Amber Barnes

Amber is a nature enthusiast who holds both a Bachelor and Master of Science in Biology, from the University of Akron. Combining her passion for plants and wildlife, she has helped lead and coordinate research, volunteer efforts, and other habitat projects aimed to enhance the landscape for imperiled pollinators like the monarch and rusty patched bumble bee. Through her former leadership of P2’s Project Wingspan initiative, she worked with her team to develop high quality protocols, best management practices, trainings, and resources to guide seed collection efforts and support P2’s goal of supplying regionally appropriate native seed to habitat projects. She has helped train a network of over 1,000 volunteers in sustainable seed collection skills, who provide critical support to these landscape-level initiatives. Now, in partnership with the United States’ Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), she is leading a team of P2 staff who provide outreach, education, and technical assistance to producers, landowners, and conservation professionals to help accelerate the adoption of pollinator and other voluntary wildlife conservation practices across the country. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, photography, bowling, and paddleboarding.