Dr. Joseph S. Larson |
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University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Natural Resources and the Environment Natural Resources Conservation Professor EmeritusAppointed: 1969 |  |
Mailing AddressBlaisdell House University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, Massachusetts 01003-0820United States | Contact Information |
Qualifications
Professional Wetland Scientist, Society of Wetland Scientists, 1995.
Senior Ecologist, Ecological Society of America, 1988.
Certified Wildlife Biologist, The Wildlife Society, 1978.
Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Zoology, 1966.
M.S., University of Massachusetts, Wildlife Management, 1958.
B.S., University of Massachusetts, Wildlife Management, 1956.
Expertise and Research Interests
My primary research ininterest has been identification of the ecological functions of freshwater wetlands. I am engaged in relating wetland functions to human values associated with health, safety, welfare, and to the public trust. The ultimate objective of my research has been to translate wetland science into guidelines for establishing public policy, legislation, and regulation at the local, state, national, and international levels.
My research group developed the first models for rapid assessmentof the functions of freshwater wetlands, and for prediction of wetland habitat for wetland dependent reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. I assisted in writing the wetland law and regulations for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in revision of the guidelines for wise use and identification of Wetlands of International Importance under the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands; and served as Executive Director of the National Wetlands Technical Council (US), and Founding Chairman of the US National RAMSAR Committee.
As an emeritus professor I continue to be engaged in wetland research, graduate education, and public service in local, state, national, and international environmental matters.
My research group developed the first models for rapid assessmentof the functions of freshwater wetlands, and for prediction of wetland habitat for wetland dependent reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. I assisted in writing the wetland law and regulations for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in revision of the guidelines for wise use and identification of Wetlands of International Importance under the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands; and served as Executive Director of the National Wetlands Technical Council (US), and Founding Chairman of the US National RAMSAR Committee.
As an emeritus professor I continue to be engaged in wetland research, graduate education, and public service in local, state, national, and international environmental matters.
Other Expertise
Public Service:
- Appointed by Governor to the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board and to the State Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee
- Board of Directors, Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions
- Board of Directors, Massachusetts Audubon Society
- Consultant to several engineering firms and to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment
International Experience:
Consultant to:
- European Commission
- World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)- wetland training (1986,1987) and research (1991) missions to the Peoples Republic of China, and a wetland training mission to India (1995)
- World Conservation Union (IUCN), Member, Wetland Advisory Committee, Commissions on Ecology and Ecological Management
- Government of Hungary (Danube Dams)
- Probe International, Canada (Three Gorges Dam, China)
- Delegate to the Conference of Contracting Parties, Convention onWetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR) 1987 (Canada), 1990 (Switzerland), 1993 (Japan)
- Appointed by Governor to the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board and to the State Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee
- Board of Directors, Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions
- Board of Directors, Massachusetts Audubon Society
- Consultant to several engineering firms and to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment
International Experience:
Consultant to:
- European Commission
- World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)- wetland training (1986,1987) and research (1991) missions to the Peoples Republic of China, and a wetland training mission to India (1995)
- World Conservation Union (IUCN), Member, Wetland Advisory Committee, Commissions on Ecology and Ecological Management
- Government of Hungary (Danube Dams)
- Probe International, Canada (Three Gorges Dam, China)
- Delegate to the Conference of Contracting Parties, Convention onWetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR) 1987 (Canada), 1990 (Switzerland), 1993 (Japan)
Future Research
Application of freshwater wetland assessment in the northwest region of the Russian Republic
Industrial Relevance
I administered the National Environmental Technology Institute (pollution prevention through redesign of manufacturing processes) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. My wetland research is relevant to firms and public agencies involved in land use decisions.
Keywords
COS Keywords:
Animal Ecology, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Ecosystems, Endangered Species, Environmental Conservation, Forestry and Woodlands, Natural Resources, Natural Resources Management, Wetlands, Wildlife, Zoology.Additional Terms:
Conservation, Ecology, Endangered Species, International Conservation, Wetland Conservation, Wetland Creation, Wetland Ecology, Wetland Function, Wetland Policy, Wetland Regulation and Legislation, Wetland Restoration, Wetland Value, Wetland Wildlife, Wetland Wildlife Ecology, Wildlife, Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Ecology.Languages
(Reading, Writing, Speaking)
French: (Basic, Basic, Basic)
Memberships
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association of University Professors
American Society of Mammalogists
Ecological Society of America
Phi Sigma
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
The Wildlife Society
Xi Sigma Pi
Honors and Awards
2000, Director's Award,
Northeast Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service,
Establishment of the First Cooperative Marine Education and Research Program
2000, Certificate of Appreciation,
U.S. Department of Energy,
Massachusetts Industries of the Future Program
1997, Conservationist of the Year,
Massachusetts Wildlife Federation,
Natural Resources Conservation
1994, Service Recognition Award,
Massachusetts Chemical Technology Alliance,
Creation of the National Environmental Technology Institute
1990, National Convervation Award,
Chevron Corporation,
Exceptional Public Service in the Cause of Conservation
1989, Elected to Membership,
Cosmos Club, Washington D.C.,
Meritorious original professional work
1988, Certificate of Honorable Mention,
University of Massachusetts Amherst,
Distinguished Public Service in Environmental Affairs
1976, Award of Excellence,
Design and Environment Magazine,
Conservation of the Natural Landscape
1963, Armed Forces Reserve Medal,
United States Army,
Reserve Service
Biography,
American Men and Women of Science, Who's Who in America
Previous Positions
1984-2000, Professor and Director,
University of Massachusetts Amherst,
Vice Chancellery for Research,
The Environmental Institute
1980-1980, Acting Director,
University of Massachusetts Amherst,
Graduate School,
Water Resources Research Center
1980-1983, Chairman and Professor,
University of Massachusetts Amherst,
College of Food and Natural Resources,
Forestry and Wildlife Management
1976-1980, Professor,
University of Massachusetts Amherst,
College of Food and Natural Resources,
Forestry and Wildlife Management
1974-1974, Acting Director,
University of Massachusetts Amherst,
Graduate School,
Water Resources Research Center
1969-1976, Associate Professor,
University of Massachusetts Amherst,
College of Food and Natural Resources,
Forestry and Wildlife Management
1967-1969, Assistant Leader,
United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
Massachusetts Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit,
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
1967-1969, Wildlife Research Biologist,
United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
Massachusetts Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit,
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
1967-1969, Adjunct Assistant Professor,
United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
Massachusetts Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit,
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
1965-1967, Research Assistant Professor and Biologist in Charge,
University of Maryland College Park,
Natural Resources Institute,
Western Maryland Laboratory, LaVale, Md.
