer zones across the continent, and worked with WWF on a community conservation project in Cote d’Ivoire.  Rebecca served as a rural water and sanitation specialist with the U.S. Peace Corps in Cote d’Ivoire.  She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Colgate University, in Hamilton, NY.  She received her Master’s in Environmental Science from Yale University, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and earned a Ph.D. in Social Ecology from Yale University, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. Since 2009, Rebecca has been spearheading efforts to develop community-based forest and agricultural carbon projects in multiple countries in West Africa.

Michael T. Bennett - Senior Researcher

Tel. - None Listed   |   Email - mbennett (at) forest-trends.org

Michael is leading  Forest Trends' efforts to assess and track the current status and  development of PES in China, and to lay the groundwork for a China Katoomba  Group. He has worked as an environmental consultant in China for several years,  and prior to work with Forest Trends was  a post-doctoral researcher at the Center for  Chinese Agricultural Policy, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is also  currently a research fellow at the Environmental Economics Program in China,  College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University. In  addition to general work on PES, his on-going research in China also  includes: (i) analysis of the impacts and implementation of the Conversion of  Cropland to Forests and Grassland program, the largest PES program in the  developing world, and (ii) analysis of the natural resource and rural income  impacts of state forest sector reforms. His expertise and research interests  also include environmental valuation techniques, the microeconomics of land-use  and land-use change, and the development of the institutions underlying markets  for ecosystem services. Michael holds an M.A. and Ph.D. from the  Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin  - Madison.

Beto Borges - Director, Communities and Markets Program

Tel. - 707-400-6714   |   Email - bborges (at) forest-trends.org

Beto was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, where he obtained an AA degree in industrial chemistry from Escola Técnica Oswaldo Cruz and worked as an ecotourism guide in the Atlantic rainforest, while pursuing nature photography and rock climbing. Beto holds a Bachelor's of Science in Conservation and Resources Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA in Strategic Leadership from the Dominican University of California. His previous work experience includes being Director of the Brazil Program of the Rainforest Action Network, promoting forest policies, community economic development and indigenous land demarcation in the Amazon region. He also worked for Aguirre International, evaluating environmental programs for AmeriCorp-USA during President Clinton's administration and was the Manager of Sustainable Harvesting at Shaman Pharmaceuticals, developing ethnobotanical drugs from rainforest medicinal plants. As the Executive Director of Adopt-A-Watershed, he worked on watershed conservation through place-based learning methodologies. Beto also was a Program Officer with the Goldman Environmental Foundation, selecting finalists for the Goldman Environmental Prize and evaluating project proposals for funding. Beto has also consulted for Aveda Cosmetics, Conservation International, Instituto Terra, Occupational Knowledge International, and Wildlife Conservation Network, among others. He was co-chair of Grantmakers Without Borders and currently sits on the board of the Global Greengrants Fund, Earth Island Institute, and the Environmental Law Defenders Center. He is fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish.


Kerstin Canby - Director, Forest Trade and Finance Program

Tel. - 202-298-3015   |   Email - kcanby (at) forest-trends.org

Kerstin is the Director of Forest Trends' Forest Trade and Finance Program. In addition to general program management, her work focuses on policies and trade issues related to illegal logging, corruption, and associated trade, such as the role of financial institutions and investment flows in combating illegal and unsustainable harvesting practices. A significant portion of her time is spent on the China/East Asia region. Prior to joining Forest Trends, Kerstin worked at the World Bank with the Governance and Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Programs, coordinating the Africa FLEG ministerial process, and providing training to local NGOs interested in developing independent monitoring networks; she also worked with the World Bank's CEOs ad hoc Forum on Forests. She also was Special Assistant to the Director of the Environment Department. She continues to work with the World Bank, advising on the development of the Europe/North Asia Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Ministerial process. Kerstin has also worked with the US Forest Service in Oregon (economic and land management analysis), was the co-founder of an environmental education program in Durham, North Carolina, and was a teaching assistant of environmental economics at Duke University. Kerstin holds a BA from Duke University, as well as a Master's in Environmental Management from Duke University 's School of Forest and Environmental Sciences, where she focused on forestry, wetlands, and coastal ecosystems.

