People Who Collaborate: Ed Contreras

Ed Contreras, who serves as the SONEC Conservation Delivery Coordinator for the Intermountain West Joint Venture, was recently profiled by High Desert Partnership. The profile highlighted his work with their Harney Basin Wetlands Initiative, as well as landowners across the Southern Oregon-Northeastern California region. Contreras is based in Klamath Falls where he helps conserve wetland habitat by connecting private landowners with voluntary conservation programs and coordinating with other local conservation partners.

“Personally, I’m interested in developing community-based capacity for conservation,” Contreras told High Desert Partnership. “Having community input, working voluntarily, that’s how you can get things done, in my opinion. I’ve always been interested in agriculture and wildlife. I grew up in the city, but my family has a history in agriculture in Mexico. My family ranches in Mexico and I was exposed to agriculture early on through that. That has shaped my views on how producers are part of the solution in addressing natural resource challenges and conserving the western landscape.”

Read the rest of the profile on High Desert Partnership’s website here and learn more about Contreras’ work for the IWJV here.