David
Sumpter, Executive
Director
M.S. Fisheries and Wildlife
Biology
Dave is a wildlife biologist
that has professionally specialized in land management,
conservation planning, and applied wildlife research related
to land management for most of the past two decades. He
has personally authored over 30 land management plans and
implemented these management plans on over 25 properties.
He has assisted several counties with establishing and implementing
their land acquisition and management programs. He
was previously responsible for managing all of Pinellas County’s
preserves.
Prior to his specializing in these areas, Mr. Sumpter was
the lead wildlife biologist with an international engineering
firm; his charge was to address all listed species issues
in the southeastern United States.
He has conducted hundreds
of general and species-specific wildlife surveys using
techniques ranging from mark and recapture (amphibians,
reptiles, and small mammals) to the use of radiotelemetry
(gopher tortoise and black bear).
He is a recognized expert in
both bird and herpetofauna identification and habitat correlations
and has been called upon several times as an expert witness
by Hillsborough County. In
addition to professional collaborations with local Universities
and local governments, Mr. Sumpter has also been very active
within the community. He has been particularly effective
as a liaison between the scientific community and the public-at-large. In
this capacity, Mr. Sumpter has served as:
- Chair
and vice-chair of the Hillsborough River Greenways
Task Force, one of seven Ecosystem Management Initiatives
recognized by the state.
- Chair
of the Mayor of Tampa’s Environmental Advisory
Committee – during his tenure the mayor and city
council agreed to adopt an Upland Habitat Protection
Ordinance, which Dave eventually co-authored.
- Conservation
Chair for Tampa Audubon – 15 year
tenure. Mr. Sumpter continues to serve in this
capacity.
- Board Member for the Lemon Bay Conservancy.
- Founding
member (and periodic chair) of west Central Florida’s
Frog Listening Network.
- Has played a lead role on several
county land acquisition programs throughout Florida.
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