Gaylene Tupen

Gaylene Tupen is a highly accomplished Biologist at the Wildlife Heritage Foundation, bringing over 25 years of dedicated professional experience in natural resource management across California. Holding a B.S. in Environmental and Systematic Biology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, she has been an integral part of WHF for over a decade.

Gaylene is responsible for critical aspects of conservation, including overseeing the organization’s stewardship team, ensuring conservation easement monitoring and compliance, conducting essential biological and natural resource surveys, and implementing required land management practices.

Her expertise is founded on a background in wildlife habitat assessments and sensitive species surveys across diverse California landscapes, from the Sierra Nevada and foothills to the Central Valley, and the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. Gaylene’s proficiency extends to surveys for rare migratory birds, nesting raptors, terrestrial wildlife, and sensitive aquatic species. She is adept at preparing comprehensive aquatic resource assessments, particularly for species like the California red-legged frog.

Gaylene possesses a firm understanding of both federal and state natural resource regulations, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Her proven track record includes preparing detailed fish and wildlife inventories for numerous regional and local planning documents throughout California and successfully authoring biological resource sections for Environmental Impact Reports in both California and Washington.

Beyond her professional achievements, Gaylene is an enthusiastic advocate for conservation in her personal life. She enjoys outdoor adventures with her family and friends, and actively volunteers with local conservation groups, participating in salmon surveys, stream monitoring, and various conservation outreach events.