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Dr. Lizzie McLeod

Global Ocean Director

Arlington, VA

Headshot of Lizzie McLeod.

Lizzie Mcleod Dr. Lizzie McLeod is Global Ocean Director for The Nature Conservancy. © Courtesy Lizzie Mcleod

AREA OF EXPERTISE

Coral reefs, MPAs, restoration, marine spatial planning, blue carbon, climate change, gender equity

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Rachel Winters
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Biography

Dr. Lizzie McLeod is The Nature Conservancy’s Global Ocean Director. Lizzie serves as the organization’s champion for ocean conservation, including TNC’s work to protect, manage and restore marine ecosystems, support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and mitigate and adapt to climate change through blue carbon and other nature-based solutions. Lizzie is an internationally recognized ocean expert and communicator who contributes to global ocean and climate think tanks, serves on multiple scientific panels and leads key engagements at global biodiversity and climate policy events.  

During her career, Lizzie has lived and worked in Asia, the Pacific, the Caribbean and the United States, providing scientific and strategic guidance to field teams in more than 40 countries. She has led strategies to reduce the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems and coastal communities, elevate women’s leadership in climate and biodiversity policy and practice, and develop tools to improve marine protection and management. Lizzie has been instrumental in securing significant global partnerships to raise awareness and funding for ocean conservation, including the Keep Our Oceans Amazing campaign with Disney and “Avatar: The Way of Water.” In prior roles, she led TNC’s Global Reefs Program, served as a marine climate scientist and oversaw science for the global Reef Resilience Network, which provides scientific guidance and resources to help more than 42,000 marine managers around the world address threats to coral reefs.

In addition to earning her PhD in marine science from the University of Hawaii, Lizzie has led research with more than 25 of the world’s top marine research institutions. She has published extensively on topics including marine protected areas, conservation planning, reefs, fisheries, climate change, blue carbon and more. Lizzie is committed to supporting local and Indigenous-led marine conservation efforts, with a focus on increasing gender equity.

In her role as global ocean director, Lizzie is honored to champion the voices and actions of TNC’s global marine staff, raising the profile of the organization’s collective work to achieve global impact for our oceans and the communities that depend upon them. In her free time, Lizzie is happiest wandering beaches looking for exquisite shells, digging in her garden, creating art and mentoring the next generation of female conservation leaders. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband and two children.

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Publications

For a full listing of Lizzie McLeod's publications, please see Google Scholar.

Shaver, E.C., McLeod, E., Hein, M.Y., Palumbi, S.R., Quigley, K., Vardi, T., Mumby, P.J., Smith, D., Montoya-Maya, P., Muller, E.M. and Banaszak, A.T., 2022. A roadmap to integrating resilience into the practice of coral reef restoration. Global Change Biology.

Eger, A.M., Earp, H.S., Friedman, K., Gatt, Y., Hagger, V., Hancock, B., Kaewsrikhaw, R., Mcleod, E., Moore, A.M., Niner, H.J. and Razafinaivo, F., 2022. The need, opportunities, and challenges for creating a standardized framework for marine restoration monitoring and reporting. Biological Conservation, 266, p.109429.

Anderson, L., Houk, P., Miller, M.G., Cuetos-Bueno, J., Graham, C., Kanemoto, K., Terk, E., McLeod, E. and Beger, M., 2022. Trait groups as management entities in a complex, multispecies reef fishery. Conservation Biology, 36(3), p.e13866.

Anderson, L., McLean, M., Houk, P., Graham, C., Kanemoto, K., Terk, E., McLeod, E. and Beger, M., 2022. Decoupling linked coral and fish trait structure. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 689, pp.19-32.

Anderson, L., Houk, P., Miller, M.G., Cuetos-Bueno, J., Graham, C., Kanemoto, K., Terk, E., McLeod, E. and Beger, M., 2021. Trait groups as management entities in a complex, multi-species reef fishery. Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13866.

Lowe, R. J., E. McLeod, B. G. Reguero, S. Altman, J. Harris, B. Hancock, R. ter Hofstede, E. Rendle, E. Shaver, and J. M. Smith. 2021. “Chapter 12: Reefs.” In International Guidelines on Natural and Nature-Based Features for Flood Risk Management. Eds. Bridges, T.S., et al. Vicksburg, MS: U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center.

