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The Stone Center for Environmental Stewardship at UC Berkeley is at the forefront of innovative, community-engaged research and action in environmental conservation. Our mission is to increase the pace, scale, equity, and durability of large-scale conservation by catalyzing new forms of university engagement with communities on the front lines of environmental change.
Our vision is to become the academic heart of a global network dedicated to breaking down barriers in large-scale conservation. We aim to overcome the challenges facing large-scale conservation efforts, charting a new course for academic engagement in addressing one of humanity's most pressing challenges. We envision a future in which a focus on traditional and local knowledge and alliances between communities, scientists, and policymakers produce durable and just conservation outcomes. The Center will engage with policymakers at the local, state and national level, advancing policies rooted in co-developed research.
The Center works primarily through community-engaged, action-oriented Living Labs that are located in specific landscapes and driven by coalitions of scientists and local partners. Our first Living Lab is the Beyond Yellowstone Living Lab and the second is planned for Northern California. Individually, the Living Labs bring interdisciplinary academic firepower to communities on the front lines of environmental change. Collectively, they will empower a new generation of scientists and professionals that expand the possibilities of locally-driven conservation action.
Join us in our mission to protect and preserve our planet's vital ecosystems through co-developed research, community collaboration, education and training.
Key Features
- Living Labs: We establish action-oriented research hubs in critical ecosystems, bringing together scientists, communities, and local partners.
- Interdisciplinary Approach: Our work spans biophysical, social, and data sciences, integrating expertise from various academic fields.
- Education and Training: We offer diverse learning opportunities, from undergraduate internships to graduate programs, fostering the next generation of conservation leaders.
- Policy Impact: We leverage UC Berkeley's strong connections with policymakers to drive effective, bipartisan conservation interventions.
- Communication and Outreach: We prioritize translating research into actionable insights and raising public awareness about large landscape conservation.
About the The James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation
The mission of The James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation is to promote a more knowledgeable and inclusive society, with a special emphasis on environmental sustainability and the mitigation of wealth inequality. A generous gift from the Foundation enabled the establishment of the Stone Center for Enviornmental Stewardship at UC Berkeley—dedicated to advancing the conservation and restoration of ecologically and culturally important wildlife in the United States through community-engaged research, training, outreach, and policy work.