Contributor: Francisco Dallmeier
International Advisory Board
The Encyclopedia of Earth
Francisco Dallmeier heads the Center for Conservation Education and Sustainability (CCES) of the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, where since 2006 he has focused on identifying, recruiting and educating the next generation of conservation practitioners; providing business and industry with science-based solutions for minimizing their impact on biodiversity; and developing innovative and strategic conservation partnerships that result in science-based conservation solutions. He has coordinated the nomination of the http://nationalzoo.si.edu/conservationandscience/ Smithsonian Conservation and Research Center] as core site for the National Science Foundation’s National Ecological Observatory Network, NEON, that will enable scientists to tackle, at local to continental scales, important ecological questions confronting society.
Under the CCES, Dallmeier continues to direct the Smithsonian Institution Monitoring and Assessment of Biodiversity Program (SI/MAB), a position he first took on in 1989 after serving first as program manager beginning in 1986. Under his leadership, SI/MAB has evolved into a world-class research, training, and outreach program. More than 300 long-term research plots are now in place in 27 countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and North America. He also launched an ambitious conservation education agenda that includes professional training courses for scientists and college students and programs for elementary and secondary education teachers at the Smithsonian’s Conservation Research Center in Front Royal, Virginia.
From 2002 to 2003 in addition to his SI/MAB responsibilities, Dallmeier served as interim director of the Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives, which aims to foster an understanding and appreciation of Latino contributions to American society and culture. There he supervised a successful effort to raise funds for a new traveling exhibit and provided leadership and direction for numerous performances and symposiums.
Prior to joining the Smithsonian in 1986, Dallmeier conducted environmental impact assessment in Latin America with a private Venezuelan engineering company and Battelle Columbus Laboratories. He also researched birds in southern Venezuela for the Institute of Tropical Zoology of the Central University of Venezuela. He also held several positions with the La Salle Museum of Natural History in Venezuela.
Dallmeier’s expertise in biodiversity conservation makes him highly sought after as a speaker, lecturer, and moderator. He is the author, co-author, or editor of more than 120 research and conservation-oriented publications. An avid photographer, many of his photographs have been published nationally and internationally in magazines, newspapers, brochures, and scientific and other documents. He serves as advisor of several national and international organizations and programs. In October 2005, Hispanic Business magazine ranked him among “The 100 Most Influential Hispanics.”
Born in Venezuela, Dallmeier is now a United States citizen. He received his bachelor’s degree (1977) in biology from the Central University of Venezuela and his master’s degree (1984) and doctorate degree (1986) in wildlife biology from Colorado State University.