Decades of expertise in forest conservation and community management.

Executive Director

Dr. Mark Poffenberger is the founder and former Executive Director of the Asia Forest Network and co-founder of Community Forestry International. Over the past 40 years he has worked with national planners in Indonesia, India, and other Asian nations to help guide the formulation of social forestry policies and programs that have led to the devolution of forest management rights to millions of hectares of threatened natural ecosystems throughout Asia.

He has consulted with multi-lateral and bi-lateral agencies, international NGOs, and grassroots organizations to assist them in creating strategies that build the capacity of forest dependent people to conserve their natural environments. He served on the Board of Directors of Plan Vivo, UK for 6 years. He has authored many articles, research reports and books including: Keepers of the Forest (1990), and Village Voices-Forest Choices (2000), and Cambodia’s Contested Forest Domain (2013).

Administrative Director

Dr. Smith-Hanssen is the co-founder of Eco Solutions Consultants LLC. She was also co-founder and Administrative Director of Community Forestry International (1998-2015). She also served as the Academic Dean and Adjunct Faculty for Viridis Graduate Institute of Ecopsychology and Environmental Humanities (2015-2017). She is dedicated to helping indigenous and forest-dependent communities protect their forests and increase biodiversity by encouraging investment to fund their important work. Her personal and professional mission is finding ways to positively impact climate change. She has co-authored several articles on community forestry with Dr. Mark Poffenberger.

Design & Product Developer

René Pinnell is a distinguished designer and product developer with a passion for building innovative platforms that intertwine creativity and technology. He is the founder of Artizen, a pioneering community fund that has awarded over $1,000,000 to groundbreaking projects at the forefront of human creativity. René's role as Product Lead for TapRoot, a social network tailored for parents, culminated in raising $1.5 million from prominent investors, showcasing his ability to blend design thinking with strategic execution. Additionally, he designed and developed Storybox, a unique photoscanning service dedicated to preserving cherished family memories.

Photo Editing & Design

Ms. Swanson has a background in art, photography, website development, and business development. She worked as the website and photo manager for Community Forestry International (2000-2015). She is dedicated to environmental sustainability, highlighting the fragile beauty of Nature through her photographic art.

Creative Director

Selena Pinnell is an experienced Creative Director who fosters collaboration between Art and Technology. Selena served as the Creative Director for the renowned company Kaleidoscope VR where she created unforgettable events, curated top tier impact projects, and supported creators in the community. Selena champions efforts to protect biodiversity initiatives and supports local activities that help mitigate climate change.