About Victoria O’Neill, Director of Coastal Resilience, Audubon CT/NY, National Audubon Society
Victoria O’Neill is the Director of Coastal Resilience for the National Audubon Society’s CT/NY program. Vicky leads Audubon’s efforts to help coastal areas in Connecticut and New York deal with sea level rise while conserving and restoring natural habitats that support priority birds and benefit coastal communities. She has been working in the fields of habitat restoration, land conservation, and environmental education and outreach in the Connecticut and New York area for over 18 years. Prior to working at Audubon, Vicky worked as a Project Associate at NYC Parks in their Natural Resources Group, Natural Areas Manager at Randall’s Island Park Alliance, and Long Island Sound Study Habitat Restoration & Stewardship Coordinator for the Long Island Sound Partnership at the NYSDEC/NEIWPCC. She received her BS in Biology from SUNY Geneseo and her MS in Biology from The College of William & Mary.
1:15 PM | Improving Coastal Resilience for Birds and People
Coastal ecosystems provide critical breeding, feeding, and resting habitat for a variety of birds and other species. These habitats also protect communities from storm surge and improve water quality. Despite their importance, humans have altered and degraded our coastlines for decades, impacting ecosystem function and threatening community safety. Currently, coastal habitats face even greater threats from the impacts of sea level rise. Implementing habitat restoration and living shoreline projects can restore ecosystem function and improve coastal resiliency. This presentation will highlight the value of our coastal habitat and provide examples of how to increase coastal resilience along our shorelines.