Maria Irwin, Forest Ecologist

Maria Irwin joined Ecosphere in 2007 and serves as the firm's forest ecologist.  She is a seasoned field ecologist with over ten years of experience in plant identification, mapping and eradicating non-native weeds, creating and implementing silvicultural prescriptions, conducting restoration projects, leading forest inventory and analysis projects, supervising field crews, and  teaching environmental education.  Prior to joining Ecosphere, Maria worked for several universities, the National Park Service and the Colorado State Forest Service.  Her master's research focused on investigating the effects prescribed fire, thinning, soil amendments and seeding on the understory plant community in pinyon and juniper woodlands of Northern Arizona, and a manuscript is currently being reviewed for publication.  Maria holds a M.S. in Forestry from Northern Arizona University and a B.S. in Biology from Fort Lewis College.