Heida Diefenderfer is a restoration ecologist with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) at the Marine Sciences Laboratory in Sequim, Washington. Since 2000, she has conducted research and restoration in a variety of coastal and riverine ecosystems, in particular tidal wetlands and eelgrass meadows, as a member of PNNL’s Coastal Assessment and Restoration group. Currently, she is participating in research and adaptive management for the recovery of Endangered Species Act-listed fish and birds and monitoring the effectiveness of habitat restoration actions. She earned her doctorate in 2007 from the University of Washington, College of Forest Resources, with research focusing on tidal Sitka spruce swamps of the lower Columbia River floodplain. A native of Redmond, Washington, Dr. Diefenderfer pursued forest ecology at Reed College (B.A., Biology, 1991) and Native American studies and writing at The Evergreen State College (B.A. Liberal Arts, 1997). She also holds an M.A. in English from Western Washington University (1999). Since 1990, she has performed research and writing for many governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations in the areas of ecosystem conservation and restoration, sustainable forest and fisheries management, and the recovery of threatened and endangered species.