Ellie Cohen: A Bay Nature Local Environmental Hero

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Each year, Bay Nature Institute honors several individuals who are making outstanding contributions to the understanding and stewardship of the natural world of the Bay Area. 

Ellie Cohen, President and CEO of PRBO Conservation Science, is our 2012 winner in the "Conservation Advocate" category. 

In her 12 years at the helm of PRBO, Ellie has led the transformation of a group of scrappy and committed bird ecologists into a highly-respected applied science institution. Under her leadership, PRBO has built on its “science-to-solutions” approach, using science as the basis for conservation action and on-the-ground collaborations with public and private resource managers. Ellie played an early role in catalyzing the conservation community not only to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions but also to address the ecological impacts of climate change and employ nature-based solutions for wildlife and people. She co-founded and now chairs the Bay Area Ecosystem Climate Change Consortium, bringing together scientists and natural resource managers to work cooperatively to preserve local biodiversity in the face of accelerating climate change impacts. 

Ellie also plays a leading role in a several collaborative and interdisciplinary initiatives to preserve and enhance habitats for birds and other native wildlife, serving as the vice chair of the California Landscape Conservation Cooperative, incoming chair of the Central Valley Joint Venture, and executive committee member with the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture.

In 2009 Ellie was named one of the “100 Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet” in the U.S. She was in good company: other winners that year included Jane Goodall and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Originally from Baltimore, Ellie now lives in San Anselmo with her partner Miki and their two children.

To learn more about Ellie and the work of PRBO Conservation Science, please visit PRBO's website.