Donald Leopold

Donald Leopold is a Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of Environmental Biology at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF). He specializes in conservation biology, wetland ecology, and plant species restoration. His research focuses on wetland plant communities, endangered species recovery, and the impacts of human activities on ecological systems. Leopold holds a degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Ecology and Evolution with a Linguistics minor.

His research interests include wetland restoration, climate change impacts on plant species, and the ecological roles of keystone species. He has published extensively on topics such as deer population dynamics in protected areas, greenhouse gas fluxes in restored wetlands, and the conservation of rare plant species like the hart’s tongue fern. Leopold actively advises graduate students in Environmental & Forest Biology, focusing on topics like green roof plant ecology and inland salt marsh phylogeography.

Leopold’s work integrates field studies, ecological modeling, and restoration practices. He has contributed to regional conservation projects, including assessments of Lake Atitlan’s littoral zone and studies on Adirondack and New York City floras. His teaching and research emphasize hands-on ecological field methods and community-based conservation strategies.