Skylar Hopkins is an Assistant Professor at NC State University, where she researches parasite and disease ecology to better understand how parasites are maintained in complex ecological systems. Her ...
IUCN COMMISSION GROUP
IUCN WCPA Protected Areas and One Health Task Force
Group leadership
Dr Skylar HOPKINS
Co-Chair
Skylar Hopkins is an Assistant Professor at NC State University, where she researches parasite and disease ecology to better understand how parasites are maintained in complex ecological systems. Her research falls under the One Health umbrella and aims to simultaneously safeguard or improve the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.
Dr Sarah OLSON
Co-Chair
Sarah Olson joined WCS Global in 2011 and is currently the Director of Health Research for the Health Program. She received a joint PhD in Population Health and Environment & Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and studied how deforestation and climate affect malaria incidence in the Amazon. Based in Bozeman, Montana, she provides leadership and research support to field veterinarians and conservation staff around the world. Trained in environmental research and public health, her research at WCS has focused on front-line wildlife conservation and One Health challenges, including the wildlife trade and emerging infectious diseases, Ebola virus in great apes and bats, avian influenza in wild birds, and white-nose syndrome in North American bats. She is currently focused on understanding and mitigating wildlife health and zoonotic disease threats, often associated with anthropogenic drivers, and helping grow sustainable and effective wildlife health surveillance systems.
Sarah Olson joined WCS Global in 2011 and is currently the Director of Health Research for the Health Program. She received a joint PhD in Population Health and Environment & Resources from the ...
The One Health framework describes how the health of people, animals, and ecosystems are interconnected. These connections are especially apparent within and near protected and conserved areas, where there are complex interfaces between wildlife, human populations, and domestic livestock. Yet protected areas are rarely mentioned by One Health organizations, initiatives, or policies, even though One Health conversations have increasingly emphasized the importance of ecosystem health.
Major goals:
- Build a conceptual map of existing One Health efforts related to protected areas, synthesizing existing knowledge and identifying important gaps in research, policy, and funding.
- Synthesize knowledge from people who work in and near protected areas regarding the existing best-practices and information needs for integrating One Health into protected area management. This includes identifying the barriers and incentives for incorporating human health and well-being into protected area management.
- Create a technical guidance document or “menu” of One Health interventions relevant to protected areas, including the challenges and benefits associated with each potential intervention.
To achieve these goals, the Task Force has assembled a diverse team that includes members with diverse expertise (e.g., disease ecology, conservation, public health), affiliations (e.g., academic institutions, governments, non-government organizations, local and Indigenous communities), and geographic representation (all continents). More details are available in the draft Terms of Reference document.
Featured work
Press release
27 May, 2026
Protected and conserved areas are critical in preventing and mitigating infectious diseases, acting as buffer zones between humans, wildlife and pathogens. Yet even well-managed sites can become…