The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Mike Babler

Fire Initiative Program Manager

Contact Information

(303) 541-0357
E-mail: mbabler@tnc.org

Brief Biography

Mike’s family moved to Nederland in 1960, and he has been wondering the hills of Colorado ever since. During summer breaks from high school, Mike had his first exposure to ecological research at the University of Colorado Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at Niwot Ridge. there, he helped provide maintenance to support research efforts. Little did he know that he would later have a career closely related to this early work, or that he would meet his future wife here. 

Upon graduation from high school, Mike joined the U.S. Air Force and was selected to be a Survival Instructor. Upon completion of his military commitment, he returned to Colorado and graduated from Colorado State University. Early employment took him to northern Idaho for a couple of years, then to the U.S. Air Force Academy as the manager of the Academy’s natural resources. In the 1980’s he contracted Chris Pague (Senior Conservation Ecologist for the Conservancy), then with Colorado Natural Heritage Program, to do a small mammal survey. The survey results identified a large population of Prebles Meadow Jumping Mouse. This was also when Mike became very involved in a wide range of projects, from initiating a prescribed fire program, to introducing greenback cutthroat trout into the waters and Peregrine falcons into the aeries. 

After many years at the Academy, Mike worked for the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) in Ft. Collins as District Forester. While with CSFS he was involved in all aspects of fire management, including suppression and prescribed fire. Mike came to work at The Nature Conservancy in August 2004. Mike is a "burn boss" meeting both Conservancy and National Wildland Fire Coordination Group standards, and has numerous fire management skills. Since coming to work with the Conservancy, he has been involved in a variety of efforts to increase the use of prescribed fire, and to increase the use of science in land management. 

Mike received a BS, 1978, in Environmental Interpretation, Forestry emphasis, and a MS in Wildlife Management, 1994, both from Colorado State University. Mike is also a Fellow of the Regional Institute Of Health and Environment Leadership, University of Denver.

Related Links

Southern Rocky Mountain Wildland Fire Module

Southern Rocky Mountain Ecoregion Consortium

Mike Babler

Fire Initiative Program Manager

Various

Facilitated, coauthored, reviewed several publications including: Historic Fire Regimes in Ponderosa Pine Forests for the Colorado Front Range, and Recommendations for Ecological Restoration and Fuels Management; Living With Fire: Protecting Communities and Restoring Forests; Colorado Statewide Forest Assessment; and nearly 100 LANDFIRE Biophysical Setting documents.

Read Mike Babler's Full Biography

Read Mike Babler's Full Biography

Read Mike Babler's Full Biography