Robert Brumbaugh

Experience

• 

  Chesapeake Bay Foundation

  Dec 1995 - Oct 2004

  Fisheries Scientist and Hampton Roads Manager (1997-2004)

  I provided guidance on regulatory and legislative fisheries policies in Virginia, and helped secure funding to accelerate the restoration of oyster reefs that play a key role in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.

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  The Nature Conservancy

  Oct 2004 - now

  As the Caribbean Director, I provide leadership for the design and implementation of programs and strategic actions to support TNC's larger conservation agenda across the Caribbean. The Conservancy's conservation work is undertaken by TNC staff and partners working in 17 countries and territories in the region, and involves policy, science, on-the-ground conservation actions to help ensure a resilient Caribbean that benefits people and nature. I represent the Division broadly within the larger organization, with major donors, bilateral and multilateral agencies and partners. Show less As a Senior Marine Scientist in the Science and Planning Department of The Nature Conservancy's Florida Chapter, I supported the conservation of coral reefs, mangroves, oyster reefs, seagrass meadows and other coastal habitats that define the ecology of Florida’s coastal waters and the culture of Florida’s coastal communities. I serve as Chair of the Florida Reef Resilience Program (FRRP) steering committee, a coalition of federal, state, and county management staff, along with representatives from the scientific and research communities who are focused on identifying the enabling conditions for Florida's coral reefs, and managing toward long term sustainability of those reefs. I also served on the Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) Technical Advisory Committee, which brings a particularly sharp conservation and management focus to coral reefs adjacent to a 190km stretch of coast that nearly 5 million Floridians call home. This role also allowed me to working to improve the way fisheries are managed, with a focus on developing new ecosystem-based fisheries management approaches and harnessing the fishing community to gather new types of information that shape management decisions.A particular focus of my work in this and other roles is describing in quantitative terms the ecosystem benefits of marine habitats, such as fish production, water quality benefits, carbon storage and other functions of various coastal ecosystems that support economic and social well-being. This information, in turn, helps the Conservancy and its partners better define objectives for conservation, restoration and management of these critical coastal ecosystems. This is part of a larger global initiative called Mapping Ocean Wealth, which I initiated and led for four years as Director of Ocean Mapping and Planning for The Nature Conservancy. Effecting change for both conservation and social outcomes using this information is the primary focus of my work today. Show less In this role at The Nature Conservancy, I engaged a diverse array of partners to develop new approaches for managing, restoring and protecting coastal and ocean habitats that benefit people and economies at national, regional and global scales. I had a particular focus on the development of new information about ecosystem services, and the application of this information in decision-making for conservation and economic development, shaping the direction of investment by multi-lateral lenders such as the World Bank, as well as sustainability investments by private sector partners such as Carnival Corporation & PLC. To accomplish this, I led a globally dispersed multi-disciplinary team that focused on developing science, communicating results to promote uptake and application in the public- and private-sectors, and connecting with policy initiatives to support application of new ocean knowledge. Fundraising was an integral part of leading this line of work, generating more than $5M in public and private funds to support the Ocean Wealth initiative and its application globally. A particularly noteworthy highlight of this position was being recognized with the Tourism for Tomorrow Innovation Award by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). Show less As Habitat Restoration Director I provided technical guidance to a diverse array of restoration projects implemented by The Nature Conservancy and its partners throughout the United States. I also managed a series of multi-year Cooperative Agreements with NOAA's Restoration Center to direct funds toward a diverse array of restoration projects throughout the United States, and oversaw the development and implementation of 8 large TNC-led projects supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA - 'Stimulus'), also through the NOAA Restoration Center. A particular focus during this portion of my career has been conservation and restoration of oyster reefs, one of the world's most imperiled types of coastal and marine ecosystems, through the development of fundamental knowledge describing their global status, and spatial information describing their ecological function and societal benefits. Show less

  • Caribbean Division Director

    Feb 2020 - now

  • Senior Marine Scientist

    Jul 2017 - Feb 2020

  • Integrated Ocean Management Lead / Director of Ocean Mapping and Planning

    Aug 2012 - Jul 2017

  • Marine Habitat Restoration Director

    Oct 2004 - Jul 2012