Written by Dunrie Greiling, Ph.D., Guest Contributor
For me, it started with losing the elms. The elms lined the streets in Grosse Pointe in my youth. They arched high above the road and in sidewalks and lent the town the grandeur of an outdoor cathedral. After Dutch Elm disease took them in the 1970s and 80s, my town was diminished, reduced in height and in wonder
Now oak wilt is threatening red and white oaks, which support the most biodiversity of any tree in the U.S (“Why you should plant oaks, NYTimes, gift article link). The shade, beauty, and habitat for other plants, birds, butterfly caterpillars, woodpeckers, owls, wood ducks, bats, and squirrels is at risk.
We have lost farmland, forest, and wetlands to development, while protected areas and our life-sustaining great lakes waters are vulnerable to pollution, invasive species, disease, and climate change. All of these factors and more build on each other to further diminish the uniqueness, diversity, and resilience we love and need.
And yet we cannot let the scale of the challenge stop us from action.
I find hope in the work of people who haven’t given up. For instance, researchers are testing and cross-breeding varieties of elm resistant to the disease (“The Largest Elm Tree Restoration Effort in the Northeast” nature.org). I find hope in the recovery of sandhill cranes and spawning of sensitive and sturgeon fish on ship waste in the St. Clair River (a story told well in The Accidental Reef and other Ecological Odysseys in the Great Lakes, Lynne Heasley MSU Press).
These shifts come over time frames longer than our news cycles. Consider the 100+ year lifetimes of trees and sturgeon fish. Leadership in the environmental sector is simply leadership: the work to unite and motivate teams of people to fulfill a common goal. Yet there are added dimensions of generational time frames, layered crises, and potential burnout.
For these reasons, I am so excited to learn from three established, successful, and inspirational leaders in the environment in this week’s Leaders Connect.
Leadership in the Environmental Sector featuring Phil Roos, Dunrie Greiling, Tim Dekker, and Lisa Wozniak
On Friday, January 26th, from 8 AM – 9:30 AM at Zingerman’s Roadhouse, LeadersConnect is hosting an event focused on Leadership in the Environmental Sector, featuring Phil Roos, Dunrie Greiling, Tim Dekker, and Lisa Wozniak.
Phil Roos is the head of a dedicated team within the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Phil brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in safeguarding Michigan’s natural beauty and the health of its citizens. In this session, Phil will share his insights on managing air, water, and land resources, and his strategic approach to leading environmental initiatives that make a tangible difference. Don’t miss the opportunity to gain valuable leadership perspectives from a luminary in environmental management.
Dunrie Greiling, with her deep-rooted expertise in plant ecology and a Ph.D. in Biology, exemplifies the fusion of scientific insight and technological innovation. Her academic journey, grounded in a solid understanding of statistics and systems-thinking, has shaped a unique perspective that she brings to her professional endeavors.
Tim Dekker, PHD, PE, is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LimnoTech. Tim is an Environmental and Water Resources Engineer with expertise in river, lake, and estuary remediation and restoration. Tim has led scientific studies and technical projects in natural and urban water systems throughout North America, describing the dynamics of surface water, sediments, and groundwater systems; analyzing and mitigating the effects of urban flooding, analyzing contaminant fate and transport; and applying contaminant forensic techniques to understand the history of contaminated sites.
Lisa Wozniak serves as the Executive Director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters (LCV), a position she has held since 2006 growing what was then a two-person shop into a 30+ person powerhouse. As one of the strongest state leagues in the nation, Michigan LCV works at the intersection of policy and politics to protect the air, land, and water in communities all across Michigan by activating voters to elect and hold accountable public officials who fight for an environment that sustains the health and well-being of us all.
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Next Steps Applications
I am now accepting applications for my “Next Steps” Group – a community for senior men looking for direction, purpose, and clarity about their future paths. This group will be starting in the new year, 2024. Please email me if you are interested.
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