July 24, 2024
Posted in: People & Places
Alex grew up in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts and moved around the west before settling in Sonoma County nearly 20 years ago. Attending nature camps as a kid and spending much of his time outdoors hiking, biking, skiing, and exploring, he has always had a deep appreciation of the natural world. Attending undergrad at the University of Arizona, Alex studied Geography where he first was introduced to GIS. Later he earned a Masters in Geography from UC Davis where he began his GIS career. Prior to Ag + Open Space Alex worked for many years at Sonoma Ecology Center and was the co-coordinator of the North Bay GIS User Group.
What’s your favorite Sonoma County place to get outside and why?
I spend a lot of time in Trione – Annadel State Park, it is such an incredible resource for the community with miles of mountain biking and hiking so close to Santa Rosa. North Slope Sonoma Mountain is another favorite and usually where I bring visitors from out of town.
What’s one fact, statistic, or interesting tidbit about land conservation that you enjoy sharing with others?
The natural ecosystem processes in Sonoma County are valued at $2 – $6 billion annually. In the Healthy Lands & Healthy Economies study (2018), Ag + Open Space quantified the economic benefits of natural ecosystem processes. Natural processes help us maintain clean water, carbon sequestration, clean air, stormwater management, etc. These free services would otherwise cost billions of dollars to replicate. By conserving lands that keep these ecosystem processes intact, we save billions of dollars in benefits to our environment.
What’s your proudest moment working in land conservation and why?
It’s hard to pick one, so much of my work is in support of the entire team at Ag + Open Space. Everyone at this organization is deeply committed to the mission and it feels great to be a part of this important work. The science-based conservation priorities and objective measures provided by Vital Lands Initiative are driving the way we evaluate properties. I don’t know of any other land conservation entity that has adopted such a robust and forward-thinking strategy. I also really liked working with the Watershed Task Force post-fire(s) to map erosion hazards, and help keep sediment out of salmonid streams.
What compelled you to pick a career in land conservation?
I have always enjoyed open space and have seen the impacts of development nearly everywhere. Doing GIS for conservation is always interesting and the possibilities are endless for learning new tools and analyses. I like that the work we do in land conservation makes a difference in the quality of life for everyone in Sonoma County.
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
Anything from Screaming Mimi’s, but at the moment I like their Cookie Jar flavor. Strawberry is a close second.