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Sauvajot
to Lead National Park Service Stewardship and Science Team
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Washington,
DC – December 2014 / Newsmaker Alert / National
Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis has named Dr. Raymond Sauvajot
to lead the bureau’s Natural Resource Stewardship and Science (NRSS) Directorate.
Sauvajot is a 21-year veteran of science-focused work in the National Park
Service.
“Ray
has a wealth of experience and knowledge about natural resource issues
at the park, region and national levels,” Jarvis said. “I've worked with
Ray for many years, and I'm happy to have him on my team to guide us into
our second century of natural resource preservation and protection.”
Sauvajot
will lead the 720 scientists, technicians and managers who expand scientific
knowledge of the air, water, biological, physical, and geological resources
that the National Park Service is responsible for preserving and protecting.
“This is an incredible opportunity to work with top natural resource professionals,”
Sauvajot said. “We have a huge responsibility to preserve these resources
so the public can enjoy national parks today and for generations to come.”
The
position also comes with challenges. “Our changing climate leads the list,
and we’re already seeing effects on parks and natural resources,” Sauvajot
said. “As changes occur across the landscape, national parks are increasingly
important as reservoirs of biodiversity and stages for adaptation, understanding
and inspiration. National parks are also conservation anchors that link
with working private lands and other public conservation areas.
“I’m
excited to help advance the National Park Service mission,” Sauvajot said.
“By supporting and applying scientific knowledge, and engaging with individual
parks, partners, stakeholders and the public, we will continue to build
understanding – and be able to protect – our incredible natural heritage.”
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Early
this year, Sauvajot moved to Washington to serve as deputy associate director
of natural resource stewardship and science. Prior to joining the NRSS
directorate in Washington, Sauvajot was the Pacific West Region Natural
Resource Program chief. The Pacific West Region includes national parks
in California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho and the Pacific Islands.
Previous to that position, Sauvajot served as ecologist, senior science
advisor and chief of planning, science and resource management at Santa
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
Sauvajot
has held adjunct faculty positions in biology, ecology and environmental
science at the University of California at Berkeley, UCLA, and California
State University Northridge. He has participated in international conservation
efforts and symposia in Europe, Australia, South Africa and Bhutan.
He received a B.A. degree in biology from UC San Diego and M.S. and Ph.D.
degrees in ecology from UC Davis. He lives in Maryland with his wife, Sandy,
and their two children.
About
the National Park Service
More
than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 401 national
parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local
history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at
www.nps.gov,
on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice,
Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice,
and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
Media
Contact:
National
Park Service
Jeffery
Olson
202-208-6843 |