Nathaniel Carroll - Director, Ecosystem Marketplace - Biodiversity

Tel. - 202-446-1981   |   Email - ncarroll (at) forest-trends.org

Nathaniel is Director of Biodiversity Program, Ecosystem Marketplace. He has helped develop the biodiversity market program, co-authoring the book Conservation and Biodiversity Banking, and spearheading the design and launch of SpeciesBanking.com. Nathaniel currently directs the development of market-crosscutting projects for Ecosystem Marketplace, including the Ecosystem Services Matrix and MarketWatch, which help stakeholders understand the shape, relationship, and scope of ecosystem markets. In addition to his work with Ecosystem Marketplace, Nathaniel has worked with Forest Trends’ Business Development Facility and consulted to several eco-asset investment groups. Before joining Forest Trends, Nathaniel worked with a private forestry and real estate company in Panama, channeling private investment to restore degraded lands. Nathaniel spent two years with Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program and Conservation Tools Program. He has experience conducting ecological research, from the Rocky Mountains to Andes, from the Northwest Hawaiian Islands to the Penobscot Bay. Nathaniel holds a Bachelor of Science from Tufts University and a Master's in Forest Science from Yale University.
 

Phil Covell - Manager, The Katoomba Incubator

Tel. - 202-446-1977   |   Email - pcovell (at) forest-trends.org

Phil joined Forest Trends’ Katoomba Group, bringing over 20 years of experience in the development and financing of environmental enterprises in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.  He has been a Budget Manager at the US Peace Corps, a founding Director of fund manager Triodos PV Partners, Executive Director of Enersol Associates, Inc., and Chief Financial Officer of Soluz, Inc.  He holds a Bachelor's of International Studies from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, VT, and an MBA from the University of California, Davis.

Ben Dappen - IT & Design Associate

Tel. - 202-298-2010   |   Email - bdappen (at) forest-trends.org

Ben has worked with Forest Trends since November 2000 as Webmaster and IT Associate, and also provides design and publishing support. He also serves as a web developer for a number of Forest Trends' partners, including the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) and Ecoagriculture Partners. Ben graduated from Reed College in 2004 with a History degree.


Susan Dobbertin - Administrative Associate

Tel. - 202-446-1975   |   Email - sdobbertin (at) forest-trends.org

Susan joined the administrative team at Forest Trends in July 2008. Prior to joining Forest Trends, Susan’s experience with wildlife management and invasive species include internships and biological technician positions with the Central Pine Barrens Commission, the Nature Conservancy, Fire Island National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the SCA. She studied conservation biology at Warren Wilson College and graduated with honors in 2005 with a BS in Biology and Environmental Studies.

Ben Feldman - Chief Operating Officer

Tel. - 202 446 1991   |   Email - bfeldman (at) forest-trends.org

Ben Feldman is Chief Operating Officer of Forest Trends. He has extensive experience in all aspects of domestic and international environmental market policy design and implementation including developing and implementing environmental market strategies, identifying emerging trends and developing innovative solutions that capture market opportunities. Prior to joining Forest Trends, Ben served as Head of Origination for North America Environmental Markets at J.P. Morgan where he was responsible for of JP Morgan’s primary origination of North American environmental commodities.   Before joining J.P. Morgan, Ben was a Managing Director at Natsource, a leading environmental project development and asset management firm. While at Natsource, he managed the advisory and research business and oversaw regulatory analysis for the company's investment portfolio.  Ben was also Director of Environmental Markets at Environmental Resources Trust, a Non-Government Organization established to catalyze the use of market mechanisms to achieve environmental objectives. In addition, Ben is a writer, lecturer, and featured analyst on environmental market policy.  He holds a MA in International Studies from George Washington University and a BA in History from the University of Rochester.

Gena Gammie - Program Associate, Katoomba Incubator

Tel. - 202-446-1979   |   Email - ggammie (at) forest-trends.org

Gena is a Program Associate with the Katoomba Incubator and also works closely with Forest Trends’ emerging portfolio of freshwater-focused projects and analyses. Gena holds an MSc in Environmental Policy & Regulation from the London School of Economics, where she did her dissertation on stakeholder engagement for sustainable watershed management. Prior to joining Forest Trends, Gena conducted regional, federal, and international climate policy analysis at ICLEI USA - Local Governments for Sustainability. Her experience also includes work in London supporting McKinsey & Company’s Sustainability and Resource Productivity practice, where she helped to communicate the firm’s work in such areas as carbon economics and sustainable biofuels. She received her BA in Political Science from Loyola Marymount University in 2009.

