Collaborations

The “American Keystones” initiative aims to tell stories about the role that keystone species and landscapes have played in the history of North America to inspire public dialogue and catalyze on-the-ground conservation efforts that protect our natural resources into the future. 

Conservation at a critical juncture, and the urgency to address biodiversity loss, climate change, and water scarcity has never been greater. While most Americans support conservation (even if they disagree about specific policies), many of today’s approaches alienate would-be allies, exacerbating divides between red and blue areas, and urban and rural communities. We are working to catalyze a shift in the priorities of the US conservation movement towards federal policies that build on the legacy of past conservation gains with new, more flexible and collaborative approaches.

A problem-driven, interdisciplinary program that conducts cutting-edge research and trains future leaders to tackle complex problems in wildlife ecology, management and policy. The Stone Center partners with faculty and students in Berkeley Wildlife on research initiatives and publications.

Part of Berkeley Wildlife, the California Wolf Project works to understand the ecology and wolf-human interactions of the recolonizing population in California. Utilizing innovative and interdisciplinary methods, they gather data on wolf spatial ecology, diet, predator-prey dynamics, and recolonization, while contributing to conflict reduction strategies for rural communities and agricultural producers. 

Our faculty co-director, Arthur Middleton, served as the first Senior Advisor for Wildlife Conservation at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) from 2021-2024. Arthur focused on improving USDA coordination and action, such as with Working Lands for Wildlife, to benefit migrating wildlife and rural communities. We worked with state and Tribal authorities to improve public land management and enhance voluntary-locally led conservation that respects private property rights.