James Thorsell
A leading international authority on conservation, James Westvick Thorsell, 1962 BSc, has played a pivotal role in the preservation of numerous natural areas around the world. In his role as a senior IUCN (the World Conservation Union) advisor to UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, he evaluated more than 175 sites nominated for World Heritage listings, resulting in almost 1 million square kilometres of land and sea being protected under this prestigious convention. His field experience includes more than 600 protected areas in 90 countries; he has authored or co-authored more than 400 technical reports and publications, and he serves on many prominent boards, including those of the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Nature Conservancy of Canada.Thorsell's contributions to the global community are immeasurable, inspiring much work on protected areas in many countries. Early in his career, which included work as a planner, trainer, and project manager in Canada, he was respected for his research and initiatives within Western Canada's national parks, particularly the initiative for the Great Divide Trail. In recognition of his contributions, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London) and received the Packard International Parks Merit Award from the World Commission on Protected Areas.
Thorsell is a 2006 recipient of the University of Alberta Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumni Award.