Katherine Hamilton - Director, Ecosystem Marketplace

Tel. - 202-298-3007   |   Email - khamilton (at) ecosystemmarketplace.com

Katherine is the Managing Director of Forest Trends’ Ecosystem Marketplace. At Ecosystem Marketplace, she has authored numerous pieces on carbon and water markets, as well as co-authored the book Voluntary Carbon Markets and three annual State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets reports.  Before joining Ecosystem Marketplace, Katherine worked as a Hixon Center for Urban Ecology Fellow with the United Nations Development Program-Latin America/Caribbean and as a lead research assistant at the Yale Environmental Law and Policy Center. She has also held positions with Natural Capitalism Inc. in Boulder, Colorado,  the International Council for Science in Paris, France, and teaching outdoor environmental education. Katherine holds a Master of Environmental Management degree from Yale University and Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.
 

Slayde Hawkins - Legal Advisor & Policy Analyst, Katoomba Group

Tel. - 202-446-1974   |   Email - shawkins (at) forest-trends.org


Slayde is a Virginia-licensed lawyer who leads the Katoomba Group's Legal Initiative.  In addition to directing Forest Trends’ efforts to develop legal guidance related to payments for ecosystem services,  she provides general legal and policy support to the Forest Trends Family of Initiatives.  Prior to joining Forest Trends, Slayde graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, where she focused on environmental and transactional law.  Previous work includes positions with the D.C. Office of the Attorney General, Earthjustice, Georgetown University Law Center Professor Lisa Heinzerling, John Echeverria of the Georgetown Environmental Law and Policy Institute, and Trexler Climate + Energy Services.   Her publications include a scholarly note concerning the legality of a greenhouse gas based trade restriction, published in the Fall 2008 issue of the Georgetown International Environmental Law Review, and an article about a Seattle greenhouse gas offsets lawsuit, co-written with Laura Kosloff and published in the May 2006 issue of Environmental Law Reporter.

Tommie Herbert - Program Associate, Tropical America Katoomba Group

Tel. - 1-202-446-1985   |   Email - therbert (at) forest-trends.org

Tommie is a Program Associate with the Tropical America Katoomba Group (TAKG) and the Business and Biodiversity Offsets Program (BBOP). Her work focuses on coordinating website and newsletter content as well as administrative support. Tommie is a recent graduate of Vanderbilt University where she majored in International Leadership and Development and minored in Spanish. Before beginning with Forest Trends, Tommie worked with the Environmental Defense Fund’s (EDF) Land, Water, and Wildlife Program delivering research reports and conservation policy analyses for sustainable agriculture in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Here she gained valuable experience in implementing ecosystem service markets on a local level. Prior to EDF, Tommie worked with the Country Music Association in Nashville, TN, where she helped design and implement a grassroots online marketing campaign for the CMA Music Festival 2008.
 

Frank Hicks - Manager, Africa, Katoomba Group - Incubator

Tel. - None Listed   |   Email - fhicks (at) forest-trends.org

Frank Hicks is Manager for Africa of the Katoomba Group Incubator Initiative at Forest Trends. In this role, Frank is responsible for leading and strengthening the Incubator projects in East and West Africa and for developing a strategy for growth and coordination with other partner organizations’ initiatives in the region. Frank also works as a consultant for Bio-Logical Capital. Prior to working with Bio-Logical Capital, Frank was Director of the Business Development Facility at Forest Trends. He also was Director of the Sustainable Agriculture Program at Rainforest Alliance, and Vice President with Organic Commodity Products, an organic chocolate company based in San José, Costa Rica. Frank has also worked as Program Manager for TechnoServe in Ghana. He was the regional representative based in the Philippines for the Biodiversity Conservation Network and worked as a Program Officer with the Ford Foundation based in Nigeria and New York City. He is currently a board member of Root Capital  and a former board member of the Nature Conservancy’s EcoEnterprises Fund and a former advisor to Ecoagriculture Partners. He is also a founder of SourceTrace Systems, a company that develops software applications for remote microfinance and agricultural supply chain transactions. Frank earned a master’s degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, with a focus on international development, and a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in Human Biology.
 

Daniel Kandy - Research Analyst, Forest Carbon Program

Tel. - 202-446-1973   |   Email - dkandy (at) ecosystemmarketplace.com

Daniel Kandy is a Research Analyst in the Biodiversity and Forest Carbon programs of Ecosystem Marketplace. Prior to working with Ecosystem Marketplace he worked in Indiana University's Anthropological Center for Training and Research on Global Environmental Change, applying his knowledge of GIS and political ecology to investigate deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. He received a BA from Washington University in 2009.

