Dr. Astrid Scholz is Ecotrust's Vice President of Knowledge Systems. In this role, she manages a variety of projects that link the social, economic and ecological systems of the bioregion. Scholz oversees a staff of thirteen that is responsible for Ecotrust's analytical, technical and interactive map-making capacities. She also works at Ecotrust as an ecological economist and consults with numerous natural resource organizations, government agencies and businesses. Read more at: ecotrust.org/bios/astrid_scholz.html

Ecotrust is an exemplary organization at the leading edge of progressive bioregionalism. They characterize themselves as a “think tank” and a “do tank” designed to identify and test deep innovation. See their mission statement below;

Mission
Ecotrust's mission is to inspire fresh thinking that creates economic opportunity, social equity and environmental well-being. Ecotrust is headquartered in Portland and is a unique organization; it integrates public and private purpose and for-profit and non-profit structures. Ecotrust's many innovations include co-founding the world's first environmental bank, starting the world's first ecosystem investment fund, creating a range of programs in fisheries, forestry, food, farms and children's health, and developing new scientific and information tools to improve social, economic and environmental decision-making. Ecotrust works locally in ways that promise hope abroad, and it takes inspiration from the wisdom of Native and First Nations. Over nearly 20 years, Ecotrust has converted $80 million in grants into more than $500 million in capital for local people, businesses, and organizations from Alaska to California.

Read more about Ecotrust at: ecotrust.org/about/