Debra Schlafmann
Debra L. Schlafmann was selected as Coordinator for the California Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) in May 2010. In this position, Deb is responsible for developing and managing the California LCC, an applied conservation science partnership of federal, state, and regional agencies, tribes, nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions, and others. The California LCC is one of eight LCCs established across the country in 2010 to address landscape-scale stressors such as habitat fragmentation, genetic isolation, spread of invasive species, and water scarcity — all of which are magnified by accelerating climate change.
With 21 years of experience with the federal government mostly within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Deb has served in numerous technical and leadership positions that required skills in developing partnerships and seeking common goals for natural resource management. She led the Pacific Southwest Region’s Habitat Restoration Division for over 15 years which included the Partners for Fish and Wildlife, Coastal, Tribal Restoration and Schoolyard Habitat Programs. Debra has been the Service's lead for several landscape scale initiatives such as the Riparian Habitat Joint Venture, the Tricolored Blackbird working group, and the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition. Deb helped start up several programs for the Service's Pacific Southwest Region including Wildlife Sport and Fish Restoration Program, Migratory Bird Program, Department of Defense Sikes Act, and USGS's Science Support Program.
In 2009, she acted as the Region's Climate Change Coordinator that has prepared her to make immediate and lasting contributions to the success of the California LCC. Deb holds a bachelor of science degree in forestry from Michigan Technological University and a master of science degree in wildlife management from Humboldt State University. Deb likes birding, boating, hiking and spending as much time possible outdoors with her 8 year old son and 2 dogs.