Gurney, G.G., et al. 2021. Biodiversity needs every tool in the box: use OECMs. Nature.  595 (7869), 646-649.

Mcleod, E., E. Shaver, and T. Agardy. 2021. Marine Protected Areas: Evolving to Meet Changing Conditions. Encyclopedia of Biodiversity.

Kleypas, J., et al. 2021. Designing a blueprint for coral reef survival. Biological Conservation, 257, p.109107.

Claudet, J., Y. Malhi,  N.  Ban,  J. Blythe,  S. Jupiter,  E. Mcleod,  N. Seddon,  T. Thiele,  and L. Wedding. 2021. Transformational Opportunities in Deploying Biodiversity Conservation Initiatives and Nature-Based Solutions to Address Climate Change in Marine Ecosystems. French Polynesia: Blue Climate Initiative, Tetiaroa Society.

Cziesielski, M.J., Duarte, C.M., Aalismail, N., Al-Hafedh, Y., Anton, A., Baalkhuyur, F., Baker, A.C., Balke, T., Baums, I.B., Berumen, M. and Chalastani, V.I., Mcleod, E. 2021. Investing in Blue Natural Capital to secure a future for the Red Sea ecosystems. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, p.1183.

Ack, B., G. Rau, J. Adkins,  K. Buesseler, W. Burns, J. Crusius, K. Doran, M. Eisaman, D. Emerson, A. Gagern, C.H. Greene, C. Hopkinson, D. Keller, D. Koweek, C. McCormick, E. McLeod, K. Oskvig, P. Renforth, C.Scott-Buechler, B.Von Herzen, M. von Keitz, H. Willauer. 2020. Uncharted Waters: Expanding the Options for Carbon Dioxide Removal in Coastal and Ocean Environments. Energy Futures Initiative, December 2020. Reports and Publications—EFI (energyfuturesinitiative.org)

Friedman, W.R., Halpern, B.S., McLeod, E., Beck, M.W., Duarte, C.M., Kappel, C.V., Levine, A., Sluka, R.D., Adler, S., O’Hara, C.C. and Sterling, E.J., 2020. Research priorities for achieving healthy marine ecosystems and human communities in a changing climate. Frontiers in Marine Science 7: 5.

Tittensor, D.P., Beger, M., Boerder, K., Boyce, D.G., Cavanagh, R.D., Cosandey-Godin, A., Crespo, G.O., Dunn, D.C., Ghiffary, W., Grant, S.M., Hannah, L.,… Mcleod, E., 2019. Integrating climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation in the global ocean. Science advances 5(11): 9969.

Förster, J., E. Mcleod, M. Bruton- Adams, and H. Wittmer. 2019. Climate Change Impacts on Small Island States: Ecosystem Services Risks and Opportunities. In M. Schröter et al. (eds.), Atlas of Ecosystem Services, Springer International Publishing AG, Springer Nature.

Gattuso, J.-P., A.K. Magnan, L. Bopp, W. Cheung, C. Duarte, J. Hinkel, E. Mcleod, F. Micheli, A. Oschlies, P. Williamson, R. Billé, V. Chalastani, R. Gates, J.-O. Irisson, J. Middelburg, H.-O. Pörtner, and G. Rau. Ocean solutions to address climate change and its effects on marine ecosystems. Frontiers in Marine Science 5, 337.

Mcleod, E., K. Anthony, J. Maynard, P.J. Mumby, R. Beeden, N.A.J. Graham, S.F. Heron, O. Hoegh-Guldberg, S. Jupiter, P. MacGowan, S. Mangubhai, N. Marshall, P. Marshall, T.R. McClanahan, K. Mcleod, M. Nyström, D. Obura, B. Parker, H.P. Possingham, R.V. Salm, and J. Tamelander. The future of resilience-based management in coral reef ecosystems. Journal of environmental management 233: 291-301.

Mcleod, E., S. Arora-Jonsson, Y. Masuda, M. Bruton-Adams, C.E. Dengokl, B. Gorong, C.J. Hudlow, R. James, H. Kuhlken, B. Masike-Liri, E. Musrasrik-Carl, A. Otzelberger, K. Relang, B.M. Reyuw, B. Sigrah, J. Tellei, L. Whitford. 2018. Raising the voices of Pacific Island women to inform climate adaptation policies. Marine Policy 93: 178-185.

