Scott McLachlan (Image courtesy of Scott McLachlan)
How did you come to join the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) team?
As a kid, I spent many weekends with my family exploring and enjoying properties managed by NCC. So, when I saw the stewardship coordinator position become available, I knew I had to apply right away! I am very excited to be a part of the BC team and hope the knowledge and experience I bring is valuable to both my team and to all the land users of the properties I’ll be working with!
What is your educational background and previous experience?
In spring 2023, I completed my bachelor’s degree at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in the Natural Resource Science program. During my time at TRU, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend my summers in a Grassland Ecology/Reclamation lab on campus. Where I was involved in a wide array of research projects relating to ecosystem reclamation, climate change, invasive species mitigation, agroforestry, trophic level dynamics and biodiversity. My studies also gave me experience in scenario and field-based report writing for a variety of studies including a range use plan for Lac du Bois, a stocking assessment for Horseshoe Lake and a site plan for a cut block along Timber Lake Road. I’m currently taking part in the TRAITDIVNET project, an international project being led by the University Tartu. The project is looking to reduce sampling and literature inconsistencies of both above and below ground species traits, while promoting better application of trait-based ecology on a large scale. I’ve also conducted a long-term drought tolerance study in the Lac du Bois grasslands area for which I submitted a successful grant application to the Undergraduate Research Experience Award Program (UREAP) and presented my findings to fellow peers, stakeholders and researchers working within the area. After graduation I took a five-month position with TK’emlúps te Secwepemc where I was a resource specialist for environmental monitoring on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP), as well a crew lead/project manager for the native seed collection program for the reclamation of the Lac Du Bois grasslands.
What are you hoping to achieve through your work at the Nature Conservancy of Canada?
I hope to further gain new experiences and knowledge in the field of land conservation/stewardship in the Central Interior, while also being able to connect and build strong relations ships with all potential stakeholders on the landscape.
What is your favourite place in nature?
I truly enjoy all the diverse and unique landscapes Canada has to offer and hope that in time I'll be able to visit and experience them all! But the Laurentians north of Montreal and the foothills of southern Alberta hold a special place in my heart as that’s where I grew up have and explored most extensively!
What are your hobbies/interests outside of work?
I enjoy skiing, biking, hiking, backpacking and canoe camping. I also enjoy wrenching on my show car and repairing old electronic music/photo equipment.
