Ben Pitterle

Bio/Background

Ben Pitterle is the Director of Advocacy and Field Operations at Los Padres ForestWatch and former Interim Executive Director and Science & Policy Director for Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, a nonprofit focused on protecting the Santa Barbara Channel through advocacy, education, field work and enforcement. He joined the team in 2006 after receiving a Masters in Environmental Science and Management from UC Santa Barbara and a BS in Environmental Science from UC Riverside. His roles include managing water quality monitoring programs, directing advocacy campaigns, and managing litigation and enforcement initiatives.

“While it's nice to think that through collaboration and a shared sense of values, we can just come to mutual agreements (without firm requirements) the reality is many issues just can't be resolved that way and if we're really serious about protecting our environment or implementing the laws we already have, it requires a group or an individual highlighting these problems within the judicial system.”