Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne

Director of Conservation Strategy

Dr. Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne is the Director of Conservation Strategy and also leads the Canadian Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) initiative. Prior to joining WCS, Ciara worked as a researcher and consultant focused on understanding the different ways that people value and benefit from nature. Based in Montreal, she has engaged in research with colleagues in Canada and internationally on environmental management, system resilience, and futures thinking, and has authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on these themes.

Over the past decade, Ciara has also led the development of tools and methods to link science to the needs of decision-makers, with products that include an ecosystem services Toolkit for the Canadian government, and a mechanism for Technical and Scientific Cooperation for parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, developed in partnership with the Quebec Center for Biodiversity Science.

Ciara completed her PhD in 2010 on the spatial analysis of ecosystem services and biodiversity across landscapes. This work was inspired by gaps identified in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, for which Ciara served as the coordinator of the Subglobal Assessment Working Group. Ciara also holds a graduate degree in tropical biology from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.

Stories and op-eds

2026-04-09

Demystifying the Mitigation Hierarchy

A practical guide to one of the most important, yet misunderstood, frameworks in conservation and development decision making.
Justina Ray, Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne

2020-08-24

Taking different paths: How WCS Canada scientists have adapted to the challenges of COVID 19

Current circumstances have required both adopting some creative solutions and simply accepting that some field work is not going to happen this summer.
Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne, Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle, Stephen Insley

2020-05-21

Thinking big to conserve small but important species

Through the Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) program, lesser-known and sometimes rare and endemic (restricted to a particular location) species are finally getting their due.
Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne

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Press releases

2025-01-29

Critical Ontario wildlife corridor gets national recognition

The Frontenac Arch Biosphere (FAB) Region, home to one of Canada’s busiest and most important wildlife corridors, has received further recognition of its national importance for nature, with Thousand Islands having been officially identified as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA).

2024-07-22

A glimpse into Manitoba’s deep past

Manitoba’s Marble Ridge Alvar has been identified as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) in recognition of its extremely rare and unique ecosystems.

2024-02-13

A tiny gem hidden on a High Arctic island takes the spotlight

In a steep gully at the head of a fiord on Ellesmere Island grows a moss that forms small brilliant green colonies that have a distinctive “sparkly” appearance.

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