Personal Statement
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My name is Kelly E. Warren, CEO of Wild Spirit Resources. I am most passionate
about the natural world and solving problems associated with the environment.
I care deeply about how we use natural resources and want to dedicate my life
to ensuring that our environment is protected, respected, and conserved. My
convictions come from the upbringing I received from my parents and grandfather
as well as from my childhood years in Alaska. My parents and grandfather taught
me that the environment and its attributes have a value far beyond extractable
resources. In Alaska, I saw first hand both the majesty of unspoiled nature
and the effects of man upon the environment.
As an adult, I have returned to favorite childhood places and have seen the
effects upon them of overuse and poor stewardship. These problems have impressed
on me that the environment has no voice. Only through the efforts of dedicated
people who are impelled to speak for the environment will we be able to effectively
assure an environmental stewardship that is the responsibility of every human
being and which is imperative if we are to survive as a species.
Solving environmental problems has interested me ever since I can remember.
For many years, I have spent my summers improving the wetland habitat for over-wintering
ducks and geese on my family's property in the Willamette Valley. In the course
of my endeavors, I have observed and considered the broader ecological and social
implications of my efforts. I have also talked to, and worked with, farmers,
hunters, regulatory agencies, and the public. This has impressed upon me that
solving our environmental problems requires the willing cooperation of people
with differing interests and perspectives.
In 2006 I realized that
bird watchers and hunters had no easily usable guide to the geese of the area.
Hunters in particular needed a good identification guide so they could avoid
harvesting Dusky Canada Geese which are an "at-risk" species. I wanted
to do something to address this need. The result was a publication entitled, "Identification Field Guide to the Geese
of the Willamette Valley and Lower Columbia River" which I wrote
with the help and cooperation of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and
other experts. The identification guide discusses management, regulation, and
goose distribution and behavior. It includes my photographs of the various goose
species along with notes to educate the user in distinguishing among them. My
experiences with the goose identification guide lead me to start my own business,
Wild Spirit Resources, LLC, which focuses on nature
photography and natural
resource documentation.
In addition to the goose identification guide, I have developed and completed a project that focuses on the regulation and management of the Western Canada Goose, a species which inhabits primarily urban and suburban areas. Their presence in these settings often leads to conflicts with property owners. The goal of the project is to identify the best management approach for this highly adaptable bird.
It is my intention to try to understand the "big" environmental picture
in order to solve land use and management problems. The disregard I see others
show for the land often distresses me, but I understand that resource issues
are not black and white. I have been introduced to the complex trade-offs in environmental issues and the importance of bringing together all stakeholders.
In 2007, I graduated from Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, with a Bachelors
of Science in Environmental Studies and minors in Biology and English. In the
course of my studies, I was introduced to environmental management, ethics, conservation,
and policy, which — together with my life-long commitments — inspired
me to pursue graduate studies focusing on the environment. My goal is to develop
effective and sustainable solutions to specific environmental problems; solutions
that will make a difference immediately and in the long run. To achieve this
goal I am in the process of persuing graduate programs in both environmental management
and business before my schooling is complete. I feel that these programs will
provide skills in organization and entrepreneurship that are critical to crafting
effective and sustainable solutions to natural resource issues. |
