“ In 2025, Dr. Dominick A. DellaSala began his fifth year with Wild Heritage, a project of the Earth Island Institute, but in August he transitioned to the Associates Program of the nonprofit Conservation Biology Institute (CBI) that now serves as his fiscal sponsor. As he enters the final stage of an extraordinarily productive four-decade career, Dominick wanted to work more closely with a team of like-minded and high-profile conservation scientists. He made the switch to wrap up his career path and is grateful for his time at Wild Heritage. This report summarizes key accomplishments started at Wild Heritage and now carried forward seamlessly with CBI
(photo: Sierra Range – D. DellaSala).
At CBI, Dominick designed the newly launched North America Forest Initiative that continues the forest work started at Wild Heritage. All grants, donor awards, and conservation group contracts remain aligned with original goals. Dominick has continued peer-reviewed science while providing communications and outreach to conservation partners, media, and decision-makers on critical forest and climate issues across North America, with occasional global engagement. We are also now seeking funds to establish a mentorship program that will allow Dominick to train young conservation professionals as he transitions into retirement at the end of 2026. “