Howard, J., E. Mcleod, S. Thomas, E. Eastwood, M. Fox, L. Wenzel, and E. Pidgeon. 2017. The potential to integrate blue carbon into MPA design and management. Aquatic Conservation 27(S1): 100-115.

Mcleod, E. 2017. Turning science into actions: What scientists can do to inform marine resource management. Marine Ecosystems and Management 10(4).

Howard, J., A. Sutton-Grier, D. Herr, J. Kleypas, E. Landis, E. Mcleod, E. Pidgeon, and S. Simpson. 2017. Clarifying the role of coastal and marine systems in climate mitigation. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 10.1002/fee.1451.

Forster, J., E. Mcleod, M. Bruton-Adams, and H. Wittmer. 2017. Climate change impacts on small island states: Ecosystem services risks and opportunities. Ecosystem Service Risk Atlas. Springer. In Press.

Mcleod, E., B. Szuster, J. Hinkel, E.L. Tompkins, N. Marshall, T. Downing, S. Wongbusarakum, A. Patwardhan, M. Hamza, C. Anderson, S. Bharwani, L. Hansen, and P. Rubinoff. 2015. Conservation organizations need to consider adaptive capacity: why local input matters. Conservation Letters. DOI: 10.1111/conl.12210.

Maynard, J.A., S. McKagan, L. Raymundo, S. Johnson, G. Ahmadia, L. Johnston, P. Houk, G. Williams, M. Kendall, S. F. Heron, R. van Hooidonk, E. Mcleod, K. Anthony, S. Planes. 2015. Assessing relative resilience potential of coral reefs to inform management. Biological Conservation 192: 109-111.

Mcleod, E., S. Margles, S. Wongbusarakum, M. Gombos, A. Dazé, A. Otzelberger, A. Hammill, V. Agostini, D.U. Cot, and M. Wiggins. 2015. Community-based climate vulnerability and adaptation tools: A review of tools and their applications. Coastal Management 43: 439–458.

Mcleod, E., B. Szuster, E.L. Tompkins, N. Marshall, T. Downing, S. Wongbusarakum, A. Patwardhan, M. Hamza, C. Anderson, S. Bharwani, L. Hansen, P. Rubinoff. 2015. Using expert knowledge to develop a vulnerability and adaptation framework and methodology for application in tropical island communities. Coastal Management 43: 365–382.

Mcleod, E. and M. Palmer. 2015. Why Conservation Needs Religion. Coastal Management 43: 238–252.

Kleypas J.A., F.S. Castruccio, E.N. Curchitser, E. Mcleod. 2015. The impact of ENSO on coral heat stress in the western equatorial Pacific. Global Change Biology 21(7): 2525–2539.

Anthony, K.R.N., P.A. Marshall, A. Abdulla, R. Beeden, C. Bergh, R. Black, C.M. Eakin, E.T Game, M. Gooch, N.A.J. Graham, A. Green, S.F. Heron, R. van Hooidonk, C. Knowland, S. Mangubhai, N. Marshall, J.A. Maynard, P. McGinnity, E. McLeod, P.J. Mumby, M. Nyström, D. Obura, J. Oliver, H.P. Possingham, R.L. Pressey, G.P. Rowlands, J. Tamelander, D. Wachenfeld, and S. Wear. 2014. Operationalising resilience for adaptive coral reef management under global environmental change. Global Change Biology 21(1): 48–61.

Green, A.L., L. Fernandes, G. Almany, R. Abesamis, E. Mcleod, P.M Aliño, A.T White, R. Salm, J. Tanzer, R.L Pressey. Designing Marine Reserves for Fisheries Management, Biodiversity Conservation, and Climate Change Adaptation. Coastal Management 01/2014; 42: 143-159:143-159877763.

Mcleod, E., K.R.N. Anthony, A. Andersson, R. Beeden, Y. Golbuu, J. Kleypas, K. Kroeker, D. Manzello, R. Salm, H. Schuttenberg, and J.E. Smith. 2013. Preparing to manage coral reefs for ocean acidification: Lessons from coral bleaching. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 11: 20-27.

