Shannon Noelle Rivera
• Focused on the Intersections of Conservation •
About Shannon...
Shannon Noelle Rivera is a conservation scientist and environmental consultant largely focused on the importance of intersections within conservation practice, including and addressing animal welfare within conservation, identifying gender-sensitive strategies, and exploring under-prioritized areas of the illegal wildlife trade.
Based in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, Shannon works within Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Australasia as a board member with the Society for Conservation Biology Oceania and co-founded Hawaii’s Society for Conservation Biology Chapter. Shannon has worked throughout Southeast Asia, the Amazon region, Oceania, and North America on wildlife trafficking issues, wildlife rehabilitation, reforestation, and various other conservation initiatives. |
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Shannon received a Master of Science with Distinction in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law in September 2018 with the University of Winchester. Her thesis examined limitations to the proper treatment and disposal of illegally traded and confiscated live animals in Southeast Asia. The latest manuscript for this research was published in February 2021: Surviving the Wildlife Trade in Southeast Asia: Reforming the ‘Disposal’ of Confiscated Live Animals under CITES.
Shannon works in forestry as a consultant with the Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry program; Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the US Forest Service, Smart Trees Pacific, and the Los Angeles Urban Research Center where she builds urban forestry capacity throughout Hawai'i, the Pacific region, and beyond.
At the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Shannon received two B.A.s in Environmental Studies and Gender and Conflict Resolution, respectively, with minors in Zoology, Peace Studies and Dance. Her undergraduate research, supported through the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Ecology Lab within the Natural Resource and Environmental Management Department, examined barriers to assisted colonization for climate sensitive species.
When not working in the field, Shannon is proud to advocate for the protection of endangered species and our natural world as a contracted lecturer and wildlife host. In 2019, Shannon travelled to seven countries presenting her wildlife lecture series, Wild Planet, showcased on both Celebrity Cruise Lines and Carnival Cruise Lines.
Shannon works in forestry as a consultant with the Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry program; Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the US Forest Service, Smart Trees Pacific, and the Los Angeles Urban Research Center where she builds urban forestry capacity throughout Hawai'i, the Pacific region, and beyond.
At the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Shannon received two B.A.s in Environmental Studies and Gender and Conflict Resolution, respectively, with minors in Zoology, Peace Studies and Dance. Her undergraduate research, supported through the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Ecology Lab within the Natural Resource and Environmental Management Department, examined barriers to assisted colonization for climate sensitive species.
When not working in the field, Shannon is proud to advocate for the protection of endangered species and our natural world as a contracted lecturer and wildlife host. In 2019, Shannon travelled to seven countries presenting her wildlife lecture series, Wild Planet, showcased on both Celebrity Cruise Lines and Carnival Cruise Lines.
Education
• United Nations Institute for Training & Research | Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Master's in International Affairs & Diplomacy Expected 2022 
• University of Winchester, 2018 Master of Science, Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law, with Distinction 
•University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa, 2016
Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Studies Bachelor of Arts, Gender & Conflict Resolution Zoology Minor | Dance Minor Peace Studies Certification 
•University of California, San Diego, 2012 Fundraising and Non-Profit Development Program 
•University of Buenos Aires, 2011 Spanish and Dance |
ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS
2020 Recipient of NOAA / Pacific Risk Management Ohana Full Registration Scholarship
2019 ICCB 2019 Student Presentation Award Finalist, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2019 CITES CoP17 Delegate, Youth for Wildlife Conservation, Geneva, Switzerland
2018 Recipient of Society for Conservation Biology’s 2018 Graduate Research
Fellowship
2018 1st Place Award, International Fund for Animal Welfare Annual Essay Competition,
‘Playing Politics with Animals: Corruption in CITES and the International Wildlife Trade’
2017 Recipient of University of Winchester's International Taught Master Scholarship
2017 Recipient of US Fish & Wildlife Service Conservation Career Symposium
Scholarship, Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge, Hilo Hawaiʻi
2017 Recipient of the Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance’s HCC Student Scholarship
2016 Recipient of the UH Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Grant,
Presentation Funding
2016 1st Place Undergraduate Research & Social Science Oral Presentation, UH
Undergraduate Showcase
2016 Recipient of the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii’s Scholarship
2016 Recipient of the University of Hawaii’s Achievement Scholarship
2016 Recipient of the Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance’s Student Participation Opportunity
Grant, 2016 World Conservation Congress
2016 University of Hawaii’s Dean’s List
2015 University of Hawaii’s Dean’s List
