Conservation Futures
Conservation Planning
for
Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity
PROJECTS AND INTERESTS
POLLINATOR-SMART SOLAR
Advising on how pollinator-friendly native plants and solar fields can co-exist. Currently working as a partner to help develop the AgriSolar Clearinghouse, a communications-hub for all things agrisolar.
PLANT ECOLOGY AND FIELD SURVEYING
Blending her background in environmental management and botany with modern tools such as GIS, Dr. Lacher provides detailed site analysis of landscapes, focusing on ecosystem services and function.
HABITAT SUITABILITY MODELING
Developing statistical models to understand the impact of climate and land use change on Native Flora, Rare Species, and Invasive Plants.
Using her knowledge of ecology and her expertise on North America's catalogue of native plants, Dr. Lacher advises landowners in developing healthy, functioning landscapes. Her focus on finding and propagating local ecotypes helps preserve local biodiversity and ensure landscape health.
NATIVE PLANTS
STRATEGIC PLANNING
Working with nonprofit organizations to develop long term plans and improve success.
Currently leading the Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah in their latest strategic planning efforts as an active board member.
LAND CHANGE MODELING
Experience in developing multi-faceted land use change models to illustrate the potential impact of land use policy on regional ecosystem health and services into the future.
SCENARIO PLANNING
Envisioning future landscape-scale scenarios by working closely with local communities and experts.
Her latest effort was as program lead for the Changing Landscapes Initiative, in Northwestern Virginia.