Mcleod, E., A. Green, E. Game, K. Anthony, J. Cinner, S.F. Heron, J. Kleypas, C.E. Lovelock, J.M. Pandolfi, R.L. Pressey, R. Salm, S. Schill, and C. Woodroffe. 2012. Integrating climate and ocean change vulnerability into conservation planning. Coastal Management 40: 651-672.

Rau, G.H., E. Mcleod, and O. Hoegh-Guldberg. 2012. Ocean Conservation in a High CO2 World: The Need to Evaluate New Approaches. Nature Climate Change 2: 720-724.

Friedrich, T., A. Timmermann, A. Abe-Ouchi, N.R. Bates, M.O. Chikamoto, M.J. Church, J.E. Dore, D.K. Gledhill, M. Gonzales-Davila, M. Heinemann, T. Ilyina, J.H. Jungclaus, E. Mcleod, A. Mouchet, and J.M. Santana-Casiano. 2012: Detecting regional anthropogenic trends in ocean acidification against natural variability. Nature Climate Change, 2, 167-171.

McClanahan, T.R., S.D. Donner, J.A. Maynard, M.A. MacNeil, N.A.J. Graham, J. Maina, A.C. Baker, J.B. Alemu, M. Beger, S.J. Campbell, E.S. Darling, C.M. Eakin, S.F. Heron, S.D. Jupiter, C.J. Lundquist, E. Mcleod, P. Mumby, M.J. Paddack, E.R. Selig, and R. van Woesik. 2012. Prioritizing Key Resilience Indicators to Support Coral Reef Management in a Changing Climate. PLoS ONE 7(8): e42884. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0042884.

Grantham, H.S., E. McLeod, A. Brooks, J. Hardcastle, A.J. Richardson, E. Poloczanska, T. Hills, T., S.D. Jupiter, N. Mieszkowska, C.J. Klein, and J.E.M. Watson. 2011. Ecosystem-based adaptation in marine ecosystems of tropical Oceania in response to climate change. Pacific Conservation Biology 17: 241-258.

Mcleod, E., G. Chmura, S. Bouillon, R. Salm, M. Bjork, C.M. Duarte, C.E. Lovelock, W.H. Schlesinger, and B. Silliman. 2011. A blueprint for blue carbon – toward an improved understanding of the role of vegetated coastal habitats in sequestering CO2. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 9: 552–560.

Mcleod, E., R. Moffitt, A. Timmermann, R. Salm, L. Menviel, M. Palmer, and E. Selig. 2010. Vulnerability of coral reefs to warming seas and human activities in the Coral Triangle:  Implications for marine protected area network design and management. Coastal Management 38(5): 518-539.

Mcleod, E. B. Poulter, J. Hinkel, E. Reyes, and R. Salm. 2010. Sea-level rise impact models and environmental conservation: A review of models and their applications. Ocean and Coastal Management 53(9): 507–517.

Mcleod, E., J. Hinkel, A.T. Vafeidis, R.J. Nicholls, N. Harvey, and R. Salm. 2010. Sea-level rise vulnerability in the countries of the Coral Triangle. Sustainability Science 5(2): 207-222.

McLeod, E., B. Szuster, and R. Salm. 2009. Sasi and Marine Conservation in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Coastal Management 37(6): 656-676.

Mcleod, E., R. Salm, A. Green, and J. Almany. 2009. Designing marine protected area networks to address the impacts of climate change. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 7(7): 362-370.

Keller, B., D. Gleason, E. Mcleod, C. Woodley, S. Airame, B. Causey, A. Friedlander, R. Grober-Dunsmore, J. Johnson, S. Miller, and R. Steneck. 2009. Climate Change, Coral Reef Ecosystems, and Management Options for Marine Protected Areas. Environmental Management 44(6): 1069–1088.

Mcleod, E. 2005. Helping marine protected area managers cope with coral bleaching: Reef resilience toolkit. Live reef fish information bulletin 13, 46-47.

