Leland Brown
ORTWSÂ Past President (2022 – 2023)
Current position: Non-lead Hunting Education Coordinator, Oregon Zoo
History with ORTWS: Board member from 2017-present; Legislative Committee Chair
Biographical Sketch: I have been privileged to work in a wide variety of conservation programs, including with endangered species, rare habitats, and managing invasive species. Currently I manage the non-lead hunting education program to improve ecosystem health through the increased use of non-lead ammunition by the hunting community. Across all of these programs the critical component has been partnerships and trust built with the public in the science and management. This is only possible through representing the best available science openly and consistently, while also learning and connecting with values of the public. As wildlife biologists and managers we often walk a difficult path to find the best conservation opportunities.
It is critical that ORTWS members become engaged in the chapter to share our expertise with the public, other conservation groups, legislators, and other leaders. Since 2017 I have served on the ORTWS board, as the legislative committee chair and active member of the conservation committee. I am proud of the chapter and the work that has been done. We have had some great successes, including the passing of the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund legislation. I have worked to build trust in ORTWS with conservation groups from all backgrounds, ensuring that we use the best available science as the basis for our decisions. As president I will continue to build partnerships and trust in the chapter to benefit the work of our members and support conservation. I will continue to encourage members to get more involved with the chapter as a path for engaging in the public discourse around how to improve conservation.
The reality is that engaging the public in conservation can be tough on us. Recovery time for me and my wife generally revolves around hiking, hunting, backpacking, camping, good food, and watching our two dogs be ridiculous.