CNDDB News Blog

Launched in 2018, the California Biodiversity Initiative is a statewide effort to secure the future of California’s biodiversity. Such a large undertaking entails improving our understanding of California’s biodiversity, protecting and recovering California’s native species and ecosystems, and engaging participation by many partners. This talk will provide an overview of the California Biodiversity Initiative and the history of its development and will share initial efforts to implement the Initiative that are underway at California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Kim Tenggardjaja joined CDFW in April 2019 as the Biodiversity Coordinator in the Science Institute and also serves as the lead coordinating staff for the California Landscape Conservation Partnership. Before this, she worked at the State Water Resources Control Board for several years, primarily focusing on seawater desalination and once-through cooling power plants. Kim has a PhD and MA in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UC Santa Cruz, where her dissertation research focused on marine biodiversity in the Hawaiian Islands.

Melanie Gogol-Prokurat is a Spatial Ecologist in the Biogeographic Data Branch, where she develops and analyzes landscape-level datasets to support decision-making in conservation planning. Melanie began her career with the Department in 2000, and has been with the Conservation Analysis Unit since 2009. She received her PhD in Conservation Ecology at UC Davis.

Martha Volkoff, Environmental Program Manager for the Habitat Conservation Planning Branch’s Invasive Species Program, has worked for the Department for 20 years, the past 11 of those in the Invasive Species Program. A native to the Sacramento area, Martha earned her BS and MS in Biology, with a Concentration in Conservation, from CSU Sacramento.

From moist forest to the dry deserts, California is home to diverse natural beauty. Luckily, the state is also home to numerous trails! This Sunday, November 17th is National Take a Hike Day. Celebrate by hitting the trails and appreciating nature! Who knows what you'll encounter along the way? If you see any CNDDB-tracked plants or animals, be sure to share your findings with us via the Online Field Survey Form.

Presented by: Misty Nelson

CNDDB Lead Scientist Misty Nelson will present an overview of the rich history of the California Natural Diversity Database program, highlighting milestones and accomplishments from the past forty years. She will also examine some of the challenges associated with managing data for the most biodiverse state in the U.S., and will discuss upcoming changes and opportunities to keep the program relevant and regarded for decades to come.

Born and raised in the mountains of western Montana, Misty Nelson spent the first 20 years of her career as an itinerant biologist, working on research projects studying a wide range of species, from small mammals to large whales. She earned her M.S. from the University of South Florida College of Marine Science, where she studied the acoustic behavior of red grouper in the Gulf of Mexico, and spent several years working with the National Park Service on noise and light pollution issues. In 2015, she joined CDFW on a limited-term assignment to lead a large-scale biodiversity and terrestrial drought stressor monitoring project, and has served as the CNDDB Lead Scientist since December 2017.

Date: Monday, November 4th
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Location: First floor auditorium, 1416 9th Street, Sacramento (and via Skype)
Register to view online or in-person
Questions? Contact: Whitney Albright