Books and Book Chapters

Maynard, J.A., Marshall, P.A., Parker, B., Mcleod, E., Ahmadia, G., van Hooidonk, R., Planes, S., Williams, G.J., Raymundo, L., Beeden, R., Tamelander, J. (2017). A Guide to Assessing Coral Reef Resilience for Decision Support. Nairobi, Kenya: UN Environment. ISBN No: 978-92-807-3650-2

Mcleod, E. 2013. Marine Protected Areas: Static Boundaries in a Changing World. In: Levin, S.A. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, second edition, Volume 5, pp. 94-104. Waltham, MA: Academic Press.

McLeod, E., and K.R.N. Anthony. 2012. Ocean acidification—Management. In: Fogel, D., Fredericks, S., and Spellerberg, I. (eds.). The Encyclopedia of Sustainability: Vol. 6. Measurements, Indicators, and Research Methods for Sustainability. Great Barrington, MA: Berkshire Publishing.

Mcleod, E. 2012. Developing a vulnerability and adaptation assessment framework for application in tropical island communities. Dissertation. University of Hawaii at Manoa. 300 pages.

Björk, M., F. Short, E. Mcleod, and S. Beer. 2008. Managing seagrasses for resilience to climate change. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. 56pp.

Salm, R.V., and E. Mcleod. 2007. Komodo National Park, Indonesia. In: Colette, A (ed.). Case Studies on Climate Change and World Heritage. UNESCO World Heritage Centre, pp. 38-39.

Mcleod, E. and R. Salm. 2006. Managing Mangroves for Resilience to Climate Change. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland: 64 pp.

Salm, R., T. Done, and E. Mcleod. 2006. Marine Protected Area Planning in a Changing Climate. Pp. 207-221 in J.T. Phinney, O. Hoegh-Guldberg, J. Kleypas, W. Skirving, and A. Strong (eds). Coral Reefs and Climate Change: Science and Management. Coastal and Estuarine Studies  61. American Geophysical Union. 244 pp.

Technical Reports

Zepeda-Centeno C., Mariño-Tapia I., McLeod E., Rodríguez-Martínez R., Alvarez-Filip L., Banaszak A. T., Escudero-Castillo M., Silva-Casarín R., and Mendoza-Baldwin, E.  2018. Guidance Document for Reef Management and Restoration to Improve Coastal Protection: Recommendations for Global Applications based on lessons learned in Mexico.  The Nature Conservancy, Mexico. 77 p.

Maynard, J., S. McKagan, L. Raymundo, S. Johnson, G. Ahmadia, L. Johnston, P. Houk, G. Williams, M. Kendall, S. Heron, R. van Hooidonk, and E. McLeod. 2015. Assessing relative resilience potential of coral reefs to inform management in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Silver Spring, MD: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 22. 153pp.

McLeod, E., R.V. Salm, K. Anthony, B. Causey, E. Conklin, R. Feely, J. Guinotte, G. Hofmann, J. Hoffman, P. Jokiel, J. Kleypas, P. Marshall, and C. Veron. 2008. The Honolulu Declaration on Ocean Acidification and Reef Management. The Nature Conservancy, U.S.A., and IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. 

Salm, R.V., and E. Mcleod. 2008. Climate Change Impacts on Ecosystem Resilience and MPA Management in Melanesia. In Climate Change and Biodiversity in Melanesia. Leisz, S.J., and B. Burnett (eds.).  CCBM Paper 7. Bishop Museum Technical Report 42(7).

Keller, B.D., S. Airamé, B. Causey, A. Friedlander, D.F. Gleason, R. Grober- Dunsmore, J. Johnson, E. McLeod, S.L. Miller, R.S. Steneck, and C. Woodley, 2008: Marine Protected Areas. In: Preliminary review of adaptation options for climate sensitive ecosystems and resources. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research [Julius, S.H., J.M. West (eds.), J.S. Baron, B. Griffith, L.A. Joyce, P. Kareiva, B.D. Keller, M.A. Palmer, C.H. Peterson, and J.M. Scott (Authors)]. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 8-1 to 8-95.

Salm, R.V. and E. McLeod. 2007. Building resilience into coral reef management. Pp. 205-221 in Keller, B.D. and F.C. Wilmot (eds). 2007. Connectivity: science, people and policy in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Colloquium proceedings, 19-21 August 2004, Key West, FL. Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series NMSP-07-xx. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Sanctuary Program, Silver Spring, MD. 272 pp.