Program Director, Southern Sky IslandsPronouns: He/Him/Él
Zach joined Sky Island Alliance in 2022 to continue and expand our work in the Sky Islands region of Sonora, México. He is based out of Ambos Nacos (Arizona and Sonora), as well as the SIA office in Cananea. He directs program work and staff in Sonora and strives to foster a cultural understanding and sustainable path forward for the region’s ecological and social needs. His work focuses in large part on advancing our Ranchos Regenerativos program, as well as binational conservation efforts such as the Sister Parks program and Red de las Islas del Cielo coalition.
Zach received his undergraduate degree in Environmental Biology at St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota. He promptly entered the world of education and agro-ecology by working in Ecuador, Paraguay, and Perú, including as a Peace Corps volunteer. Following this work in Latin America, Zach worked with the National Park Service as an interpretive ranger, first on Lake Superior and then in the borderlands at Coronado National Memorial.
Zach lives on a growing homestead with his wife and two daughters just outside of Naco, Arizona. He enjoys natural building (adobe), hiking, camping, downhill skateboarding, fútbol, traveling the world, growing food, wild harvesting, and teaching permaculture technologies.
Email: zach@skyislandalliance.org