Colleen Rossier

Contact Colleen:

cerossier'at'ucdavis.edu

(530) 754-9894 (lab)

I am an Ecology Ph.D. Candidate investigating the ecology and management of edible and medicinal plants within a forest context - in collaboration with indigenous communities who have long-standing traditional ecological management systems.

I use both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Current Research Topics:

1) Ecological indigenous agroforestry management to enhance traditional foods and medicines with the Karuk & Yurok Tribes in Northern California: emphasizing California evergreen huckleberries (Vaccinium ovatum)

2) The integration of indigenous science/traditional ecological knowledge and Western science, and

3) Community-based participatory action research.

Background:

Before joining the Rizzo Lab in 2013, I worked for 3 years for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Chief Scientist and National Agroforestry Center (NAC), producing publications on organic agriculture, local/regional food systems, agroforestry, and traditional ecological knowledge.

Prior to that, I graduated from the University of Virginia (2010), where I majored in Environmental Science, and studied local/regional food systems and the relationship between weather and human health.

When I'm not out in the field, you can find me hiking, climbing, yoga-ing, running, painting, gardening, hunting, gathering, medicine-making, and learning about acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, & herbs.

Feel free to contact me with questions or ideas for collaboration.

Publications:

Rossier, C. E. and F. K. Lake. 2014. Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Agroforestry. USDA National Agroforestry Center. Agroforestry Technical Note 44. Available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/publications/agroforestrynotes.shtml

Rossier, C. E. 2014. Steep Hills Meet Steep Demand. USDA National Agroforestry Center. Inside Agroforestry, Vol. 22(2):8-9. Available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/documents/insideagroforestry/IA_vol22issue2_interactive.pdf

Rossier, C. E. and F. K. Lake. 2014. Protect Your Land: Using Agroforestry Techniques and Tribal Values to Mitigate Wildfire Danger. USDA National Agroforestry Center. Inside Agroforestry, Vol. 22(1):6-7. Available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/documents/insideagroforestry/volume22issue1_20130115.pdf

MacFarland, K. and C. E. Rossier. 2014. Re-establishing Tribal Biodiversity through Agroforestry. Available at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2014/11/17/re-establishing-tribal-biodiversity-through-agroforestry/

U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2014. Agroforestry: USDA Reports to America, FY 2011-12: Comprehensive Version. Available at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-reports-to-america-comprehensive.pdf

U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2013. Agroforestry: USDA Reports to America, FY 2011-12: in-Brief. 2013. Available at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-reports-to-america-agroforestry-brief.pdf

U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2012. USDA Organic Resource Guide. Available at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/is-it-an-option

Rossier, C. E. 2012. Virginia is for Lovers – And Silvopasture. USDA National Agroforestry Center. Inside Agroforestry, Vol. 21(1):1-4. Available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/documents/insideagroforestry/vol21issue1.pdf

U.S. Department of Agriculture. Organic 101 Training. 2012. Available at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/is-it-an-option

U.S. Department of Agriculture. Organic 201 Training. 2012. Available at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/is-it-an-option

Davis R.E., Rossier C.E., Enfield K.B. 2012. The Impact of Weather on Influenza and Pneumonia Mortality in New York City, 1975–2002: A Retrospective Study. PloSONE 7(3):e34091. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0034091

Keywords:

huckleberries, ecology, TEK, indigenous science, agroforestry, forest management, ecological forest management, eco-cultural landscape, natural resources, human health, ecological health, Native American, medicinal plants, nutrition, participatory action research (PAR)

Photo Credit: Beau Blessing

Photo Credit: Frank K. Lake

Huckleberries (Vaccinium ovatum). Photo taken by Colleen