David Burney
Dr. David A. Burney joined the National Tropical Botanical Garden as Director of Conservation in 2004, and retired in 2012.
Dr. Burney's research has focused on endangered species, paleoenvironmental studies, and causes of extinction. He has over 35 years of practical experience in conservation, including serving as a technical consultant for Wildlife Conservation Society, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, BBC Natural History Unit, National Museums of Kenya, United Nations Development Program, USDA, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and other organizations.
Prior to moving to Kaua`i he was a Professor at Fordham University in New York for 15 years. He received a M.Sc. in Conservation Biology from the University of Nairobi (Kenya) and a Ph.D. in Zoology with a minor in Botany from Duke University. He is author of over 100 scientific articles and monographs, many concerning the processes of extinction and environmental change. In 2006 he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to write a book on his work at Makauwahi Cave on Kaua`i, published by Yale Press. His research has been featured on National Geographic Television, Discovery Channel, Hawaii Public Television, NOVA, and National Public Radio.
With his wife Lida Pigott Burney, he has established the Makauwahi Cave Reserve on Kaua`i to protect, research, and restore Hawaii’s richest fossil and archaeological site and reestablish thousands of native plants on the surrounding landscape. He has carried out large scale native plant restorations at Kilohana Crater, Nu`alolo Kai, Lehua Islet (Niihau), and NTBG’s Limahuli and Lawai gardens. He currently holds the emeritus position of Professor of Conservation Paleobiology at NTBG.
Dr. Burney's research has focused on endangered species, paleoenvironmental studies, and causes of extinction. He has over 35 years of practical experience in conservation, including serving as a technical consultant for Wildlife Conservation Society, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, BBC Natural History Unit, National Museums of Kenya, United Nations Development Program, USDA, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and other organizations.
Prior to moving to Kaua`i he was a Professor at Fordham University in New York for 15 years. He received a M.Sc. in Conservation Biology from the University of Nairobi (Kenya) and a Ph.D. in Zoology with a minor in Botany from Duke University. He is author of over 100 scientific articles and monographs, many concerning the processes of extinction and environmental change. In 2006 he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to write a book on his work at Makauwahi Cave on Kaua`i, published by Yale Press. His research has been featured on National Geographic Television, Discovery Channel, Hawaii Public Television, NOVA, and National Public Radio.
With his wife Lida Pigott Burney, he has established the Makauwahi Cave Reserve on Kaua`i to protect, research, and restore Hawaii’s richest fossil and archaeological site and reestablish thousands of native plants on the surrounding landscape. He has carried out large scale native plant restorations at Kilohana Crater, Nu`alolo Kai, Lehua Islet (Niihau), and NTBG’s Limahuli and Lawai gardens. He currently holds the emeritus position of Professor of Conservation Paleobiology at NTBG.
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