Karl Malcolm

Karl grew up tromping around the hills and rivers outside his family home’s back door in rural northern Michigan. Throughout high school and college he funded his extracurricular adventures working as a first mate on a salmon boat, a fly fishing, canoeing, and hunting outfitter and guide, and as a professional consultant during the development of wildlife management and research programs. Karl’s interest in nature, conservation, wildlife, and protected area management led him to study the role of nature reserves in harboring large carnivores in southwestern China for his PhD in Wildlife Ecology, which he completed in 2011 through a joint appointment with the University of Wisconsin – Madison and Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. These experiences fostered a deeper and more informed appreciation for America’s public lands system and inspired him to pursue a career with the United States Forest Service. Karl’s professional interests include ecological research, applying science to natural resource management, and promoting personal connections between people and the natural world. He has taught about the relationships among humans, wild land, and wildlife in the U.S. and abroad, and has developed and hosted international conservation workshops for global business leaders, conservationists, and political leaders. In his free time Karl, his wife, and their daughter enjoy exploring wild spots off the beaten path with their bird dogs, fly rods, and backpacks.