Erik Nielsen

Professor Erik Nielsen

About

Dr. Erik Nielsen is Northern Arizona University’s inaugural Chief Sustainability Officer and Professor of Environmental Science and Policy in the School of Earth and Sustainability, where he has been a faculty member since 2008. He leads NAU’s comprehensive sustainability initiatives aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.

Research Interests

Community-Based Natural Resources Management

  • Integration of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK)
  • Collaborative approaches to environmental management
  • Community involvement in natural resource decision-making
  • Indigenous community partnerships in conservation efforts

Environmental Policy and Sustainability

  • Energy, Climate, and Conservation Policy
  • Carbon neutrality planning and action strategies
  • Environmental impact assessment and community participation
  • Institutional sustainability and organizational change

Payment for Ecosystem Services

  • Economic mechanisms for environmental conservation
  • Forest based carbon offsets
  • Community incentives for natural resource stewardship
  • Policy design for ecosystem service programs

Environmental Economics

  • Economic analysis of environmental policies
  • Cost-benefit analysis of conservation initiatives
  • Sustainable development economics
  • Environmental policy evaluation

Education

  • Ph.D. Natural Resources, University of Idaho
  • M.S. Public Policy (Sustainable Development), Rutgers University
  • B.A. Environmental Economics, University of California, San Diego
  • B.A. Political Science, University of California, San Diego

Professional Experience

Leadership Roles

  • Chief Sustainability Officer, Northern Arizona University (inaugural appointment)
  • Professor of Environmental Science and Policy, Northern Arizona University (2008-present)

International Experience

  • Peace Corps Volunteer, Honduras - Natural resource work with Indigenous communities in Rio Platano World Heritage Site and La Murralla National Park
  • Environmental Consultant - Salmon restoration projects, Sustainable Forestry Certification, sustainable ecotourism
  • Field Research - Guatemala and Honduras (PhD research), Argentina, Brazil

Research Impact

Dr. Nielsen has made significant contributions to community-based conservation, with over 1,400 citations of his research. His work spans multiple disciplines including environmental policy, natural resources governance, illicit drivers of land use change, and sustainability science.

Sustainability Leadership at NAU

Carbon Neutrality Initiative

  • Leads NAU’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030
  • Oversees implementation of the NAU Carbon Neutrality Action Plan
  • Coordinates university-wide sustainability initiatives

Office of Sustainability

As Chief Sustainability Officer, Dr. Nielsen directs comprehensive sustainability efforts in:

  • Energy and Carbon Neutrality - Strategic planning and implementation
  • Transportation - Sustainable mobility initiatives
  • Operations - Green campus operations and maintenance
  • Procurement - Sustainable purchasing policies
  • Water Conservation - Campus water stewardship
  • Waste Minimization and Recycling - Zero waste initiatives
  • Academics - Sustainability curriculum integration
  • Research - Environmental and sustainability research in campus as a living lab

Community Engagement and Collaboration

Indigenous Community Partnerships

  • Extensive work with Indigenous communities on sustainability challenges
  • Integration of traditional ecological knowledge into conservation practice
  • Collaborative approaches to natural resource management

Stakeholder Involvement

  • Expert in participatory processes for environmental decision-making
  • Community engagement in environmental impact assessment
  • Multi-stakeholder collaboration for conservation outcomes

Academic Contributions

Research Areas

  • Illicit drivers of land use change
  • Community-based conservation effectiveness
  • Environmental policy implementation and evaluation
  • Salmon recovery and restoration ecology
  • Sustainable development in Latin America
  • Payment for ecosystem services mechanisms

Teaching and Mentorship

Dr. Nielsen teaches courses in:

  • Environmental science and policy
  • Energy Resources and Policy
  • Global Resource Conservation
  • Natural resources management
  • Community-based conservation

Professional Service

  • Leader in national sustainability initiatives for higher education
  • Consultant for environmental policy development
  • Reviewer for environmental policy and conservation journals
  • Board member for sustainability and conservation organizations

Awards and Recognition

  • Inaugural Chief Sustainability Officer appointment at NAU
  • NAU Sustainability Leadership Award 2021
  • Fulbright Scholar 2015-2016 Argentina
  • Fulbright Scholar 2000-2001 Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
  • Recognition for innovative sustainability leadership in higher education
  • Peace Corps volunteer service recognition
  • Outstanding Graduate Student Award 2003

Research Philosophy

Dr. Nielsen’s work emphasizes the importance of combining rigorous academic research with practical policy implementation. His approach integrates community voices, traditional knowledge, and scientific analysis to develop effective and equitable environmental solutions.

Environmental Policy Conservation Social Science Sustainability Community-Based Conservation Natural Resources Management Environmental Economics Indigenous Communities