Climate Change Initiative Team

Hector Galbraith, Ph.D., Director, Climate Change Initiative – Manomet’s Climate Change Initiative Team is led by Hector Galbraith, Ph.D. He is one of the leading scientists in the field of evaluating the current and future impacts of climate change on ecological resources and of developing science-based adaptation strategies. The results of his research have been published in over 60 papers and chapters in books and peer-reviewed journals. He has carried out research projects for U.S. federal and state agencies into the likely impacts of global climate change on ecosystems, including evaluating the potential impacts of sea level rise on coastal ecosystems; how climate change might affect services provided by ecosystems in California and Arizona; developing an analytical framework for assessing species’ vulnerabilities to climate change; and predicting the potential impacts of climate change on alpine tundra habitats and animals in the U.S. He has written a major report for the PEW Charitable Trust on the observed effects of climate change in Rocky Mountain National Park, edited and contributed to a major report from the American Bird Conservancy on ecosystem vulnerability in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area in southern Arizona.

To contact Dr. Galbraith: Phone: 802-258-4836, Email.

John M. Hagan, Ph.D., Director,Sustainable Landscapes Program – Dr. Hagan has worked on projects to integrate environmental management into forestry with the forest products industry since 1992. He serves on the USDA Forest Research Advisory Committee to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He is a Cooperating Scientist with the University of Maine Cooperative Forest Research Unit. Dr. Hagan’s expertise is in forest ecology. He is also an advisor to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative on forest offsets (with the Maine Forest Service and Environment Northeast). In August 2007 Hagan received the Austin Wilkins Award for Forest Stewardship from Governor John Baldacci (Maine).

To contact Dr. Hagan: Phone: 207-721-9040, Email.

Katharine C. Parsons, Ph.D., Senior Scientist – Dr. Parsons has directed Manomet’s Wetlands and Wildlife Program since 1985, and currently is heading up the Wildlife and Energy Solutions Initiative. Her research interests include the reproductive and foraging ecology of aquatic birds, and the ecotoxicology of birds and reptiles using estuarine, freshwater and agricultural wetlands. Currently she and partners in the conservation community and energy sector are developing strategies for promoting green energy infrastructure—including wildlife-friendly utility corridors and energy plant siting that benefits the coastal environment. She has a particular management interest in facilitating climate change adaptation in wetland habitats and associated wildlife by reducing contaminant stressors and pathogens. She has published numerous research articles in scientific journals including Waterbirds, other ornithological publications, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Estuaries and Journal of Coastal Research. She is committed to working with diverse partners to promote the use of science-based information in habitat management and policy development.

To contact Dr. Parsons: Phone: 508-224-6521, Email.