IUCN WCPA Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group

Zhicong Zhao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture at Tsinghua University, and the Deputy Director of the Institute for National Parks, China. She has over a decade of experience in research on the management and planning of protected areas, connectivity modeling, planning and policy advice, as well as large-scale landscape planning and management to balance conservation and development. She also teaches courses on landscape heritage protection and planning.

Aaron operates the Center for Large Landscape Conservation’s global networks of experts
and institutions, engages in international policy fora like IUCN, CBD, and CMS, and collaborates on
implementation projects with partners around the world

Jordan leads the Landscape Connectivity Program through deep collaboration with Y2Y’s talented staff, sovereign First Nations and Tribes, rural communities, government agencies, and a breadth of other committed partners.

He brings 20+ years of experience to this role, combining a variety of skillsets developed through work at the intersection of landscape conservation, community development, advocacy, and community organizing.

Jordan has led conservation campaigns and land management efforts in previous roles at The Wilderness Society, The Nature Conservancy, and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. He began his career in community-led conservation as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Panama and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego and an M.A. in International Development and Social Change from Clark University.

Living in Bozeman, Montana, Jordan and his family spend their free time caring for their many family pets and exploring the incredible landscapes of the Southern Y2Y region via hikes, skis, floats, and bike rides.