David Ganz, PhD, is a Principal and Co-founder of Spatial Informatics Group and Executive Director of RECOFTC–The Center for People and Forests in Bangkok. He is an expert in forest science, policy, and management and has experience integrating forest and fire science with issues including sustainable livelihoods, climate change adaptation, ecosystem services, avoided deforestation and degradation, and community forestry.

David has served as chief of party on SERVIR– Mekong—a joint project of NASA and USAID—and has also worked for the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Bangkok. He has worked as a senior scientist in charge of forestry and fire science projects for TSS Consultants and as vice president of international operations for the Renewable Energy Institute.

David has focused on facilitating processes in which local communities have substantial involvement in deciding the objectives and practices involved in preventing, controlling, and utilizing fires. He has published more than 40 papers in technical journals, with a primary focus on forest carbon, fire science, ecosystem services, forest health, silviculture, and community forestry.

David holds a doctorate in Forest Science, Fire Management, and Forest Health from UC Berkeley and a master’s from the Yale School of Forestry.