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Liz Kalies

Renewable Energy Scientist, North America Regional Office

Durham, NC

Liz Kalies stands in front of a large solar panel.

Liz Kalies Liz Kalies headshot. © TNC

Areas of Expertise

Renewable energy, wildlife ecology, forest & restoration ecology

Contact

Debbie Crane
Email:

Biography

Liz Kalies is the Lead Renewable Energy Scientist for the North America region of The Nature Conservancy, and an adjunct associate professor at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. At TNC, she develops sound science to support the clean energy transition, particularly focused on renewable energy siting and design practices. She won the NC Sustainable Energy Association's Clean Energy Innovator of the Year Award in 2019 for her chapter’s efforts to develop best management practices for wildlife conservation at solar facilities. She has a PhD in wildlife ecology from Northern Arizona University, a master’s degree in ecology from Yale University, and a BS in biology from Cornell University.

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Feng, X., S. Li, E.L. Kalies, C. Markus, P. Harrell, D. Patiño-Echeverri. 2023. Low impact siting for wind power facilities in the Southeast United States. Wind Energy 1-22.

Levin, M.O., E.L. Kalies, E. Forester, E.L.A. Jackson, A.H. Levin, C. Markus, P.F. McKenzie, J.B. Meek, R.R. Hernandez. 2023. Solar energy-driven land-cover change could alter landscapes critical to animal movement in the continental United States. Environmental Science & Technology 57(31):11499-11509.
Covered in Cool Green Science

Chen, C., …, E.L. Kalies, et al. 2022. Global camera trap synthesis highlights the importance of protected areas in maintaining mammal diversity. Conservation Letters e12865.

Esch, B.E., A. Waltz, T. Wasserman, and E.L. Kalies. 2018. Using best available science information: Defining best and available. Journal of Forestry: 116(5):473-480.

Game, E.T., H. Tallis, L. Olander, S.M. Alexander, J. Busch, N. Cartwright, E.L. Kalies, Y.J. Masuda, A.C. Mupepele, J. Qui, A. Rooney, E. Sills, and W.J. Sutherland. 2018. Cross-discipline evidence principles for sustainability policy. Nature Sustainability 1(9):452–454.

Qiu, J., E.T. Game, H. Tallis, L.P. Olander, L. Glew, J.S. Kagan, E.L. Kalies, D. Michanowicz, J. Phelan, S. Polasky, J. Reed, E.O. Sills, D. Urban, and S.K. Weaver. 2018. Evidence-based causal chains for linking health, development, and conservation actions. BioScience 68(3):182–193.

Kays, R., A.W. Parsons, M.C. Baker, E.L. Kalies, T. Forrester, R. Costello, C.T. Rota, J.J. Millspaugh, and W.J. McShea. 2017. Does hunting or hiking affect wildlife communities in protected areas? Journal of Applied Ecology 54(1):242-252.

Kalies, E.L. and L.L. Yocom Kent. 2016. Tamm Review: Are fuel treatments effective at achieving ecological and social objectives? A systematic review. Forest Ecology and Management (375):84-95.

Kalies, E.L., K.A. Haubensak, and A.J. Finkral. 2016. Berlyn Review: A meta-analysis of management effects on forest ecosystem carbon. Journal of Sustainable Forestry 35(5):311-323.

Kays, R., R. Costello, T. Forrester, M.C. Baker-Whatton, A.W. Parsons, E.L. Kalies, G. Hess, J.J. Millspaugh, and W. McShea. 2015. Cats are rare where coyotes roam. Journal of Mammalogy 96(5):981-987. 

Waltz, A.E.M., M.T. Stoddard, E.L. Kalies, J.D. Springer, D.W. Huffman, and A.J. Sánchez Meador.  2014.  Effectiveness of fuel reduction treatments: Assessing metrics of forest resiliency and wildfire severity after the Wallow Fire, AZ. Forest Ecology and Management 334:43-52.

Kalies, E.L. and S.S. Rosenstock. 2013. Stand structure and breeding birds: Implications for restoring ponderosa pine forests. Journal of Wildlife Management 77(6): 1157-1165. 

Kalies, E.L. and W.W. Covington. 2012. Small mammal community maintains stability through compensatory dynamics after restoration of a ponderosa pine forest. Ecosphere 3(9):78.

Kalies, E.L., B.G. Dickson, C.L. Chambers, and W.W. Covington. 2012. Small mammal community occupancy responses to restoration treatments in ponderosa pine forests, northern Arizona, USA. Ecological Applications 22(1): 204-217. 

Fulé, P.Z., J.E. Crouse, J.P. Roccaforte, and E.L. Kalies. 2012. Do thinning and/or burning treatments on ponderosa pine and related forests in western USA produce restoration of natural fire behavior? A systematic review. Forest Ecology and Management 269: 68-81.

Kalies, E.L., C.L. Chambers, and W.W. Covington. 2010. Wildlife responses to thinning and burning treatments in southwestern conifer forests: A meta-analysis. Forest Ecology and Management 259: 333-342.

Schmitz, O.J., E.L. Kalies, and M.G. Booth. 2006. Alternative dynamic regimes and trophic control of plant succession. Ecosystems 9:659-672.