David Zippin

David leads our practice in habitat conservation planning and implementation. He has more than three decades of experience applying ecological science to environmental planning and regulatory compliance. With a strong background in science, policy, and planning, David helps clients develop optimal approaches to species conservation challenges and endangered species compliance for projects and programs. His specialties are regional habitat conservation plans (HCP), programmatic Section 7 consultations, and other permit streamlining and conservation tools such as Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances, Safe Harbor Agreements, “permit-less” conservation strategies, and programmatic wetland permits. He also focuses on permits for state-listed species in many states, including California, with the preparation of natural community conservation plans and regional conservation investment strategies (RCIS).

David is a nationally recognized expert in compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) at the federal and state levels, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance for conservation plans, and integrating Clean Water Act wetland compliance into conservation plans. His experience includes more than 75 conservation plans and their NEPA documents in 29 states for all client types—local and state government agencies, water agencies, transportation agencies, energy utilities, renewable energy companies, oil and gas companies, and timber companies.

Since 2010, David has taught habitat conservation planning for endangered species at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Conservation Training Center in West Virginia. He also teaches ESA compliance, HCP preparation and implementation, and RCIS preparation at the University of California, Davis, Continuing and Professional Education Program.

David is the co-author of the award-winning book, “Understanding the Habitat Conservation Planning Process in California: A Guidebook for Project and Regional Conservation Planning.”