Carl M. Gallegos
Senior Research Associate and Staff Forester, Center for Environment & Society
E-mail: Carlmgallegos@aol.com
Phone: 410-778-4987
Office: Custom House, 101 S. Water Street
Education
- Ph.D., North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina. Forest Genetics and Forest Soils.
- M.F., Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Tropical Forest Ecology.
- B.A., Doane College, Crete, Nebraska. Biology.
- Foreign Service Institute, French Language Training.
- Federal Executive Training Center, Charlottesville, Virginia.
SELECTED QUALIFICATIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Environment and Natural Resources Program Development
- Worked with the Washington College Center for Environment & Society to develop "Urban and Community Forest Master Plans" for four towns in Kent County, Maryland. This involved training volunteers to conduct training volunteers to conduct street tree inventories, compiling, and analyzing data collected using the US Forest Service "i-Tree" software package to determine the environmental benefits of trees and the economic values of these benefits. These Master Plans are being used as the basis for negotiations with the Town Councils to modify existing Tree Codes, and developing forest management plans for each town.
- Conceptualized and planned a six-month sabbatical leave from USAID to conduct the Strengthening Forest-Based Private Enterprise in Developing Countries (SFPED) study, and arrange for funding and support from private industry to conduct this study. Recommendations resulting from this study were under consideration for implementation by USAID as a Global Development Alliance (GDA) partnership program.
- Brought together a group of five environmentally responsible forest products companies and the School of Forest Resources at North Carolina State University to create the Central America and Mexico Coniferous Resources (CAMCORE) Cooperative for the purpose of preserving the unique coniferous and hardwood tree species genetic resources of Central America and Mexico. It has become the major source of genetically selected tree species used to establish wood products plantations in the southern hemisphere (Asia, Oceania, South America and Africa).
- Initiated a nationwide program on Radiata Pine tree improvement in the republic of Chile. Obtained a combined Ford Foundation and Fulbright fellowship for my Chilean counterpart to study in the U.S. and eventually replace me as Professor of Tree Improvement and direct the tree improvement cooperative.
Conduct Environment and Natural Resources Training
- Organized and conducted biannual regional conferences concerning Agriculture, Environment and Private Sector (AEPS) conferences that are held for technical officers to facilitate exchange of technical information and networking for technical officers working in the Africa Region, and to provide guidance to the Africa Bureau and the Agency for future activities in these sectors.
- Conducted environmental capacity training courses in English and French for development professionals who carry out or otherwise implement USAID-funded projects in various selected African countries (28 courses conducted). Interact with other donor agencies and African governments to formulate environmental policies and laws, and help prepare and enforce EIA regulations that promote sustainable environment and natural resources management.
- Professor of Silviculture and Tree Improvement (Peace Corps Volunteer) at the Universidad Austral de Chile in Valdivia, Chile, where I worked as a research scientist, and as Professor of Basic Silviculture and Tree Improvement. Advised and guided 11 students in the development of research topics and the preparation of theses that are required for their Forest Engineer degree (six-year program).
Environmental Impact Assessment
- Provided oversight and supervision as USAID Africa Bureau Environmental Officer for Mission Environmental Officers and Regional Environmental Officers in 26 Missions in sub-Saharan Africa, plus two professionals in Washington, D.C., who prepare environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for the Africa Bureau.
- Conducted a programmatic environmental assessment for watershed management and tropical forest management in the Fouta Djalon Mountains of Guinea, West Africa, and the Markala Sugar Project in Mali. The latter involved addressing USAID environmental regulations and the ISO 14000 guidelines used by the private sector for the Government of Mali to guide the development of an $875 million industrial program.
- Prepared environmental assessments for USAID Africa Bureau Office of Sustainable Development (USAID/AFR/SD) for all sectors covered in the 2005-2009 Strategic Plan including Education, Health, Communication (IT), Peace Building and Governance, Trade, Agriculture and Environment, as well as the Presidential Initiatives in Education, Trade and Development, Agriculture, Anti-Corruption, Leland Initiative and Congo Basin Initiative.
- Served as Acting Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO) for the USAID Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA) Bureau where I reviewed and approved, as well as prepared, Initial Environmental Evaluations (IEEs) and environmental assessments for five Offices (Food for Peace [FFP], Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance [OFDA], Conflict Monitoring and Mitigation [CMM], Office of Transition Initiatives [OTI], and Private Voluntary Cooperation/American Schools and Hospitals Abroad [PVC/ASHA]) within the DCHA Bureau.
Private Sector Natural Resources Management and Promotion
- Directed Operations for International Paper Company in Venezuela, which included conducting feasibility studies, financial and economic analyses, forest products market evaluation, conducting negotiations with Venezuelan officials, plus policy development and project design for the venture. Oversaw biological and physical aspects of feasibility studies conducted by International Paper Company in several countries in Latin America and other countries throughout the world. Coordinated biological research for International Paper Company in the southeastern U.S. Coordinated and conducted operational tree improvement research in the southeastern U.S. (seed orchard and forest regeneration specialist).
EMPLOYMENT
Independent Consultant (current status)
Washington College Center for Environment and Society (WC-CES): Sr. Research Associate, Chestertown, MD; U. S. Agency For International Development (USAID): Acting Director Africa Bureau/ Office of Sustainable Development/ Division for Agriculture, Natural Resources Rural Enterprise; and Africa Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO), Washington, D.C.; Supervisory Natural Resources Officer, USAID/ Madagascar; Sabbatical Leave - Conducted Strengthening Forest-based Private Enterprise in Developing Countries (SFPED) Study; Chief, Forestry Staff and Chief Forester for USAID, Science and Technology Bureau, Washington, D.C.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
International Paper Company: Manager, Forest Information Systems, Dallas, Texas; Director, Venezuela Project and General Manager, Corporacion Forestal de Venezuela, C.A. (CORFOVENECA), Caracas, Venezuela; Senior Research Forester, Central/ South American Species, Mobile, Alabama; Co-Founder and Chairman, Advisory Board - Central America and Mexico Resources Coniferous Resources (CAMCORE) Cooperative, Raleigh, North Carolina; Universidad Austral de Chile, School of Forestry, Professor of Silviculture and Tree Improvement (Peace Corps Volunteer), Valdivia, Chile.
VOLUNTEER WORK
Created a Nature Trail on the grounds of my church and established the Nature Trail Committee to promulgate our seventh principle which encourages "respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part". Obtained accreditation of the Nature Trail as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, and was instrumental in getting Reston, VA accredited as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat City.
Board President, Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River (UUCR); Chairman, Green Sanctuary Committee (UUCR); Chairman, Science and Technology Committee, Chester River Association; Board Member, Colchester Farms, CSA; Board Member, HomePorts, LLC.
AWARDS
- CAMCORE Founders Award.
- U. S. Agency for International Development: Special Achievement Awards (7).
- U.S. Forest Service: International Forestry Award.