Kerry ten Kate - Director, Business and Biodiversity Offset Program

Tel. - +44 (207) 244-8327   |   Email - ktenkate (at) forest-trends.org

Kerry is Director of Forest Trends' Business and Biodiversity Offset Program, a partnership of over 30 companies, government agencies, and conservation experts. Formerly a practicing barrister, Kerry joined the Secretariat of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the "Earth Summit") in 1990. Since then, she has conducted research and offered policy advice to governments, industry, investors, and the UN on issues ranging from conservation and sustainable development strategies to trade and environment policies. Since 1994, her focus has been biodiversity, including access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing, on which she has written extensively. At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, she led the team developing and implementing genetic resources policy, and establishing Kew as a center of expertise on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Subsequently, as Policy Adviser to Kew's Director, she advised the UK and other governments on the CBD and sustainable development strategies. From 1999 to 2002, she was a member of the UK delegation to the negotiation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and negotiating sessions of the CBD. From November 2002 to September 2006, Kerry was Director of Investor Responsibility at Insight Investment, engaging with the multinational companies in which Insight's £89 billion fund is invested to encourage them to adopt best practices on environmental, social and ethical issues, and working with Insight's fund managers and analysts to take these issues into consideration in investment decisions. She writes, broadcasts occasionally for BBC Radio 4, is Senior Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies of the UN University, a member of IUCN's Species Survival Commission, and is on the Steering Committee of the Global Biodiversity Forum. She is also a member of the UK Government's Darwin Advisory Committee.

Christine Lanser - Development Associate

Tel. - 202-446-1980   |   Email - clanser (at) forest-trends.org

Christine supports donor relations and development activities at Forest Trends. She is involved in developing systems and processes that strengthen the organization’s development efforts and also assists with various program activities. Prior to working at Forest Trends Christine worked in Kampong Thom, Cambodia with a local community development NGO and with Botum Sakor National Park performing biodiversity research. Christine graduated magna cum laude from Michigan State University and holds a BS in Environmental Economics and Policy. 

 

Winnie Lau - Program Manager, Marine Ecosystem Services Program

Tel. - 202-298-3008   |   Email - wlau (at) forest-trends.org

Winnie is the Program Manager for the Marine Ecosystem Services (MARES) Program. Prior to joining the MARES Program, she worked at the U.S. Department of State as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Diplomacy Fellow and an AAAS Center for Science Diplomacy Fellow. Winnie worked in three different offices at the Department of State: Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary, Office of Oceans Affairs, and Office of Multilateral Trade Affairs—covering issues such as U.S.-Japan bilateral science and technology cooperation, international policies on marine biodiversity, marine protected areas, coral reefs and climate change, and accessions to the World Trade Organization. Winnie received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Oceanography and graduate certificates in Environmental Management and Technical Japanese from the University of Washington and her B.A. in Environmental Sciences and Integrative Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. Winnie has extensive field research experience in coastal and marine environments, from the mangroves of Okinawa, Japan to the high seas in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. She speaks Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, and basic Spanish. 

Nicolás J. Lucas - Senior Policy Manager

Tel. - ++54 9 2964 613754   |   Email - nlucas (at) forest-trends.org

Nicolás is Senior Policy Manager with the Katoomba Group. He has worked with local communities, regional and national governments, and international organizations on a broad range of activities, including policy communication and analysis, conflict mediation and public policy decision making. He was, until January 2011, State Secretary for Sustainable Development and Environment of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, with oversight for all natural resources, protected areas and industrial pollution issues in the Province. In that capacity, he was elected by his peers Vice President of the Federal Council for the Environment, eventually becoming its President. Between 2002 and 2005 he was Senior Associate at the World Resources Institute in Washington, DC, in charge of engagement and outreach for the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.  Lead by the UN, the Millennium Assessment involved some 1300 scientists in the largest scientific assessment of ecosystem services. Before that, he was Executive Director of Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano, a regional NGO for policy dialogue and conflict management based in Quito, Ecuador, where he intervened in various situations of socio-environmental conflict throughout Latin America, facilitating dialogue and negotiating processes between all types of local, national and international stakeholders. In addition, he has been an environmental journalist (with The Buenos Aires Herald, in Argentina), practiced law, founded a local environmental NGO in Tierra del Fuego, taught international law at Universidad Católica Argentina, wrote several articles and contributions to books, and consulted with multiple organizations, including UNEP, WCMC and the OAS. He graduated as a lawyer and has a M.A. in public policy.

