Greg Green, Ducks Unlimited Director of Conservation

While earning a bachelor's degree in wildlife conservation from Louisiana Tech Greg Green's first wildlife-oriented position was in Harney County at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in 1995. "Leaving rural north Louisiana to spend a summer in Oregon was quite the experience. This opportunity ignited a conservation-related passion for waterfowl and waterbirds that led to several other technician positions in Canada, Oklahoma and Texas. My time at Malheur and southern Oregon also instilled a strong professional interest and personal love of the West." Following his undergraduate studies and time in Harney County Greg went on to receive a Master's degree in Rangeland Ecology from Texas A&M.

Greg is now the Director of Conservation Programs with Ducks Unlimited (DU) where he "directs and oversees DU’s on-the-ground delivery of conservation projects in the states of AK, ID, OR, UT, and WA". "I review budgets, contracts and agreements, expenses, and staff capacities. I also engage with agencies and partners . . . [and] supervise a team of 6 biologists that are remotely located in the states mentioned above, except Alaska, that serve as the primary field contacts in their geographies.  I also lead our team of biologists, engineers, regulatory specialists, and project support staff, as well as manage our field office in Vancouver, Washington. In this position, my impact is to help our staff identify and scope projects, provide guidance and support to funding opportunities, and build partnerships and relationships. My primary goal is to provide the support our staff need to be successful."

Greg has been with DU for more than 20 years and likes "getting my hands dirty and being involved with building and fixing things". This is evident as he's contributed to more than 250 projects being completed like the Rose and Cote dams that Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative (HBWC) partners put under construction in 2023. "It was relatively easy to merge into HBWC. Funding and permits for those projects were secured prior to my arrival so my focus was to keep up the momentum on those projects, address any contractual obligations, and maintain the expectations that Ducks Unlimited had already created with the landowners and partners."  

"The wet meadows and irrigated pastures of the Harney Basin are invaluable and irreplaceable resources to migratory birds. Especially during the spring months. An estimated 5-7 million waterfowl, as well as countless more sandhill cranes, shorebirds, raptors and other species, pass through this region each year, as part of their annual migration cycles. Plentiful, high-quality food resources are important for these migrating birds, but particularly females of these species where body condition is critical for migration stamina, egg production and nest success. It’s rewarding to know that DU and the Collaborative partners are not only working together to sustain wild bird populations in the Pacific Flyway, but also replacing and improving infrastructure that will sustain the ranching community that is so ecologically and economically important to the Basin. This is one of the highest priority areas for waterfowl conservation for Ducks Unlimited. Though our organization’s mission in continental in scope, the opportunity to work with local ranchers, Harney County residents, and the Basin’s conservation community is important to us."

DU has been a long-standing partner of the Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative and is very thankful to have Greg's active participation on their behalf. "I can’t say enough positives regarding my experience with HBWC, so far. The diversity of participant representation and the unified approach for maintaining the ecological importance of the Basin’s wet habitats through Malheur Lake and the surrounding managed pastures and floodplains is motivating. HBWC brings different land user groups and ownerships together for seeking consensus outcomes that look to benefit the Basin and all its inhabitants."  

Greg's love of building and fixing things extends outside of work: "As a biologist, one might expect how much I enjoy spending time exploring the outdoors; from camping, hunting, skywatching, and water-related activities. I also really enjoy building things and working with my hands—woodworking, landscaping, gardening. I am an aspiring automotive alchemist (i.e. turn old rust into gold); currently honing those skills restoring a 1971 GMC truck. I love old cars, motorcycles and tractors."