Hila Shamon
Hila Shamon is a Research Ecologist with Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Shamon’s current work is aimed to inform conservation and management of temperate grasslands across North America’s Great Plains. Her expertise is at the nexus of landscape ecology, conservation biology, and wildlife management, and restoration.
Shamon's research is focused on 1) understanding the effects of anthropogenic activities on biodiversity patterns; 2) the role of keystone species and ecosystem engineers in human-dominated landscapes; 3) developing practices for rewilding and restoration of ecosystems; 4) conducting applied research focused on directing management of wild populations in semi- natural landscapes; and 5) incorporating human dimension aspects in wildlife research (working landscapes). Shamon's projects are inter-disciplinary and include collaborators with diverse backgrounds. Through her work, Shamon engages with communities to ensure that rights and stakeholders are part of the scientific process, and all projects are co-designed with external partners.