Ganz said the Idaho TNC has protected more than 450,000 acres of land across Idaho, primarily through voluntary conservation agreements that limit development in wildlife-sensitive areas.

“Putting conservation easements on ranchland to protect it from development can create important habitat for fish and wildlife,” Ganz said. “Private lands and conservation easements are at the core, but there are also TNC partnerships on public lands that help support robust forestry strategies, including controlled fires and thinning.”

Ganz holds several degrees, including a doctorate, a master's degree and two bachelor's degrees in subjects ranging from forestry to physics and mechanical engineering.

According to a press release from Idaho TNC, her position as science director will ensure that TNC's conservation actions “are informed by a broad range of scientific and intersectional disciplines, including environmental, climate and social sciences, and incorporate other knowledge systems as needed.”

“I hope to build relationships with indigenous partners that serve their goals,” Ganz said.

Ganz grew up mostly in Southern California and has family ties to the Wood River Valley that go back 60 years. Her parents recently returned to the Wood River Valley. Her mother is a photographer and her father is Whitney Ganz, a retired art dealer.

“I have spent well over 1,000 nights in the backcountry of the West, both personally and professionally – as a scientist, educator, wilderness ranger and guide,” said Ganz. “I have learned what it means to feel small in big places, to be self-sufficient and to solve problems creatively. The wilderness of the American West and the people who share these landscapes are very dear to my heart.”

Ganz said she will support three key focus areas of TNC: land and water conservation, regenerative agriculture and climate action.

“My job is to use science to advance and evaluate our conservation work across the state and the West,” she said. “To do that, I will evaluate conservation strategies we have used on TNC lands and in partnerships with the Forest Service and other agencies so we can adapt and remain flexible to meet conservation goals well into the future.”

Ganz said regenerative agriculture can improve soil quality, helping to sequester carbon, which has a positive impact on the climate, as well as improve water quality, reduce water use and minimize runoff.

In her scientific career, Ganz has focused on studying the interface between human activities and “ecological dynamics” to inform conservation and land management. Previously, she was a scientist at the University of Washington, studying how wildlife responds to snow and the impacts of climate change.

“Species respond differently to snow,” she said. “Some tend to sink deeper into the snow, like deer and moose. Some carnivore species have feet that act like snowshoes. Deep, loose snow can be beneficial to carnivores, so interactions between species can change as snow conditions change.”

Ganz also worked with the U.S. Geological Survey to summarize the scientific evidence on the impacts of recreational activities on wildlife such as deer and elk.

“Most research shows that humans disturb deer and elk during reintroduction, but we don't yet know if that negatively affects their populations,” she said. “As we see in the Wood River Valley, many species can learn to adapt to humans.”

Ganz said she will provide TNC Idaho with scientific evidence and data to make informed decisions at the state policy level while collaborating with partners, scientists and other conservationists across the region.

“Another part of my job is to build research partnerships. I hope to collaborate with other university researchers in Idaho and elsewhere in the West,” she said.