Russell Mittermeier

Whether clasping the hand of a world leader in a firm handshake or gently cradling a mouse lemur in his palm, there is no one on Earth quite like Russ Mittermeier. When he isn’t hip deep in piranha-infested waters, he’s hammering out agreements between Conservation International and indigenous tribes or multinational corporations.

Named a hero for the planet by TIME Magazine, Russell A. Mittermeier is regarded as a world leader in the field of biodiversity and tropical forest conservation. Trained as a primatologist and herpetologist, he has traveled widely in nearly 160 countries on seven continents, and has conducted field work in more than 20. Russell has an interest in the discovery and description of species new to science and has described a total of 12 new species, eight which are named in his honor.

Russell has helped promote the concept of avoided deforestation by highlighting the importance of tropical forests in mitigating climate change and has also been a leader in promoting species-focused ecotourism. Russell's lifelong interest in tribal peoples has led to his work with many different communities, from the Trio of southern Suriname to the Kayapo of the Brazilian Amazon.

Russell has engaged them in a variety of different conservation endeavors, and has published on the strong connections between biodiversity and human cultural diversity, demonstrating how strongly the highest priority areas for each overlap.

The man once described as the Indiana Jones of conservation is the only working field biologist who is also the Executive Vice Chair of a major international environmental organization, and he brings the daring and ingenuity that have served him so well in the field to his role at CI.

Russell Mittermeier is the Member of the Board of Directors at Conservation International, based in United States, North America. With a background in Non Profit, Russell Mittermeier has a rich history of leadership and innovation. Explore their detailed professional journey, key connections, and contributions to the industry on our platform.