Patrick Wilson

Patrick Wilson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Society at the University of Idaho's College of Natural Resources. His research focuses on natural resource and environmental policy, public lands management, energy policy, and water resource governance. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Alberta (1996), following degrees from Western Washington University (BA 1987, MA 1990).

His work examines institutional dynamics in environmental decision-making, including infrastructure development impacts on water policy, collaborative forest management challenges in Ghana, and adaptive governance of transboundary water resources. He has contributed to studies on recreation impacts in forested areas, tribal-state cooperative water management, and ESA-driven wildlife policy in the Northern Rockies.

Wilson’s research integrates political science frameworks with natural resource challenges, emphasizing policy design and implementation in complex ecological contexts. His publications span over two decades, reflecting sustained engagement with energy-water nexus issues, public land use conflicts, and innovative governance approaches.