Dr. Patrick Gonzalez is a distinguished forest ecologist and climate change scientist whose research has fundamentally shaped global conservation strategies and climate adaptation policies. He currently serves as an Associate Adjunct Professor in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management at the University of California, Berkeley, where he advances science-based action on human-caused climate change to protect ecosystems and communities. His distinguished career includes service as the Principal Climate Change Scientist for the U.S. National Park Service, where he provided critical scientific leadership for protecting America's natural and cultural heritage. Dr. Gonzalez also previously held the influential position of Assistant Director for Climate and Biodiversity in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, advising national leadership on biodiversity conservation and climate policy.
Dr. Gonzalez's pioneering research has revealed previously unreported ecological transformations driven by climate change across multiple continents, providing the scientific foundation for adaptive management worldwide. His field investigations in Africa's Sahel region documented extensive tree mortality and fundamental biome shifts directly attributable to climate change, while his analysis of California forests exposed significant carbon losses due to increasingly severe wildfires. Most notably, his research demonstrated that climate change is heating U.S. national parks at twice the national average rate, a finding that has fundamentally reshaped conservation priorities across 269 national parks. These scientific insights have directly catalyzed tangible conservation responses, including natural regeneration initiatives for native trees in West Africa, enhanced forest carbon protection measures in California, and the integration of climate considerations into resource management frameworks throughout the National Park System.
As a lead author on four reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Dr. Gonzalez has contributed to the scientific assessments that earned the organization a share of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, amplifying the global impact of his work. He has conducted field research across Africa, Latin America, and the United States, publishing influential findings in prestigious journals including Science and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. His practical approach bridges scientific discovery and on-the-ground implementation, having directly assisted resource managers in 26 countries and all U.S. national parks. Dr. Gonzalez remains a prominent voice for scientific integrity and climate action, continuing to advance research that informs conservation strategies for a rapidly changing world through his academic position and ongoing policy engagement.
