Introduction:

“My name is Heather Clarkson, and I am the Southeastern Program Outreach Representative. My primary role is to lead recovery efforts for threatened and endangered species in the Carolina coastal plain – habitats that include beaches and shorelines, estuaries, pocosins, peat bogs, marshes and wetlands, and upland pines. Red Wolves are my focal species, though sea turtles, shorebirds, and a number of other reptile and amphibian species rely on this habitat.

I work with partners to create and fund projects that help provide habitat for Red Wolves, encourage a landscape of tolerance for carnivores, and meet the needs of the communities that share their homes with imperiled species.”

 

How did you get your start in conservation?

“I was the queen of volunteering and unpaid internships! In undergrad, my first internship was at a wildlife rehabilitation center. I learned there that while I loved wildlife, I wasn’t looking for that type of hands-on experience; from there, I pursued internships with nonprofit organizations that focused on public policy and habitat protection. I volunteered with a variety of groups – from your traditional “hook and bullet” types like National Wild Turkey Federation and Quality Deer Management Association, to groups like the South Carolina Wildlife Federation and Friends of the Edisto. Through these experiences, I learned how all sizes of NGOs operate, and how their distinct missions moved the needle on conservation."

 

What do you consider a highlight of your career?

“A major highlight of my career has been taking part in the Conservation Conflict Transformation training process, and using those skills to mend bridges in Red Wolf recovery. I’ve learned through this process that so many “problems” in conservation boil down to communication, trust, and transparency, so learning how to transform conflict into creativity has been an incredibly beneficial experience.”

 

What would you say to someone looking to volunteer or pursue a conservation career?

“Cast your net wide – check out different organizations with varying missions and strategies. Conservation work is challenging and finding the best fit for your individual passions and skills is important to avoid burnout.”

 

What conservation concern do you wish people knew more about? 

“Connectivity, in my opinion, is one of the biggest issues facing wildlife in our country. Habitat is only beneficial if the wildlife can safely access that habitat – so much of our nation, especially in the East, has been developed to the point where habitat exists solely in tiny islands interspersed among massive neighborhoods, freeways, and endless asphalt.”

Click here to learn more about Heather and her work at Defenders!

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