Patrick Maguire - Program Manager, Business and Biodiversity Offset Program

Tel. - 202-298-3011   |   Email - pmaguire (at) forest-trends.org

Patrick is the Program Manager of Forest Trends' Business and Biodiversity Offset Program (BBOP). Patrick has ten years of experience managing diverse international conservation and development programs. Previous work included managing community forestry-based enterprises in Nepal for the World Wildlife Fund; helping to establish the Conservation Finance Alliance and overseeing the development of a guide on innovative conservation financing while at The Nature Conservancy; and serving as a consultant to USAID’s Biodiversity and Forestry Team with Chemonics Inc. Patrick received his Master of International Relations and Resource and Environmental Management from Boston University. As BBOP Program Manager, Patrick’s responsibilities include coordinating the work of the BBOP Secretariat, liaising with pilot projects, helping develop biodiversity offset methodologies and the BBOP toolkit, developing funding proposals, budget management, and coordinating program meetings.

Deborah L. McKay - Director of Administration

Tel. - 202-298-3003   |   Email - dmckay (at) forest-trends.org

Deborah is Director of Administration at Forest Trends. She manages the grants administration process, is responsible for drafting and approving contracts and agreements that define consultant and  partner organizational relationships. She supports the organization’s donor outreach and fundraising efforts, and contributes to major grants management activities. Deborah  is also responsible for HR functions and is Assistant Secretary to the FT Board of Directors . Prior to joining Forest Trends, Deborah worked for the World Bank in the office of the Executive Director representing Italy, Portugal, Malta, and Albania. She managed stores for The Timberland Company and ran a commercial department for United Colors of Benetton in Washington, D.C. She speaks Portuguese and Italian fluently, and Spanish and French proficiently. Deborah holds a BA History from the University of São Paulo, in São Paulo, Brazil.

Jacob Olander - Director, Katoomba Incubator

Tel. - None Listed   |   Email - jolander (at) ecodecision.com.ec

Jacob has lived and worked in Latin America since for 20 years developing initiatives aiming to create economic benefits for communities, businesses and organizations engaged in biodiversity conservation. In 1995 he co-founded EcoDecisión, a firm specializing in conservation finance and payment for ecosystem services. Based in Quito, Ecuador, Jacob manages the Katoomba Incubator. The Incubator mobilizes targeted technical, business, financial, and marketing support to promising PES projects with strong community and biodiversity benefits.

Molly Peters-Stanley - Program Manager, Ecosystem Marketplace - Carbon

Tel. - 202-298-3005   |   Email - mpeters-stanley (at) ecosystemmarketplace.com

Molly Peters-Stanley is the Voluntary Carbon Associate in the Ecosystem Marketplace's Carbon Program. Previously, Molly analyzed voluntary and compliance carbon markets as a climate policy officer in South Australia's Department of Premier and Cabinet, Sustainability and Climate Change Division. There, she researched and wrote recommendations on behalf of the Division addressing the intersection of federal climate policies and the voluntary carbon market. Molly also composed South Australia's contribution to the international States and Regions Statement of Action on Climate Change presented to UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer in Poznan, Poland,  December 2008. Molly's expertise also includes regional resource accounting and spatial analysis of climate change projections and adaptation strategies.   Molly received her Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College, School of Public Policy and Management. She pursued this degree as a Public Policy and International Affairs fellow.

Michael Richards - Naural Resources Economist

Tel. - +44 1993 779133   |   Email - mrichards (at) forest-trends.org

Michael is a natural resources economist with over 30 years research and development experience in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Currently based in the UK, he is working primarily in support of the Katoomba Group work in West and East Africa, and on the development of social impact assessment methods for multiple-benefit carbon projects. Previous experience includes 8 years as a Research Fellow with the UK Overseas Development Institute, and long-term assignments in Ghana, Honduras, Malawi, Mexico and Sri Lanka working in smallholder agriculture, forestry and rural development. He has worked extensively on policy, institutional and methodology issues around payments for ecoystem services, participatory forest management and economic incentives for sustainable forestry management (SFM). He holds a PhD from the University of Glamorgan in Wales, an MSc in Agricultural Economics from University of London, and a BA in Land Economy from University of Cambridge.

