Scott Morrison

Scott Morrison is the Director of Conservation Science & Programs and the Victor E. Shelford Director of Conservation Science for The Nature Conservancy in California. He leads an interdisciplinary team of scientists and practitioners who design and implement cutting-edge conservation strategies across the lands and waters of California. He joined TNC in 2001, working to develop the science and planning foundations for our work to protect a network of conservation lands across the rapidly urbanizing landscape of southern California.

In 2008, he assumed the directorship of California’s science and geodesign teams; his contributions during that tenure included co-leading the core team that spearheaded the 2016 refresh of TNC’s signature “approach,” Conservation by Design. In 2017, his scope expanded to include leadership and management of California’s Conservation Programs Department. Prior to TNC, he was a Peace Corps volunteer working on a reforestation project in Costa Rica. Scott holds a B.S. in biological sciences from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in ecology and evolution from Dartmouth College.