Audubon International Appoints Dr. Bill Brown Director of Conservation Initiatives

Audubon International – the environmentally focused non-profit organization offering members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect the areas where we all live, work, and play – today announces Dr. Bill Brown as its new Director of Conservation Initiatives.

A former Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Keuka College in New York,  Dr. Brown has been researching, presenting and writing about the natural world and best conservation practices for more than 20 years and has published research articles in many peer-reviewed journals.

He earned a BS degree in Natural Resources from Cornell University, and MS and PhD degrees in Entomology and Wildlife Ecology from the University of Delaware. He  has also taught at the University of Delaware, Kutztown University and Albright College.

Dr. Brown’s immediate tasks with Audubon International include overseeing the organization’s collaborations with the Monarchs in the Rough, Raptor Relocation Network, and BioBlitz programs. Monarchs in the Rough is a partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund that works with golf courses to restore the endangered butterfly’s pollinator habitat in out-of-play areas.

The Raptor Relocation Network is a partnership between Audubon International and United Airlines that connects Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary certified golf courses with airport wildlife managers who are trapping raptors at airports – including hawks, kestrels and owls – and relocating them to a safer, more suitable habitat.

BioBlitz is a free species-counting competition designed to showcase the environmental value of the natural habitats found on golf courses. Participants gather to enjoy nature while counting plant and animal species located on each property.  

“We feel fortunate to bring on board a person with deep roots in the environmental field who is also very passionate about his work,” said Audubon International CEO Christine Kane. “Dr. Brown’s knowledge of environmental sustainability will be invaluable to Audubon International’s continued efforts on many levels.”

“My experience and devotion to conservation falls directly in line with the successes and goals of Audubon International, so I am thrilled to be part of the team,”  Dr. Brown said. “I look forward to engaging with members, enhancing programs and identifying new ones.”

Audubon International’s certifications  – Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP), Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf, Green Lodging, Green Hospitality, Signature Sanctuary, and Sustainable Communities – are designed to increase environmental awareness, encourage sustainable environmental efforts, and educate both its members and their communities.  

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The certification programs have received national awards and since their inception the organization has enrolled more than 4,000 properties in the golf, recreation and hospitality industries, including small businesses, large corporations, academic institutions, fellow not-for-profits, community associations and local governments.

To learn more about how your local golf course, community or resort can gain recognition for your environmental efforts or to learn how to expand your initiatives through Audubon International’s numerous environmental certifications, visit www.auduboninternational.org or call toll free: 1-844-767-9051

About Audubon International

An environmentally focused non-profit organization, Audubon International offers members numerous certifications and conservation initiatives to protect the areas where we all live, work, and play. Its certifications are designed to increase environmental awareness, encourage sustainable environmental efforts, and educate both its members and their communities.