Joerg Seifert-Granzin - Senior Technical Advisor Ecosystem Services, Incubator

Tel. - +591-77388280 or +49-151-54691254   |   Email - jseifert (at) forest-trends.org

Joerg is a senior economist specialized in spatiotemporal analysis and valuation of environmental services. He has more than 15 years of experience in economic research on developing countries. Currently, he is advising different activities reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) of Forest Trends-Katoomba Group. Having been recruited as an integrated expert by the German Development Cooperation (GTZ), Mr. Seifert-Granzin coordinated the scientific and technical development of remote sensing, biomass measurement, and econometric modeling tools facilitating the implementation of national and subnational REDDs schemes in Bolivia and Cameroon.  Apart, he supervised subnational adaptation activities in the Bolivian lowlands. As FAN Bolivia’s Coordinator of Noel Kempff Mercado Climate Action Project he guided the certification process, revised the methodologies applied and edited the Project Design Document. Together with FAN’s environmental services’ team he conducted research on hydrological services and designed projects to conserve them.

Lili Shi - Staff Accountant

Tel. - 202-725-4295   |   Email - lshi (at) forest-trends.org

Lili joined Forest Trends in March 2009. She assists the Financial Director with daily transactions, expense reports and financial statements. Prior to joining Forest Trends, Lili worked with Sister Cities International, where she assisted the coordination of financial matters of the organization's annual conference. Lili recently graduated from The School of Business at George Washington University with an MS in Accountancy and holds an undergraduate degree of International Economics and Trade from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology.

Bryan Straathof - Director, Finance

Tel. - 202-298-3009   |   Email - bstraathof (at) forest-trends.org

Bryan is the Director of Finance for Forest Trends.  He has 15 years of financial management experience, supporting international development programs, working in both the governmental and non-profit sectors. While serving at the Peace Corps, he supported programs throughout the European, Mediterranean, and Asian Region. Bryan also served as Peace Corps Budget Manager and was responsible for overseeing one-third of the Agency's annual budget, including both international and US-based offices. Prior to joining Forest Trends, Bryan was Director of Finance for the NGO Citizens Development Corps and for the international division of the National Cooperative Business Association (also known as CLUSA).  NCBA's programs, primarily funded by USAID, provide economic development assistance to rural farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.  Bryan earned his Certified Public Accountant and his Bachelor's Degree of Science in Finance from the University of Maryland.

Xiufang Sun - Program Analyst, Forest Trade and Finance, China

Tel. - +86-10-82724177   |   Email - xsun (at) forest-trends.org

Xiufang works with Forest Trends as an Analyst, based out of Beijing, China. She holds an MS in Forest Products Marketing and Management from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and an MA of Engineering in Management from Jilin University of Technology in Changchun, Jilin Province in China. Most recently Xiufang held the position of Agricultural Specialist in the Agricultural Affairs Office (USDA/FAS) in the United States Embassy in Beijing. Her responsibilities included market analysis reporting for China’s forestry and forest products, tracking market and policy changes for other commodities assigned, facilitating negotiations between the U.S. and Chinese officials for trade conflicts in the agricultural sector (including forest products)and serving as interpreter for such negotiations when needed. In addition, Xiufang has worked as a consultant to the WWF China Program. She has prepared and delivered numerous presentations on hardwood use in China’s furniture industry and on potentials for exporting forest products in China. Her research has been published in various publications including the Journal of Forestry and the Forest Products Journal.

David Tepper - the Executive Management Team Member

Tel. - None Listed   |   Email - dtepper (at) forest-trends.org

David Tepper is a member of the Executive management team for Forest Trends. David  started his career at Merrill Lynch where he spent twelve years working on corporate finance and acquisition transactions in Europe and the US.  He now is one of the leading investors in the carbon markets and was responsible for the carbon finance team that managed over $1billion for Climate Change Capital from 2005 to 2007 and during that time invested over $800m in carbon reduction projects. Over the last few years he has been focused on using carbon finance to accelerate land restoration, conservation and sustainable land use around the world. David  is an expert on structuring private sector finance with emerging climate change regulatory and voluntary markets. He advises governments, multi-laterals project developers, and private investors on the design of terrestrial carbon finance opportunities. David is developing public private sector mechanisms and financial architecture in the emerging REDD markets and is also the Managing Partner of The Earth Partners www.theearthpartners.com, a North American-based ecological developer, using carbon finance to facilitate landscape-level restoration.  The Earth Partners has developed a soil quantification methodology and has been testing the method and its applications on low carbon farming and land restoration projects at the landscape level on a number of projects around the world. David also advises billionaire family offices on investment opportunties in  sustainable land use and carbon markets.

