James Newman

Vice President, Principal Scientist

James R. Newman Dr. James Newman is a principal scientist with over 30 years of experience in environmental assessment studies, ecological research, wildlife management, and natural area evaluations.

Dr. Newman has special expertise in evaluating and mitigating the effects of human activity on wildlife and ecological systems. His other areas of expertise include wildlife biology and toxicology, ecological risk assessment, bioindicators, environmental impact assessments, and expert witness and testimony.

Dr. Newman holds a PhD in Zoology from the University of California, Davis, and a BS in Biology from the University of Santa Clara. He is a Certified Wildlife Biologist by The Wildlife Society. Dr. Newman has been appointed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the South Florida Multispecies Recovery Implementation Team and the Scrub Jay Recovery Team. He is also a member of the Wildlife Working Group of the National Wind Coordinating Committee.

Wildlife Research

Since 2001, Dr. Newman has been investigating land use and physical factors affecting nesting of endangered Wood Storks (Mycteria americana) for a Wood Story Colony Protection Plan, and researching nesting patterns of invasive exotic Monk Parakeets (Myiospsitta monachus).

For the Chautauqua Wind Energy Project, he co-developed the first quantitative avian risk assessment model that estimated the birds at risk and/or potentially killed by wind turbines. He was a lead author for the NYSERDA study on wildlife risks and effects from six electricity generation types (PDF).

Dr. Newman’s other research interests include:

Avian risk assessment methods for wind energy projects
Effects of human disturbance on wading birds, including the effectiveness of buffers
GIS-based landscape ecology tools for evaluating effects of development activities on local and regional ecosystems
Effects of air pollution on wildlife and ecological systems
Evaluating the transport of mercury in wildlife, including the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi)

Endangered Species

As a part of his experience with threatened and endangered species, Dr. Newman has prepared biological assessments and management plans, including Habitat Conservation Plans and Safe Harbor Agreements for endangered Wood Storks, other wading birds, Bald Eagles, manatees, endangered Scrub Jays, and other wildlife species. Dr. Newman has also provided endangered species policy instruction, including training and seminars on federal and state endangered species and their conservation.

Dr. Newman has conducted numerous land acquisition and management studies, including river basin management plans for local, regional, state, and international governments. These studies include vegetative and wildlife surveys, analyses of ecological and landscape characteristics and quality, development of land acquisition ranking methodologies, and recommendations for management and conservation of these lands.

Environmental Assessments

Dr. Newman has conducted numerous environmental assessments for siting and licensing studies of power plants, transmission lines, gas pipelines, and landfills. He has authored environmental assessment guidelines for the World Bank, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the governments of Pakistan and Jamaica for power plants, transmission lines, oil and gas pipelines, recreation, and other development projects. He has trained USAID and a number of host country environmental officials in environmental assessment policy implementation and methodologies.

Air Pollution

Dr. Newman is an expert in the ecological effects of air pollution on wildlife and ecosystems. He has conducted more than 150 air quality risk assessments for power plants, chemical facilities, offshore drilling facilities, and other industrial facilities. He was awarded three National Academy of Science research exchange grants to study the effects of air pollution in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. He has taught ecological risk assessment courses to government officials in the U.S. and internationally.

Publications

Dr. Newman is professionally active, having published over 30 peer-reviewed articles, reports, and book chapters on wildlife management, endangered species biology, air pollution toxicology, and environmental management. He holds professional memberships in a number of ecological and conservation societies, including the Wildlife Society, the Society for Conservation Biologists, The Waterbird Society, The International Society of Landscape Ecologists, and the Audubon Society.

Dr. Newman is currently Editor-in-chief of Environmental Bioindicators, a journal of the International Society of Environmental Bioindicators. Visit the journal's website >>