2014 University of Hawaii’s Dean’s List
2019 ICCB 2019 Student Presentation Award Finalist, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2019 CITES CoP17 Delegate, Youth for Wildlife Conservation, Geneva, Switzerland
2018 Recipient of Society for Conservation Biology’s 2018 Graduate Research
Fellowship
2018 1st Place Award, International Fund for Animal Welfare Annual Essay Competition,
‘Playing Politics with Animals: Corruption in CITES and the International Wildlife Trade’
2017 Recipient of University of Winchester's International Taught Master Scholarship
2017 Recipient of US Fish & Wildlife Service Conservation Career Symposium
Scholarship, Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge, Hilo Hawaiʻi
2017 Recipient of the Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance’s HCC Student Scholarship
2016 Recipient of the UH Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Grant,
Presentation Funding
2016 1st Place Undergraduate Research & Social Science Oral Presentation, UH
Undergraduate Showcase
2016 Recipient of the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii’s Scholarship
2016 Recipient of the University of Hawaii’s Achievement Scholarship
2016 Recipient of the Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance’s Student Participation Opportunity
Grant, 2016 World Conservation Congress
2016 University of Hawaii’s Dean’s List
2015 University of Hawaii’s Dean’s List
2014 University of Hawaii’s Dean’s List
CERTIFICATIONS
2020 United Nations InforMEA Diploma, International Environmental Law & Governance
2019 Arborist Training Certificate of Completion, International Society of Arboriculture
2019 Pacific Island Forestry Professional (PIFC) Certification, USDA Forest Service
2018 Red List Assessor Certification, International Union for the Conservation of
Nature (IUCN)
2016 Gender & Social Justice Certification, CSS-IUCN University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
2016 Sustainability Certification, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Outreach & IUCN
2016 Peace Studies Certification, The Matsunaga Institute for Peace & Conflict
Resolution
2016 Registered Protected Species Observer (Marine Mammals) Certification, Bureau of
Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
2019 Arborist Training Certificate of Completion, International Society of Arboriculture
2019 Pacific Island Forestry Professional (PIFC) Certification, USDA Forest Service
2018 Red List Assessor Certification, International Union for the Conservation of
Nature (IUCN)
2016 Gender & Social Justice Certification, CSS-IUCN University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
2016 Sustainability Certification, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Outreach & IUCN
2016 Peace Studies Certification, The Matsunaga Institute for Peace & Conflict
Resolution
2016 Registered Protected Species Observer (Marine Mammals) Certification, Bureau of
Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS
2020 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi - Presenter, 27th Annual Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference, Urban Tree Species Identification
2019 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Presenter, SCB’s 29th International Congress for Conservation Biology, Disposal of Confiscated Live Animals in Southeast Asia
2019 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi - Presenter, 26th Annual Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference, Urban ʻĀina Symposium
2019 Mexico, Hawaiʻi, California - Lecturer, Wild Hawaiʻi Lecture Series Onboard Carnival Cruise Lines
2019 Colombo, Sri Lanka - 2019 Global Dialogue on Wildlife Trafficking International Symposium (Abstract Only)
2017 Cartagena, Colombia - Presenter, SCB’s 28th International Congress for Conservation Biology, Barriers to Assisted Colonization
2017 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi - Invited Presenter, 24th Annual Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference, Barriers to Assisted Colonization
2016 Montpellier, France - Invited Presenter, 5th International Ecosummit Congress 2016, Endangered Species Management & Conservation
2016 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi - Undergraduate Presenter, CTAHR Student Research Symposium, Endangered Species Management & Conservation
2016 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi - First Place Presenter, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa UROP Undergraduate Showcase, Barriers to Assisted Colonization
2019 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Presenter, SCB’s 29th International Congress for Conservation Biology, Disposal of Confiscated Live Animals in Southeast Asia
2019 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi - Presenter, 26th Annual Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference, Urban ʻĀina Symposium
2019 Mexico, Hawaiʻi, California - Lecturer, Wild Hawaiʻi Lecture Series Onboard Carnival Cruise Lines
2019 Colombo, Sri Lanka - 2019 Global Dialogue on Wildlife Trafficking International Symposium (Abstract Only)
2017 Cartagena, Colombia - Presenter, SCB’s 28th International Congress for Conservation Biology, Barriers to Assisted Colonization
2017 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi - Invited Presenter, 24th Annual Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference, Barriers to Assisted Colonization
2016 Montpellier, France - Invited Presenter, 5th International Ecosummit Congress 2016, Endangered Species Management & Conservation
2016 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi - Undergraduate Presenter, CTAHR Student Research Symposium, Endangered Species Management & Conservation
2016 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi - First Place Presenter, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa UROP Undergraduate Showcase, Barriers to Assisted Colonization