Anne Thiel - Communications Associate

Tel. - None Listed   |   Email - athiel (at) forest-trends.org

Anne supports Forest Trends’ internal and external communications activities. She returns to Forest Trends in the capacity of Communications Associate, a position she also held from 2003 to 2005. From 2006 to 2009 Anne worked with Sustainable Finance Ltd., where she managed the company’s US operations. Prior to joining Forest Trends in 2003, Anne worked at the World Resources Institute as executive assistant, development coordinator, and project management associate. Anne holds a Ph.D. in German Studies from Georgetown University.

 

Phuc Xuan To - Program Analyst, Forest Trade and Finance, Southeast Asia

Tel. - None Listed   |   Email - pto (at) forest-trends.org

Phuc is the Southeast Asia Analyst for the Forest Trade and Finance Program, based in Hanoi, Vietnam. He received his doctoral degree in Geography at Humboldt University in Berlin in 2007, where he also worked as a junior researcher at the Junior Research Group on Post-socialist Land Relations. His dissertation examines the political economy of the forest sector in Vietnam, with particular attention given to the dynamics of access and control over forestland and forest resources. From 2007 to 2009, Phuc was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Anthropology Department at the University of Toronto, where he was involved in a research project entitled “The Challenges of Agrarian Transitions in Southeast Asia” (ChATSEA). Currently, in addition to his work with Forest Trends, Phuc continues to work with ChATSEA and serves as a Research Fellow at the Asia Institute at the University of Toronto.

Rebecca Anzueto - Program Manager, Communities and Markets Program

Tel. - 202-298-3004   |   Email - ranzueto (at) forest-trends.org

Rebecca is a Program Manager with the Communities and Markets Program at Forest Trends. Her work focuses on community involvement in developing payment for ecosystem services. Rebecca has a Master’s Degree in Development Planning and Environmental Sustainability with a certificate in Latin American Studies from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and a Bachelor’s degree from Juniata College in Environmental Science and Policy. Prior to coming to Forest Trends, Rebecca worked in a rural community in Ecuador, teaching community members how to keep their children safe when applying pesticides. Rebecca speaks English, Spanish and basic Portuguese.

Sissel Waage, Ph.D - Director, Katoomba Group

Tel. - None Listed   |   Email - swaage (at) forest-trends.org

Sissel  is Director of the Global Katoomba Group. She has over eighteen years of experience working on  environmental issues and social aspects of sustainability in Africa, Europe,  and North America. Prior to working with Forest  Trends, Sissel launched and directed the R&D Program at The Natural Step,  an international advisory services and research organization focused on  sustainable business. She also served as a subject matter expert with The  Natural Step's Services Group, advising Fortune 500 companies on integration of  sustainability into strategy, operations, reporting, and philanthropy. Sissel  has also worked with Sustainable Northwest and the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF)  East and Southern Africa Program. She has  consulted with a range of private, nonprofit, and philanthropic clients,  including: IDEO, Business for Social Responsibility, “The Head Table” Reality  TV Program, the Garfield Foundation, the Packard Foundation, the Biodiversity  Support Program, and the University  of California Berkeley's  Blodgett Forest Research Station. Her work has been published in journals  including Corporate Environmental Strategy, Society  & Natural Resources, Political Geography, the Journal  of Sustainable Forestry, and the Journal of Cleaner Production. Sissel  completed both her Ph.D. and M.S. at the University  of California, Berkeley  in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, and received  her B.A. from Amherst College,  in Massachusetts.  She has also studied at the University  of Oslo, in Norway,  as a Fulbright Scholar, and at the National University of Singapore.

Steve Zwick - Editor, Ecosystem Marketplace

Tel. - None Listed   |   Email - szwick (at) ecosystemmarketplace.com

Steve Zwick is the Managing Editor of the Ecosystem Marketplace. Before joining the Ecosystem Marketplace, Steve was a contributing writer to the site, as well as to several other magazines and newspapers, including Time Magazine, Fortune Magazine, and the Wall Street Journal. He also hosts the current affairs program Newslink on Deutsche Welle Radio, and has been short-listed twice for the World Leadership Forum's Business Journalist of the Year Award. He attended the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

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