The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Judy Dunscomb

Senior Conservation Scientist

Charlottesville, VA

Brief Biography

Judy’s work with The Nature Conservancy focuses on the intersection of policy and science.  In her nearly 20 years with the Conservancy, Judy has worked extensively in the eastern and southeastern United States in the areas of strategic conservation and business planning, fire ecology and operations, freshwater flow protection, habitat stewardship and restoration, GIS, and impacts from conventional and renewable energy development.

Judy on Why Her Work is Rewarding

“My work is to ferret out a path to a future we all want to live in, a future that accommodates both our modern lifestyle and clean air and water. In my job, I ask myself what is it that we can do to make the ideal future a reality; what are the obstacles to making this world a place where we want to be? There are real opportunities through our work with The Nature Conservancy to make positive things happen. We at the Conservancy have the ability to work with people to solve problems.”

Program Benefits

• Working on freshwater flow, which benefits people directly by securing reliable sources of clean drinking water and opportunities for recreation and benefits nature and wildlife by sustaining habitat quality
• Working on the development of sustainable energy sources, which allow our modern lifestyle and a healthy natural world to coexist.

Judy's Hopes for the Next 3-5 years

• Reestablish people’s connection to the natural world through efforts by The Nature Conservancy

Recent Opinions, News Coverage, and Publications

• Fire Isn't Necessarily a Forest's Enemy (Richmond Times-Dispatch), March 18, 2012
• Author of 2010 paper on the effects of acidic deposition on natural habitats, New York Academy of Science
• Speaker at the American Water Resources Association
• Speaker at Environment Virginia Conference
• Natural Resources Sub-committee Chair on Virginia DEQ Regulatory Advisory Panel for the Wind Energy Permit by Rule

Partners

• Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
• Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
• Dominion Energy
• University of Virginia School of Law, and Environmental Sciences Department

Credentials

• M.E.M. in Natural Resource Ecology from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University
• B.A. with honors in International Relations from Goucher College

Judy Dunscomb

Senior Conservation Scientist

Read Judy Dunscomb's Full Biography

Read Judy Dunscomb's Full Biography

Read Judy Dunscomb's Full Biography