ICF Career Profiles
James Harris has been part of the ICF team for over seventeen years. As
a newcomer in 1984, James headed ICF’s education and training programs.
He then served as Deputy Director for 12 years, prior to becoming
President in 2000. James is especially interested in bringing local
communities and conservationists together with a shared vision for
safeguarding wild resources, and for finding local benefits to
conservation. He has been closely involved in several unique programs
for cranes:
- establishment of Muraviovka Park, the first privately protected area in Russia
- creation
of a long-term experiment to integrate rural development with wetland
conservation at Caohai Nature Reserve in the poorest province in China.
- and
preserving the natural harmony at the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal, as
a demonstration of the linkages between ancient Buddhist teaching and
modern conservation challenges.
He helped establish two international nature reserves for
wetlands and grasslands straddling the Russia-China border. In 2001,
James received the Friendship Award from the Government of China, in
recognition of 16 years of service to Chinese conservation.