1960-1962, Head,
Maryland Department of Research and Education, Annapolis,
Conservation Education
1959-1960, State Ornithologist,
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Game, Boston
1959-1960, Assistant to the Director,
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Game, Boston
1958-1959, Executive Secretary,
Wildlife Conservation Incorporated, Boston
Funding Received
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Functional Indicators of Urbanization and Risk in Freshwater Wetlands, $151,010, 1992 to 1997.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Two-Tier Assessment of Freshwater Wetlands in New England, $103,626, 1992 to 1997.
- New England Transportation Council: Assessment of Reptile, Amphibian and Small Mammal Habitat in Freshwater Wetlands of New England, $129,910, 1991 to 1996.
- Massachusetts Legislature: National Environmental Technology Institute Pollution Prevention Program, $800,000 per annum, 1984 to 2000.
- US Fish and Wildlife Service and Donner Foundation: Wetland Assessment in Regions of the US, $118,838, 1983 to 1991.
- U.S. Office of Water Resources Research and Mass. Water Resources Commission: Models for Evaluation of Freshwater Wetlands, $109,788, 1969 to 1971.
Publications
- Hicks Anna L, Larson Joseph S, Impact of urban stormwater runoff on freshwater wetlands and the role of aquatic invertebrate bioassessment, Proceedings of the Engineering Foundation Conference on effects of watershed development and management on aquatic ecosystems, Amer. Soc. Civil Engineers, 386-401, 1997
- Stevens, T.H., S. Benin, J.S. Larson, Public attitudes and economic values for wetland preservation in New England, Wetlands, 15(3), 226-231, 1995
- Larson, J.S., Identifying the functions and values of wetlands, Brig Gopal, ed., Handbook of Wetland Mgt. Worldwide Fund for Nature, New Delhi, India, 76-90, 1995
- Larson, J.S, D.B. Mazzarese, Rapid assessment of wetlands: history and applications to management, In, W.J. Mitch, Ed. Global Wetlands, Elsevier Sci. Pub., 625-636, 1994
- Whitlock, A.L., N.M. Jarman, J.A. Medina, J.S. Larson., WEThings: Wetland habitat indicators for nongame species, wetland dependent amphibians, reptiles and mammals of New England, The Environmental Institute, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, I(Pub. No. 94-1), 45 pages plus disk, 1994
- Whitlock, A.L., N.M. Jarman, J.S. Larson, WEThings: Wetland habitat indicators for nongame species, wetland-dependent amphibians, reptiles and mammals of New England, The Environmental Institute, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, II(Pub. No. 94-2), 627 pages, 1994
- Kusler, J.A., W. J. Mitsch, J.S. Larson, Wetlands, Scientific American, 270(1), 64-70, 1994
- Larson, J.S., Wetlands of North America, Wetlands, Facts on File, N.Y., N.Y., 57-84, 1991
- Larson, J.S., Wetland Restoration: An Overview, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Report 3992, 17-23, 1991
- Larson, J.S., The Future of U.S. Wetlands, Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy, 6(1), 66-72, 1991
- Larson, J.S., Downstream environmental impacts, Damming the Three Gorges, Probe International, Toronto, Canada, 67-78, 1990
- Larson, J.S., Adequacy of the Science Base for Wetland Restoration and Creation, Bull. Ecol., 21(3), 11-14, 1990
- Larson, J.S., Wetland Value Assessment, B.C. Patten, Ed., Wetlands and Shallow Water Bodies, SPB Academic Publishing bv., The Hague, The Netherlands, I, 389-400, 1990
- Larson, J.S., Potential impacts of Danube River dams on wetlands, Proc. Symp. on Wetlands and River Corridor Mgt., Assn. Wetland Mgrs. Berne, N.Y., 253-256, 1989
- Larson, J.S. (ed.), C. Neill (ed.), Mitigating freshwater wetland alterations in the glaciated northeastern United States: An assessment of the science base, Pub. No. 87-1,The Environmental Institute, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 143 pages, 1987
Profile Details
Last Updated: 5/12/2008
COS Expertise ID #122635
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